June day at home and away, and strategic planning for 6/14

I wake early these mornings, and get my walk in before it gets too warm and the shade moves away.

Only a couple of frogs at the pond Wednesday morning, jumping, but I could hear them farther away 

Back home I did a bit of garden cleanup, mainly battling with catbriar, and carried the debris to the trees to add to the grass cuttings left by the landscapers.

Then I transplanted the spearmint into its own pot and gave it a place outside.

Back, California poppies I think, front, small zinnias, spearmint and large zinnias.

Finally got the lemons processed. I use lemon zest a lot, but don't love using the micro plane. It's effective though. I like tackling life with zest (!)

Since the lemons were large, the rind was thick, so I chunked the lemons up for lemonade, rather than juicing them. 

Thick rind usually means less juice, though the smell was still heavenly.   And I dealt with yet another sinkful of dishes, amazing how they add up.

This afternoon I read, well maybe slept, on the deck, Frederica, old Heyer favorite on my Kindle. 

There's a lot of woodpecker activity close by, drumming in trees, rattling calls, so I'm hopeful of a nearby nest. I haven't seen who's active, could be flickers or downies or red bellies, since we have all of them.

The cardinals are busy and there are tiny peeping sounds, maybe young getting around to flying. That and chickadees, and wrens. 

I see very little activity,  but I hear quite a bit. A crow was chased out of the nearest tree by a bluejay, who may be nesting there, too. It's an avian condo development in a couple of evergreens.

This is a great time of year, not too hot yet, not too buggy yet. Wednesday was my  sister's birthday. I think she'd have been 96. She made it to 92, living independently at home till her last couple of days.  I'm hoping for something like that. I'm in much better health than she was at my age, so we'll see.

Happy day everyone! Getting ready for Saturday, those who can march and demonstrate. Thank you! 

And if agitators attempt violence in order to discredit the march, here's the strategy

Ted sez do what we can, be safe, and loud.

The Dollivers Get in a Jam

Tomato and lemon jam, to be exact.  Call Me Michelle and Bette Davis stood on their diva rights and refused to join the kitchen squad.

But Blondie Firstborn, NameMe and Dreads, kitted up in their kitchen whites, set to to make this year's tomato and lemon jam.
The recipe, which I've changed many times since I first used it, an Amish one which doesn't mind tweaking, is for six half pints of jam, but I make three whole pints, why not.

  

Then with the able assistance of Dollivers, stationed at various point, we sterilized all my  Mason jars, three, that is, 

zested the lemon using my handy zester, out on its maiden voyage, and very good it is, then sliced the remaining lemon. The recipe says to just slice, but I find the outer skin goes tough in the jam, so this will be better.

Then simmered the tomatoes in the huge pot I use about once a year, add in a packet of liquid pectin, and the lemon, zest, slices, everything, 

and boil it a bit before adding in the sugar and getting it to an unboildownable boil.

At this point I remember each year why it's important to have a huge pot, doesn't bear thinking what would happen if it didn't have room to boil out of all control like this.

And we have three lovely jars of jam, setting up nicely.  And three Dollivers proudly showing their kitchen expertise before leaving me to deal with a mountain of dishes.. they complaining also about being tired, though.

The cook's privilege is to eat the last little bit out of the pan, and wow was it good. Very tangy, more interesting than fruit jams, great for breakfast.  But now I have to make hot biscuits to go with.