Exhale

When the pressure camber started rumbling along and I heard three pops, I was picturing fresh delicious Yakima corn floating in the aluminum tinged water at the bottom of the pressure canner. Admittedly, I got desperate for a few mire jars and used 3 jars that a friend gave me ( thanks j!) that looked like they had probably been around since the depression. When i hward the rattling and then the pops I immediately thought--I've learned this old jar lesson before! But, after the pressure canner cooled and the dial read zero, the smell of corn was so strong I was sure my pot was full if shards. But no, all jars intact, looking good. I guess the smell is just corn juice siphoning off...phew! I've got 10 pints of delicious sweet corn.

Thrift jars + ?

I got a crate of jars at Mercer Island Thrift Store today and it came with a mystery canned good!! What is it? Smells like it might be peaches....oooooh. Who wants 'em?

Playing chicken

We're about 1 hour if staple gunning and a little more carpentry away from completion. I better start looking for birds and feed! Can't wait for a bright orange omelet!

Downward doggie

I'm gonna yoga, mom.

Cranberry beans

No exclamation point. These are truly gods gift to beans if you're into barbie doll food. I thought they might have some exotic taste that equalled their exterior but no, they will require working up just like every other shell bean. They did maintain some of their beauty after cooking but I'll just have to gaze at this photo if I want that old feeling--i liken it to a summer love that fizzled and died.

Figs + plums

Loving the Joy of Cooking (circa 1960's) jam recipes. This is a hodgepodge of plum and figs. And I didn't can it. Just straigt into this beautiful new jar and into the fridge. Plums from Aly and Kadota(?) figs from CSA.

Come in chickie!

We're getting close to coop completion. My Momhelped me put the roof timbers on and she's coming back tomorrow for the finishing touches!

Hello old friend + welcome new one!

I'm back to canning. I guess I was full of hot air (or water) when I said I was done a few weeks ago. It's just a bummer when something doesn't turn out as expected and I got discouraged. But I didn't stay away too long. When Sarah let me pick plums and pears from her mom's tree, I knew I couldn't eat them before they'd spoil and I never have room in the freezer. So, alley-oop -- out came my trusty canning pot! And, well, my pears are floating and I tries canning Italian plums just to find out how they taste so they're no master works but I had a good manic time peeling and poaching and beating the clock.
In other news, a new shiny beautiful 22 qt. Pressure canner is now in my battery of tools thanks to my mom!! She even let me have it a week early (my birthday is tomorrow.) Today I made golden vegetable stock in it, then Pressure canned 5 quarts to put away and save. I am so thrilled to be able to can stock now. Hot diggity!

End of summer countdown

I am so glad the days are still warm. I feel falls breath every night, earlier and earlier.

The beginning and the end of the night

Here's one last taste of this weekends wedding. Tyler played DJ so we stayed till the last shuttle took the loudest and drunkest home. It was a beautiful evening full of delicious local fare and a great dance party!

Tie meets dress!

Ginger juice is hot!

Today's little conquest came on the heals of customizing my CSA box after a night of drinking at the rehearsal dinner. I wound up with three boxes of fresh fruits and veggies including a full pound of ginger. Say wha? Thanks to J and Ryan for lending me this darling book: Jam it, pickle it, cure it. Ummm, sounds like my summer. For this recipe, I didn't add the lime they call for because I may use the ginger for other things than Jamaican ginger beer. That juice is spicy like wasabi, though, and I am eager awaiting some soda water to mix up a refresco! I wonder what else I'll use it for-- in a marinade, a cake, any ideas?

Addie's Family Ranch + Bronco Billy's in Sisters

Rehearsal in the distance

Black butte ranch is gorgeous!

This place had all the web-reputation of a cheesy gold resort, but turned out to be totally wonderful. Great food, lots do do including miles and miles of walking/biking paths, real cows, a few nice pools, fly-fishing lessons and even a tie-dye class! Oh dang!!. Check it out.