Success

Remember the strawberry jam I made awhile back? It was well received.

Daisies

Is there anything in this world more lovely, precious, and cheerful than a daisy? I think not. Except perhaps a little girl completely enraptured by said daisies.

It's hard to believe it's already time for daisies again, but it must be true. Because there they are, those perky, enthusiastic, happy go lucky little weeds that melt my heart.

Our afternoon stroll to meet Mark as he came home from work took twice as long as usual, because what's a girl to do with so many pretty flowers just begging to be plucked? And what's a mama to do, but stop and take pictures of it all?

A Swell Season for Strawberries

Instead of dwelling on the fact that I haven't posted in, oh, looks like almost a month, let's talk about strawberries, shall we?

This is the third gallon of strawberries I've bought this year, not counting the random pints picked up at the grocery store. I always have the best of intentions to preserve them, putting them in the freezer for homemade ice cream, jam, and cobblers on down the road. But I have a little girl who is absolutely gaga about strawberries. Seriously, I've heard her mumble, "Kate need strawberry" in her sleep on more than one occasion. So I think it's fair to say that many more berries have ended up in her tummy (and on her face, hands, and clothes) than into the freezer, but that's as it should be too, no? After all, I don't know of a cobbler or jam that can compete with a ripe, luscious berry, straight from the vine (or the produce stand in our case, seeing as we have no strawberry patch here.....an issue that really should be addressed).

However, this afternoon during naptime, I did manage to make a run of strawberry jam. The weather has been balmy, breezy, very spring-esque this week, with temperatures hovering in the quite pleasant 70s, so jam making was definitely within the realm of possibility. I absolutely hate making jam when it's scorching hot outside. Sometimes I worry that I give the weather entirely too much control over my life, but so be it.

I use the recipe in the Sure-Jell packet, although there is an old fashion (pectin free) recipe in my favorite preserving book that I keep trying to work up the courage to try. Maybe next time. As it was, I nearly met with catastrophe when, just after dumping my sugar into the boiling fruit, I realized that although I had jars and lids sterilizing in boiling water, I had completely forgotten about the rings! I frantically ran around the kitchen unscrewing the rings off of everything that had one, and thankfully, ended up with just enough. Whew! Jam making disaster averted.

So now, Kate's with her Nonna and I'm sitting here listening to the comforting little "pop" that lets me know they've sealed, and thinking I should be getting ready for my big date tonight! Mark and I are celebrating our 3rd anniversary a week early. First we're going here to eat spicy Thai food downtown, and then we're off to the Orange Peel to see The Swell Season! Finally! I was elated when I found out they were coming here, since I had almost (but not quite) managed to convince Mark to take me to D.C. last November. I plan to ogle Glen Hansard all evening. I have sort of a thing for quirky red headed lads. Especially quirky red headed lads with Irish accents who can sing like nobody's business. Mark doesn't mind. Besides, he'll have Marketa Irglova to keep him company, and she's no slouch. So, time to go get fancified. Or at least take a shower and wash the sticky strawberry juice out of my hair.