Erin's (attempt at) Hobbies- Canning

Earlier this Summer we decided to join Bluebird Farms and have been thrilled each Tuesday when we get our fresh vegetables. The day I signed us up for Bluebird Farms, I developed a healthy obsession with canning.
Canning is great for me for a couple of reasons; 1. If you know me at all, you know I've got a thing about running out of food. I live in a constant state of fear of running low which has resulted in weekly Sam's club visits, an extra freezer in our kitchen and a closet full of overage. I did not grow up without food, so I'm not too sure where this 'thing' came from, but I've got it. My name is Erin and I'm a borderline food hoarder. 2. I love working with the ingredients and making food for my family that is healthy and that hasn't been doused in pesticides. 3. I really enjoy giving away things I've canned.

Here are a couple of things I made a few weeks back:

This is an amazing Blackberry Port Jam I've made twice now. Recipe (as my memory allows) is below.

 I began by boiling my jars to sterilize them.

Steve loves Apple Butter- so Apple Butter he got. I had to push it through a sieve. My arms were super sore.

This is a picture of the Apple Butter cooking. Has a much richer color after all of the Fall ingredients were added.

I made a Fall Blend of Apple Butter and used Maple Syrup, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Cloves, All Spice, and Maple Flavoring along with even more sugar.

I didn't need to add any pectin to this since I cooked the apples with peels and pressed everything through a sieve.

Finished Blackberry Port Jam

Finished Apple Butter.

Blackberry Port Jam:

5-6 Cups Whole Blackberries
1 Cup of a good, fruity Port
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
6 Cups sugar
Pectin


Cook Blackberries in pot until they turn bright red and get nice and soft. (about a half hour to 45 minutes). Mash them with a potato masher to get the juices out and to break them up a bit. Add in your sugar, port, cloves (to taste... I like a bit more than Steve does) and cinnamon and cook for about another hour to combine all of the flavors and to make sure things have reduced down nicely. Add in your pectin packet and stir until dissolved.

Pour into pint jars leaving about 1/2 inch below the top. Seal and place in a hot water bath canner for about 10 minutes. Remove and cool on a dry towel listening for the pops. All of my jars popped pretty quickly.

Steve and I have really enjoyed this jam on toast as well as with pork chops. Steve reduces some of it down with some rosemary and other things and it's just great with a pork chop and some roasted veggies.

Apple Butter:

1 5lb. Bag of green apples
1 container of sugar-free applesauce
Good quality maple syrup (I used about a cup or two)
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Sugar- about one cup for each cup of Apples
Nutmeg
Brown Sugar

I wish I had a good description of how I made this.  Really, I just used an apple butter recipe from online- then added in whatever I thought would be tasty. I pretty much just dumped in ingredients and kept tasting it until it was sweet and tasted like Fall.
It was a hit.

I hot-water-bathed the apple butter for around 10 minutes, as well.

Dear Rowan

Sweet Rowan,

I've been lucky to spend some good, quality time with you the past couple of weeks. Last weekend your Daddy took Lily to see River and Canyon and you stayed home with me. You helped me pick up a mattress for your sister's new bed, helped me put the bed together, and snuggled with me a lot.

I've also gotten to sleep with you a few times. At night when your dad is out in the living room, I bring you into my bed so we can snuggle. You're the best snuggler there is, my dear.

I've been thinking a lot about losing you lately. I've tried to remind myself to cherish the times when we are next to each other in bed- or when you fall asleep and I rock you instead of putting you down so I can do other things.  The past couple of times we were lying in bed together, I held you so close to me. I wanted you to feel all the joy you were bringing to me. 
I've found myself wanting to stay at home. I guess I want to soak up all my moments with you... just in case.  I know I need to be in the moment- and I try and succeed most days. Other days I feel your skin and your life. I listen to your voice and watch you suck on your hands. I smell you and I try to make you smile. You're so deeply loved...

You've gotten so strong the past couple of weeks, Rowan! We are so proud of you. You've gotten more vocal- and you're holding your head up like a champ. Your smile and your goofyness melts our hearts.

Today I just wanted you to know that you are a gift. You are a wonderful blessing to our family and we love you so very deeply.

Love, Mommy.

Girls Trip!

A few weeks ago Lily and I went on a girls trip to Grandma Gretchen's and Grandpa Doug's house and lake cabin. Lily and I had a lovely time hanging out and seeing people we love at the lake.

Grandpa took Lily fishing...

I just love the look on my Dad's face!

Grandma Gretchen was there and Grandma and Grandpa GG came out, but for some reason I failed to snap adequate pictures of them.  Boo me.

1st Day of Pre-School

Big changes this week for the Mayer Hammer family! Lily started pre-school and was so darned excited.  Mainly, she was looking forward to her new cubby where she'd be able to put all of her things.  About a month ago she said, 'I'm SO excited for my new cubby!' Then she asked me, 'What's a cubby, Mommy?'

Anyway, she got her school clothes, packed her lunch and school supplies, and was off.

Monday wasn't a sad day for Steve or I at all. We're so happy for Lily's new journey. Can you believe how grown up she is?

 

Lily with Miss Crystal

All wiped out after her first long day of learning.

Erin's (attempt at) Hobbies- Photography

A few months back I decided to take myself on a silent retreat to a little cabin in the woods. I ended up bailing early due to boredom and king-sized ants, but while there managed to take a few shots.

I plan to have a do-over of the silent retreat now that I know what to expect, in case you were wondering:)

I also took this shot of my cool uncle, Ivor. Enough Said.

Weekend at Grandma's v.1

We've been lucky enough to spend the past few weekends with ALL the grandmas and grandpas... Here are some pictures of our time with grandma and grandpa Hammer, Emily, River, and Canyon.

Rowan LOVED the hot tub- Lily doesn't like to get splashed- they boys love to play- and everyone loves the kids. We had a great time. What a lovely weekend.

Pre-school, here we come!!

The past two weeks I've been pretty obsessed with this whole pre-school thing... When is the right time? How do you select the right school?

I'm sure some will think- 'sheesh, your kid is three-and-a-half years old, don't worry.'  And I'm not worried, but I have had thoughts rolling through my head that pertain to her future. (Steve was involved in this, too... but I'll just speak for myself).  I have been wondering what kind of life I'd like for my daughter- what kind of opportunities I'd like her to have- and how I can help provide her with all things necessary to make her a smart, kind, and thoughtful person.

I've been fortunate to spend quality time around a lot of people whom I consider to be educated, wise, well-rounded, respectful of other cultures and races, open to new and different experiences, and on and on. I've spent time with people I wish I could be more like, and whom I would love my daughter to be like.

Me? I'm often hesitant to try new things and feel I've led a fairly sheltered life.  Some of this is because of my personality and some because of where I grew up.  I went to a very small school from kindergarten through my senior year- graduated with 26 in my class- and went to a small University 17 miles from my hometown.  I just didn't have the drive to experience more. Now I do, though.

Bottom line is that I want Lily to do as much as she wants to do, to travel, to experience all she can- and I want to support her in that.

So, Steve and I have decided to enroll her in the Children's Montessori Center in Fargo.  We took Lily there today to tour it and to meet her new teacher. She took to it as we expected she would; she jumped right in and played outside with her new friends.  But what she was most excited about was the cubbies. That is huge for her- she talks about her cubby all the time.  So if anything, we've got that!!

Here is a video of her new school! (This must have auto-corrected to Lilly...by the way)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Montessori programs...