HOMEMADE JAM

It was our first ever attempt at making homemade jam today. Both Dave's Mom & my Mom and Nana too have always made homemade jam. But though I've helped prep as I was growing up I never knew the final process. Today we learned it was much, much easier than we had thought. I am praying it sets because we have some very eager jam eaters awaiting these homemade treats.

I received this little guy for Christmas.  This was his first time out of the box & he worked like a champ!

Do you think he may be a little excited?

Blueberries are squashed in a flash!

After we put together the blueberry jam it was time for strawberries.

Dave worked on finishing up the blueberry jam.

The kids wanted to be right in the middle of it all.

Thank you, Mom!  She got this for us to use in our jam making.

Our official taste testers.

She wanted to help stir & was very happy when it was finally her turn.

Next it was time to taste test the strawberry jam.  What a tough job, eh?

9 jars of blueberry jam

Daddy giving Boo instructions on how to fill the jars.

Boo & I finished up the strawberry jam and filled 12 jars.  This is all freezer jam.  We plan to make some hot jar jam with the rest of the strawberries sometime this week. 

Blueberry Picking & An Ice Cream Treat

One of our family traditions is to go blueberry picking together. We look forward to it. It is fun, we get to spend time together & we get to stock up our freezer. We've been doing it since our oldest girls were little.

At our favorite U-pick farm.

Blueberries!

They are ready to get to work.

These baskets are the best as they free both your hands for picking.

Me & my boys.

Cute as a button in her bonnet.

Why, hello there.

Do yoooou have any treats?

Awwww, shucks.

Ice cream is a tasty reward for working hard in the sun.

Yes, we did pick all of these.

Delicious goodness!

Cleaning the berries before getting them ready for the freezer.

All ready for the freezer.  This way we can enjoy them all winter long.