Plum Jelly

I was lucky to have an older woman contact a friend of the family, saying that she would love to have the plums on her tree picked. She is elderly and isn't able to pick them any more. We took a large plastic tub and another friend to help us pick. The plums were between the size of a cherry and a golf ball. We picked for 45 minutes and ended up with about 35-40 pounds of plums. On Saturday I cooked them down and got the juice and stored it for Sunday. The large jar holds about 4 gallons of juice. I had already cooked 3 gallons to make what is pictured below. I used 30 pounds of sugar, 12 pouches of pectin and went through a ton of jars. I ended up with 3 wide-mouth quart jars, 27 pint jars and 11 half pint jars. I am going to freeze what is left of the juice until I can get some more pint jars. They are just the easiest to can with for jelly. I had to find more space to set the jars. I normally have a spot on the table but had to move to setting them on the counter too! I don't think that we will be getting any more plums-unless someone has a really good plum butter recipe....... Maybe you could send me one? I really like to make all this and would love to have any recipes that any of you would give to me. I would love to be able to make it, take pictures and put it on here!!! I was proud of how this has turned out for the first time making it!

Juice that is left and one batch of jelly. Tops of other jelly jars (2nd batch) and one of the finished jars.

They are so clear and pretty!

Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught. ~Author Unknown

Look what I got out of my garden!!!

Roma tomatoes, parsley, basil, jalapenos!!

Gone fishin', be back at dark-thirty! ~Author Unknown

Happy anniversary!!!

I would like to tell Mister happy anniversary! Through everything you are always there and are the best thing that could have happened to me. We have fun and enjoy life. I love you!!!

Salsa and Blackberry Jelly

This is from my recipe that I have shared before. I added 5 habaneros this time and it was perfect! It will keep getting warmer as it ages but still tastes good now.

I am trying something for the first time this year, making blackberry jelly. I found a couple places to pick blackberries so I am freezing them and getting the juice from them with a fruit mill. Add 4 cups of juice (about 3 quarts of blackberries) 7 1/2 cups of sugar and once it is to a rolling boil add 2 packages of liquid pectin. Once it starts boiling again, stir constantly for 60 seconds. Skim the foam off and place in jars. Put in a hot water bath and process for 10 minutes. That got me 10 of the half-pint jars. I have given a few away but Mister and I have almost finished one, he is eating it way more than I have been! We are going to keep picking since this is our favorite jelly. I was doing some research and found that by freezing the berries before making juice from them, the cells walls are broken down and you are able to get more juice from them. Just an FYI for you!

Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers. ~Herbert Hoover

Even eminent chartered accountants are known, in their capacity as fishermen, blissfully to ignore differences between seven and ten inches, half a pound and two pounds, three fish and a dozen fish. ~William Sherwood Fox, Silken Lines and Silver Hooks, 1954

Our tradition is that of the first man who sneaked away to the creek when the tribe did not really need fish. ~Roderick Haig-Brown, about modern fishing, A River Never Sleeps, 1946

Enjoy thy stream, O harmless fish;
And when an angler for his dish,
Through gluttony's vile sin,
Attempts, the wretch, to pull thee out,
God give thee strength, O gentle trout,
To pull the rascal in!
~John Wolcot

Week-end Weightloss Wrap-up

I am going to try and start having ya'll hold me accountable. I starting looking at the Wii Fit Plus and looked at what my weight was a year ago. On July 3rd I was 30 lbs lighter than what I was when I started on Sunday. So I have started trying to cut my portions down and starting to walk in the mornings. So here is the break down for this week!

Week of 6/20-6/25
Sunday- starting weight 199.5
Monday -1.8
Tuesday -.4
Wednesday +.4
Thursday -.8
Friday -2.2
----------------
Total weight loss 4.8
Ending weight 194.7

I ate a larger dinner later Tuesday night and it showed! I have been trying to eat larger for breakfast and lunch and then a light dinner. The summer makes it so much easier to eat healthy. I am trying to can a lot of things so I can continue to eat healthy this winter. We have quit drinking pop for the most part and I drink water all day long so I know that is helping. Here we go on the journey!!!!

Chi Flat Iron!!!

Mister and I's second anniversary is Monday and he has kept asking me what I wanted. I told him nothing but he doesn't listen. My birthday was a couple months ago and we were dealing with his grandfather's health declining and all sorts of stuff so I was happy with the suprise party that him, his dad and his dad's wife threw for me. I really wasn't expecting something else. He kept saying that he felt bad for not getting me anything but I was seriously okay. So he comes home and can't wait to give me my gift. I had no idea what it was. When I opened up the bag this is what I saw..... A 24K red Chi flat iron. I can't wait to use it!!! The nail polish is a beautiful color too. I hadn't mentioned one in quite a while so I was shocked. I had a cheap flat iron that broke a couple years ago where the two "arms" meet but kept using it since it still served the purpose, it was just harder to use. I was so suprised that he thought about getting this for me! I have the best husband in the world! Now what hunting stuff will he get me next? I really thought that I was getting a scope for my muzzleloader! This will be nice for my hair to look wonderful as I am out hunting :)

People who fish for food, and sport be damned, are called pot-fishermen. The more expert ones are called crack pot-fishermen. All other fishermen are called crackpot fishermen. This is confusing. ~Ed Zern, 1947

Just Thursday!

Head over to Murdock's Mama and link up!
Outside my window.. there is a sprinkler watering the grass and lost of sun, with a light breeze.
The time is.. 10:48 am
Today I feel.. yucky. Advil, Aleve and water will help.
I am thinking.. about picking blackberries to make more jelly. Mister has almost ate a half pint jar already!
At the moment, I am thankful.. for a husband who loves me.
I am going.. to enjoy the coolest day of the week. It is supposed to be in the high 80's!
I am wearing.. brown shoes, brown Capri's and a white top
I wish.. that I could make some pickles
I am reading.. Life of Pi
I am working on.. getting my house totally cleaned up.
I am hoping.. that I can get a little sun this weekend.
I am hearing.. the commercials on the radio.
Around the house.. I have jars stashed. I have a serious issue with jars. They are just so darn hard to find after the summer.
I bet you didn't know.. My anniversary is Monday!
One of my favorite.. summer dinners is new potatoes and green beans!


Join the Fun! Copy & Paste and fill it out on your blog!
*Make sure to LINK UP

Writer's Workshop - Summer Time

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept
The writing prompts this week are:
1.) The Love List. Write a list of 50 things you look for in a man.
2.) Write a poem about a picture.
3.) What does your child do that reminds you most of yourself? How does it make you feel?
4.) Write a letter to whatever is stopping you from losing the extra weight you'd like to lose.
5.) What summer means to your family.

What summer means to our family....
Fishing, working in the garden, mowing, picking ticks off of us and the girls. Starting to shoot our bows so that we can be good this fall. Canning things out of the garden. Did I mention fishing? Blackberry picking. Plum picking. Garden watering. Fishing. Time with Mister's family. A little more canning. And last but not least FISHING!!!!

What does summer mean to you? Link up over at Mama Kat's!

Fishing tournaments seem a little like playing tennis with living balls... ~Jim Harrison, Just Before Dark, 1991

Quotes????

I am wanting some feedback on the quotes. Do you like or not like or don't really care? PLEASE comment and tell me your thoughts!

Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn. ~Chuck Clark

Even if you've been fishing for three hours and haven't gotten anything except poison ivy and sunburn, you're still better off than the worm. ~Author Unknown

Fishing is a... discipline in the equality of men - for all men are equal before fish. ~Herbert Hoover

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. ~John Buchan

I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there. ~Robert Altman

Two quotes for today!!!

Give a man a fish and he has food for a day; teach him how to fish and you can get rid of him for the entire weekend. ~Zenna Schaffer

There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. ~Steven Wright

Just Thursday

Head over and link up for Just Thursday.

Outside my window.. cars driving by work
The time is.. 2:24 PM
Today I feel.. kinda sleepy
I am thinking.. I HAVE to make my friendship cakes tonight.
At the moment, I am thankful.. I have such a wonderful husband
I am going.. to try and stay awake for the rest of work! lol
I am wearing.. Khaki pants and a pink top
I wish.. I could have my tuff truck done
I am reading.. "Life of Pi" and "The Time Travelers Wife"
I am working on.. drinking more water each day and cutting my portions down
I am hoping.. that I will stick to my goals
I am hearing.. Blake Shelton's "Hillbilly Bone" on the radio
Around the house.. I keep finding dog hair. I need to vacuum
I bet you didn't know.. I love pink, even though I am the least girly-girl around
One of my favorite.. desserts is a concrete. :)

A new hobby that failed

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept
The writing prompts for this week are:

1.) The popular girls.

2.) It happened at work.

3.) "How long until you realized you had no talent or patience for this? Tell the story (true or fiction) of trying to learn a new talent or hobby that you only pursued briefly."

4.) "Who first told you that it's not nice to stare? Write about a time you stared when you maybe shouldn't have, or a time when sometime stared at you."

5.) Describe a happy reunion.

So pick one, head over to Mama Kat's and link up!

The failed hobby....

I was taking my sister-in-law to her hunter's safety course, and those suckers are long. Like over eight hours long. And this time we had an extremely large turn out so they had to move us to a different building so that took forever. Since it was a Saturday no one wanted to answer their phones.

So we get into the building, two hours late, and they start the class. We are in an auditorium now. Not exactly what I had planned on when I was thinking that we were going to be in a classroom. But I was going to make the best of it.

I had gone to our local Wal*Mart and bought a kit and some yarn. I was going to learn how to knit. I had eight hours so surely I could teach myself in eight hours right? I had already taught myself to cross stitch reading instructions and stuff on the Internet so I was pumped to learn to knit.

I read through it all and think that I know what I am going to do. So am crossing one leg so I have a "desk" to rest the book on and get started. It is telling me to do seven stitches and is showing me how to do them. I finish those stitches and am so proud of myself. Then comes the time to make the second row of stitches. You have to do the opposite of what you just did as well as hook into the row below.... That is when it started getting bigger. I figured that when it was washed it would all even out. So I went to the next row and it got even bigger. I tried this multiple times and it was the same thing every time, I was miscounting and just couldn't get it. So I pulled the stitches out, pouted and actually had to listen to the lecture over hunters safety.
I have tried to pick it up a couple more times with the same results so I have decided until I can find someone to sit and help me, I will not be knitting any time soon!

The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly. ~Author Unknown

There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process. ~Paul O'Neil, 1965

Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting. ~Dave Barry

I am going to try take pictures of my stitched stuff tonight. I am getting so close on so many things. I need to sit down and finish some of them. I have another goal to finish one in particular and get it hung up. It will look like this when it is done.

Photo credit

I have finished this one already for a friend and bought everything to make myself one exactly like it. Now I just need to get up and actually do it!

I am still working on an embroidered quilt and an embroidered tooth fairy pillow. I always seem to have multiple projects going so I don't get totally bored with any of them. Can't wait for you to see what I am working on!

Family

Family.... What do we consider family? To most it seems to be mom, dad, brothers, sister, aunts, uncles, grandparents and some are even lucky enough to have great grandparents. Mister was one of those who had multiple sets of great grandparents when we started dating. We lost the last in November.

Now myself on the other hand, I have a hard time saying what family is. My mom had breast cancer and fought for 4 1/2 until she lost her fight. I thought that it was normal to leave school and go the hospital to visit. My mom would pull me up on to her bed and help me with my homework. Until the age of 6 I can tell you what a family was for me. It was my mom who made everything work, even through the chemo and radiation. I was an only child but wasn't spoiled so much that I was a brat.

After my mom passed away my dad wasted no time in trying to find someone new. The excuse I have been told in the past was that he wanted to have a "new mother" for me. I now know the true reason is that he didn't want to be alone. The woman that he picked had three kids from two previous marriages. The last child was born on the day of my mom's funeral. When they got married eight months later she was already pregnant and had the next less than eight months after that. They ended up having another child and the total of children, including myself was six.

This woman had worked with my mother so I was familiar with her. But once my mother wasn't around any more I became "competition" of sorts. She would talk horrible about my mother, hit me, verbally abuse me and basically turned my father against me. I remember one time that he "stood up" for me. And that didn't really happen. Lots of words were said, but nothing actually happened. At 12 I made a decision, that was aided by his wife, to move out. I moved in with an aunt and uncle until I was 17. My dad never came to anything I did. In fact, I don't know that he saw anything that I did from the time I was 6 or older.

So family at that time was just myself. I was dating the Mister and his family was around but I never knew exactly what would happen so I tried to not get attached. There have been many people who are in and out of my life so I was still trying to decide what family actually meant.

Mister and I have had our ups and downs and have had issues and what has happened in the past is just that, in the past. And he is my family. I am his family. His family has always loved me but there was always a divide of sorts.

I have had issues with MY family the last couple of years. Accusations were made and I got a phone call with tears and was pushed into the drama. Then there were phone calls that said my dad and his wife were getting a divorce (it still hasn't happened). Then as long as I was needed the phone calls continued, and then stopped. I get a phone call saying there was a non-physical altercation between my dad and a half brother. Then I get a phone call this week saying that had a physical altercation and my dad needed something from me. When he showed up he showed what had happened and I asked what happened. After being tole I made the comment that he would be picked up. Boy was I mistaken. The father who had no problems in letting me go, not being involved in my life, who hasn't given me a dime since I was too young to have to think about money (12 years old) decided to not press charges against the brother who has taken advantage of everything that has been laid in front of him. He physically assaulted him but no charges were going to be filed.

This sense of "family" had skewed my understanding of everything and I decided that it wasn't what I wanted family to be. I have people around who love me for who I am (and they actually know me!). I have decided that family has nothing to do with blood, names or birth. Family are those who are around you and care for you - no matter what.

This is my family.

And at times my view has been of this and I had no idea what family truly was. There are times that everything is so messed up and I have no idea which end is right up. This can be the view from my point of view. I am feeling my way through this life, trying to figure things out.

I have made a decision to see what my true family is. It is all of the things above, except for the photo directly above. I have made to decision for this to be my family, no matter what. I know there will be additions to it (hopefully twin boys. God, that would be nice and is what I am desiring. As if you don't know!) But it will come down to the base that this family is built on. Mister and I are the base that this family will grow from. And I am finally okay knowing that it may just be the two of us. My immediate family probably won't be there, his family will probably be there but in the end it is the two of us. And that's is okay!

We ask a simple question
And that is all we wish:
Are fishermen all liars?
Or do only liars fish?
~William Sherwood Fox, Silken Lines and Silver Hooks, 1954

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. ~Doug Larson

An angler is a man who spends rainy days sitting around on the muddy banks of rivers doing nothing because his wife won't let him do it at home. ~Author Unknown

DARE tournament 2010

I keep forgetting to write about this so here it is!!!

May 8, 2010 was the date for the annual DARE fishing tournament that we fish in every year. The second year that we fished it I got a crank bait stuck in my leg among other things. Tons of fun. You really should revisit it. Last year the water was high but nothing of great importance necessarily happened.

This year was wonderful! We blasted off (boat #42) which I was excited about. We had a lot of firsts. This was my first blast off in the four years that we have been fishing it. We caught a full 5 fish limit, which was another first. I got to cull one of my husband's fish out !!!

We had a great time and caught tons of different fish. We caught a 40 lb. gar, white bass, drum, crappie, a couple of little, itty, bitty bass who were hitting a crank bait that was almost the same size as they are.

We didn't get in the money but we got to weigh in a full limit which ended up weighing 11. 2 lbs, had some great food afterwards and got to see my second favorite DARE officer, Jon. The father-in-law has GOT to be my favorite. We were in the top half and we have already set a goal to improve next year. Can't wait to fish again next year!

All fishermen are liars; it's an occupational disease with them like housemaid's knee or editor's ulcers. ~Beatrice Cook, Till Fish Do Us Part, 1949

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau

30 things to do this summer....

30 things I vow to do this summer.... I am enjoying this summer so lets see if I can think of 30 things that I am wanting to do. Head over and see the other topics at Mama Kat's and see if you can find something else that you like as well!

1. Make salsa so that we have enough to last through the winter.
2. Learn how to use a pressure cooker to can green beans and possibly other things. I have heard that chili is good and that would make it super easy for dinner.
3. Get a tan that is from being outside, even if it is a "farmers tan".
4. Make multiple kinds of pickles.
5. Keep my house clean so I am not stressing.
6. Learn how to can tomatoes.
7. Spend some time relaxing outside.
8. Lose weight so that I feel comfortable.
9. Go floating down the creek more than once.
10. Cut down my computer time in the evenings.
11. Read at least 5 books over the summer.
12. Watch the whole first season of Glee in one day (or maybe two).
13. Spend some time with friends around the campfire.
14. Take Roxy to the water and let her play.
15. Go out and eat with Mister at least once a week, just the two of us.
16. Start making Christmas gifts.
17. Start buying Christmas gifts.
18. Clean out, shampoo and wax my car.
19. Finish ripping the guts out of the inside of the bronco and build a roll cage inside it.
20. De-clutter my house.
21. Organize my craft stuff.
22. Keep up with canning so that we have lots of yummy food this winter.
23. Make sure and at least once a week have nothing to do when we get off work.
24. Not wish the summer away, no matter how hot it is.
25. Grill out and eat healthier.
26. Eat more fresh veggies out of my garden.
27. Give away some of the veggies to those around me.
28. Shoot my bow enough to pull 50 lb. draw weight.
29. Take a blanket out in the dark and watch the lightening bugs (fireflies) with Mister.
30. Go target shooting with the husband and father-in-law.

Suprise birthday party for me!

I turned 29 this year and was expecting to go and eat Mexican with Mister's dad and his wife. We get to pick where to go on our birthdays so I was pumped to go to a hole in the wall Mexican buffet. You heard me right, a Mexican buffet!!! It is one of our favorite places to eat and Friday nights they have these huge shrimp on the buffet and I love me some shrimp! I was absolutely psyched for Mexican and Mister and I were to be at their house at 7 pm. I didn't want to be late and dressed casual, you have to have room for all the food. We go down and look at the river since it is raining and then head over there. I walked in the door and there were people everywhere. Marcy, Monty, Darrin, Darrin's girlfriend, Vince, Alysia, Brandy, Chris, AJ, Derek, Tiffany, Bob, Christi, Mema, Katie, Karen, Farris, Kathy, Phil, Kim, Father in law & his wife (of course) L, B, and of course my wonderful hubby. They planned this, changed the night I got my nails done, and hid all the cars so I never knew what was happening. I cry when I get embarrassed so that explains the first pictures.

This was my cake. I loved it!!! It fit me perfect!

Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley. ~Author Unknown

Baby AJ's First Tooth!!!

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. ~Author Unknown

Dear Dog letter

Place low on the fridge or near eating places

Dear Dogs and Cats,
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.
For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.
The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:
To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About OurPets:
1.They live here. You don't.
2.If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it 'fur'niture.)
3.I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
Yours truly,
Your Pet Parents

The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing. ~Babylonian Proverb

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind. ~Washington Irving

All the romance of trout fishing exists in the mind of the angler and is in no way shared by the fish. ~Harold F. Blaisdell, The Philosophical Fisherman, 1969

Garden 2010 Update

My dill, lettuce, squash, onion, zucchini, green beans and tomatoes.

I have tons on cucumber plants, 41 to be exact. I will be making lots of pickles this year and figuring out some new things to make with cucumbers! My bell pepper is getting so big! I also have jalapenos that are growing. They look like little Christmas lights! I am enjoying the growth of my gardening skills!

May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it. ~Irish Blessing

Introducing.... my tuff truck!!!

BEFORE AFTER
New tires that I was given!!!

We got straight to work gutting the bronco to get it ready for everything that we have to do to get it ready. We took the seats out and were able to rip the back part of the carpet out. Once we get torque bit we will be able to take the seat belts out and rip the rest of the carpet up! Just thought you might like to see the results so far!!!

Quote of the day

A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work. ~Author Unknown

Quote of the day

Fishing is the sport of drowning worms. ~Author Unknown

Tuff Truck - 1981 Bronco - The beginnings

I have her!!! This is my new toy! I got a great deal and will keep everyone updated. Now we get to start the serious work, tearing her down and starting from scratch.
We got a heck of a deal on her. She is a 1981 Ford Bronco, 4WD that works and it runs!!! It was drove up on the trailer and loaded and unloaded. Now I am needing a name. Any ideas?

quote of the day

This month will be fishing quotes! If you find any quotes leave them for me and I will put them on here!!!

There are two types of fisherman - those who fish for sport and those who fish for fish. ~Author Unknown