CRANBERRY JAM

by Robin

I want to thank my friend, Megan, who trusted me with her family recipe. (She used to be our babysitter many years ago and now, has gone on to be a mom of 3.) I absolutely salivated when I heard that she was making Cranberry jam in November. I had to give it a try, myself.






Bring to a boil AGAIN. Then, stir in your Sure-Jell liquid and stir for 1 minute at a rapid boil. Then, remove from heat.

Pour into your sterile jars & seal. This is where I took a different turn than her recipe. She didn't say anything about the boiling method. I think they made enough to let sit, cool and eat in a short time frame or keep in the frig. For me, I wanted my jam to be up on the shelves for several months, so I used my regular canning method for preserving it.

This batch, I boiled for 12-15 minutes, fully, under water. All 8 seem to make a good vacuum seal. Yeah!



I'll probably be making strawberry jam next month.

Oh, before I forget to mention it, this huge pot (above) is a family heirloom. My parents brought it down to me at Thanksgiving time. It was my Great-grandmother's pot. I also inherited her pressure-cooker canner (for low-acid canning). I can't wait to use it for next year's veggies.

God bless!
Happy New Year,
Robin

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Christmas Morning

by Robin

In no particular order.....














I love that we had a "no batteries" type of Christmas.

God bless & Merry Christmas everyone.
Robin

GARDEN REPORT - Pre-Christmas

by Robin

So far, it has been a very good winter for the garden. Temps have stayed mild, the drip irrigation system works wonders, and I've had very little disease or bug invasion.

We've eaten 3 heads of Broccoli. I did lose 3 plants to root maggots, but seemed to have stopped the damage with a lot of ashes dumped on the plants & ground, then watered it in. I don't know the exact science behind it, but I think it has to do with suffocating the oxygen or empty space to crawl for the maggot. You can also do this by stomping the ground around the plant, but I did not do that.



Here are 2 of the heads.



We eaten lots of okra, jalapenos, beans & herbs. I've made some nice veggie soup recently. Here are my string beans on the vine. They are doing very well. I had trouble back in early fall with getting many of them to seedling stage. I did 2 plantings and only a handful or so took. I think I have a mole or something eating the seeds from below. When I tilled up the ground, the seeds weren't even there. Oh well.



I did plant many tomatoes and some came up on their own. I have a nice couple of big tomato plants, approx 1 ft high, that I propagated from seed saved from the original tomatoes. Ugly Ripe does well around here and so does this one particular, no-name, variety from WalMart. So, they probably won't produce this winter, but if I can get them to survive the winter, I should have a pretty bunch of tomatoes. I do have one large tomato plant, leftover from spring/summer and it has 3 tomatoes growing on it. Maybe they will be ready in a couple more weeks.

(Cherry plants below)


I also have many cherry tomato plants. A few of them have babies growing. Many of my seedlings are doing well in pots, so those will come in for the freezes. I'm hoping and praying to have a mild winter in order to have an awesome spring of tomatoes. I've got my canning supplies all ready so I can put up a lot of food.

Thyme & chocolate peppermint are fading, but flat-leaf parsley, sweet basil, lemon basil, oregano, & rosemary are doing very well. My biggest problem is that I need more ground. My garden never seems big enough. It supplements our meals, but isn't enough to feed us. One day.... One day....

God bless!
Robin

UMMM? Are feathers healthy?

by Robin

Simon Peter found a feather on his chicken wing.



In case this one doesn't go through, I'm going to post up another picture of my string beans. These were picked last week. Love that they're so long & taste good. The purple ones were good too, but I think I like the green ones better.




God bless!

BARBERVILLE

by Robin



Here is our group, the Fiddlin' Krickets!!!!!!!

(Another Mom took these first 2 pics, but I played w/ them on Picnik editing.)



I am very grateful to this lady who runs the Guild with the patience of Job.

Ms. Kricket



The Fedora crowd




The boys played a duet for the 3rd piece.




It is amazing to me because many of these kids play 2 or 3 instruments.





We have awesome fiddlers. Here is one of them. I captured a silhouette of him in the Barn venue. I hope his mom frames this.



Here is our 3 advance players. AWESOME!! TALENTED!!! The 2 on the right are a brother/sister team. Did I mention how awesome they were? I have video of the 3 of them flying on their fiddles. They packed the barn and then brought down the house!! They were on fire! And I have to add that this group of kids has a big heart for Jesus. Ms Kricket prays with them, for them and for unity in the group. I think it shows when they perform.



God bless!
Robin

PS: We're off to Legoland soon!

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

by Robin

Each year, KSC has an appreciation day for those of us who live in the county. The boys and I love to attend this. Some years, we get to have friends join us, but this year, it was just us.

This year, our focus was taking the bus tour out to the observation tower and the Apollo/Saturn V center. That takes approximately 3 hrs if you attend many of the movies, presentations and read some of the placards.

Here we are at the Launch Complex 39 Observation gantry, the first stop on the tour.




Launch Pad B is totally gone. So sad. At least we still have A.


There is an amazing 360 deg view of the entire area, including launch pads, crawlerway, Vehicle Assemble Building and the National Wildlife Refuge.



On the way down the steps, I made sure I got a picture of me with my engineer wanna-be son. I hope that one day, this hangs in his fancy corner office. (I have no idea why I'm sporting a Hunchback of Notre Dame look. It's Jack's coat.)



From there, we went to our 2nd stop, the Apollo/ Saturn V Center. This is also where the VIP viewing area is. It sits approx 3 miles from Launch Pad 39A & B.



Don't miss this. You will want to see the 363 ft moon rocket and how it is broken down into sections. Can you believe, I had to wait in line to get this photo!! It's definitely a photo hot spot.



Here is the Firing Room Theater, which recreates the Apollo launch!! These are the actual desks, chairs, screens that were used in back in 1968.



When the rocket launches, the whole room shakes and the windows behind you glow and rattle. It's like they're going to break!



It is definitely Andrew's favorite part of the tour.

Then, the final movie to catch is in the Lunar Theater, which depicts the first moon landing. Lots of original footage, which is great for history buffs. I have to say, I shed a tear. Call me sentimental.

I took a couple pictures but you will have to experience it for yourself.

Wait.... what?? How did those ghosts get in there?


What?? a comet? How did that happen?


Goodness gracious!! Is that the light at the end of the tunnel or the Hallmark angel appearing....



I guess it was the Hallmark angel. It decided to decorate the moon for Thanksgiving. Whew! At least the ghosts are gone.



Hope you enjoyed my little series of pictures. I am so blessed to be near so many smart people who have blessed our country. They inspire me. And I think they have inspired my kids to reach for the stars.

God bless America!
Robin

WEEK IN REVIEW

by Robin

I'm not sure there is any theme in these pictures, except to say that life is full, busy and ever-changing.



I started off the week with getting a mammogram. It seemed like everywhere I turned there were little pink ribbons everywhere. They were even on my eggs, so I took a picture of them. I am so blessed to say that I am free from any suspicious cells & masses. Yeah.



We had been practicing hard for our bluegrass band. First, our main practice was cancelled. So, we were suppose to have an informal practice with 2 friends who were still in town. Sadly, their home was broken into that morning. I can't imagine how their world turned upside-down in a matter of hours.



By Friday, it was Brevard Co resident's "Appreciation Day" at Kennedy Space Center. Donating canned goods and showing a resident driver's license will get you in the door. We try to take advantage of this every year. The past couple years, I purposely don't even bring a wallet. (It prevents begging.) We head out in the morning after a big breakfast and go until our stomachs can't last any longer.

This year, we opted to do the 3 hr bus tour. LOVE IT! I learn something new every time I'm there.



My boys have truly gotten into reading all the placards. I will have more pictures next week, but for now, here are some teasers.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that tears came to my eyes a couple times as I'd watch the old video feed about the shuttle. I am still sad about the whole program closing down. And a touch of my sadness is the losing of many friends that I have known & loved for many years. I found out that another home school family (friends) are moving to AZ. We had just gotten together a couple months ago and I thought they were safe from the pink slips. It just goes to show you how nobody was safe from the proverbial axe.

Have a blessed weekend.
Robin

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - OCT garden

by Robin

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

by Robin

Last night, Jack was look at some leak on my car and I came out to join him. In seconds, the sky seemed to glow orange. I looked up and WOW.... magnificient!!! I jumped out of my chair to run into the house & grab my camera.

This is what I captured on film ....er....digital memory.

This first one has no touch-ups on it AT ALL!!! Simply downsized & framed.



This one had a small adjustment because the orange glow between the trees gave my computer a fit. It really had no idea how to translate all that orange-pink-yellow.



I hope to see a million more like this when I'm in heaven.

Blessings,
Robin