Rose Petal Jam recipe

 

 These are the roses:

I don't know what they are called-but they're old. They have a smell like no other rose...heavenly. Sam says it's time to make rose petal jam.

 I pick a bowl full of petals, making sure no brown outer ones get in the bowl. And no bugs.

 This is the recipe:

• packed blender full of rose petals
• 1/4 c. or more water for liquid in the blender with the petals
• juice of one lemon
• blend until petals are liquid, adding 3 c. sugar, lemon juice
• boil 3/4 c. water with 1 package Sure Jell. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly
• pour pectin into the blended petal mix, stir-don't blend-1 minute
• pour into jars 
• This makes 7 & 1/2 4 oz. jars
• do not use any other brand except Sure Jell. Other brands turn the rose color brown! (I've tried it, so believe me!)

It is so beautiful, and tastes like the roses smell!

Do NOT use roses that have been sprayed!

This is freezer jam, and keeps about 1 year.

Keep in fridge after opened about a month-if you can...

A Moth Story

 One morning I was going in the back part of our house after putting my geese out in their yard for the day. I thought I saw a leaf stuck in a spider's web, but it was this huge moth. At the time, there were two of these together, of the same sex. This is a female Promethea, ( I think) with a male under her right wing. I've looked these beautiful creatures up in my books, and on the web. If I have my info wrong, please tell me!

 The male is the dark one. I'm not sure why another female was attracted at first. I have pictures of the two females that I'll post later.

Little Wren, I love thee...



This quiet place.

 Yesterday morning I stepped out on my kitchen porch and looked at the yard from there. It was very early, and wet from storms during the night. Birds had been awake for a while, but still sang their  good morning songs. The air was heavy with perfume from Dame's Rocket and black locust flowers.

 I can't say just how I felt standing there, looking at all the plants and shrubs and trees we had planted. I felt ownership of them all, and of the birds. They are my birds.

 We have planted trees and bushes around three sides of our 2 acre property. The open side faces fallow fields that have grown over to buck thorn trees and brambles and honeysuckle bushes. There are a few old pear trees hidden here and there, left over from a former fruit farm that was here way before us.

 We have put our mark on this spot.

We grew up a son here....

 Spring multiplied by a thousand years-I will never tire of it...

I am thankful.

God, You gave us this place, this life

and I am thankful....

A ramble walk through my yard...

 Dear Lea, here is the sink I was talking about. I have to move it-stuff is growing too close, and it's not in the best spot right now. I even thought about moving it into my studio!

 I haven't used the rhubarb yet, but I just read that you must cut off the flower stalks to keep the stems from getting woody. This plant is very happy where it's at, and is crowding the poor blueberry bush, some day lilies and the little sedum in the tile pot. Have to move the other stuff-Mr. Rhubarb wants to stay put!

 I made the cement planters about 6 years ago. They stay out all winter and so far they survive really well. I have to plant them with something...

 I am using flower bed space to plant other things like kale, parsley, lettuce. The chipmunks don't like it, and constantly dig where I have planted.

 Stuff is waiting to be placed here and there....

 My wonderful husband tilled up a spot so I can plant seeds! I haven't been able to do that in a large area for a while. All my garden beds have perennials that have to be hand tended. But this garden needed a change. I'm moving the grasses and will just mow around the other things.

 My husband bought me the plastic heron for my birthday quite a few years ago...

 His name is Harry.

  Beth Moore, Breaking Free, 2000, B&H Books, page 115~

"God does not minimize the things that break our hearts. He is not looking down on us thinking how petty we are because things hurt us. If we're so "heavenly minded" that we grow out of touch with earthly hardships, somewhere we've missed an important priority of Christ. God left our bare feet on the hot pavement of earth so we could grow through our hurts, not ignore and refuse to feel our way through them."

 

Thank you, Beth.

 

Beauty of Simple

 It's time to pick Lily of the Valley flowers and scent the house with their beauty.

 I have a clock with a hand written date of 1837 on the back of the clock face.

There is use left in this stub, and perhaps some kind of loveliness-

in an ordinary way.