Spanish Banks @ low tide to watch the skim boarders, dig more holes and dip our toes;

Littlest bean is a mellow fellow but he startles easily. i felt his little body tense at the sound of each wave rolling at our feet. Sometimes Little A’s quick enthusiasm sends Little M’s arms up over his head before his lower lip turns upside down trembling. It’s so very dear and we’re quick to reassure that all is well with the world.

Little A was really proud of his baby brother for grabbing hold of the umbrella - he requested i take this photo.

Post beach take out. There was no getting around it. Sweetbean M was excited seeing his big brother so excited;

Himalayan High.  i’m really trying to minimize our waste but i’m exhausted trying to explain it in a creative way to my 6 year old.  He says “yes, but can we still get one?” and so we did and it was good. on my list of things to acquire and carry on us are our own cups and some stainless steel straws.

I think tomorrow will have to be a day without sand. The beach is a love hate experience for me.

i finally made jam!

i think i procrastinated so long because the amounts of sugar are shocking and while i enjoy a fair amount of jam i just couldn’t bring myself to sweeten it so.  i tried agave syrup in place of sugar a few weeks ago with the strawberry jam but it didn’t pass little A’s “sweet test”. i like it though. After peeking at several recipes and consulting with my mama i came up with a modified version;

3.5c raspberries

1/2 c organic grape juice

3/4c evaporated cane sugar

2 tsp calcium water

2tsp pamona’s pectin

Mash berries, add grape juice and calcium water. Bring to a tumbling boil and boil 2 mins. Add sugar and pectin, stir vigorously and boil another minute. Remove from heat and blend with beaters for 4 mins. (to avoid hot splatters i covered the bowl with parchment and poked the beaters through). The grape juice was to sweeten as well as to make the jam less seedy. My mama uses a full cup of apple juice with 4c berries.  Pour hot jam into hot jars ( i heated them on a tray in the oven), seal with hot, dry lids and wait for the pop. all done.  i’m out of bread to sample but it’s tasty on wasa crackers.

we spent an awesome day picking and eating the most delicious “duke” blueberries.  i have decided that they are the most fun berries to pick and i think my most favorite uncooked berry to eat. they are sooooo good especially with unwhipped whipping cream.

time to pull this book off the shelf again;

it’s been a year since i changed my header and now there’s no need as we’re back again at Emma Lea’s to pick jam berries, tart berries, home made ice cream berries, smoothie berries, freezer berries, berries for birthday cake coulis…i didn’t even mind so much that it drizzled and was cool and felt very unlike summer - i ate a hot strawberry sundae anyhow.

so good to have extra picking hands because i spent most of my time nursing and changing diapers in the field.  these 2 were pro berry pickers - you should see all i ended up with (thank you S);

(looking disheveled and feeling a little so too)

can’t wait for the raspberries to sweeten up!

good company, conversations and laughs, cozy fire, games, lots of cheeses, gherkins, ravioli, blueberry venison & apple pork sausages (which i did not try), halibut with chanterelles and other yummies.

another dinner gathering and Christmas all over again - this time duck (i ate shitakes instead), sage roast potatoes, brocolini, yellow beans, brussel sprouts and then apple tarts with vanilla bean ice cream.

i just keep eating and eating. mmm.

Though parched, our little garden grew while we were away. The Helmer’s fingerlings were by far the best surprise since i assumed the plants were stunted. Jamie was right - regardless of limited space, anyone can grow potatoes.

heirloom tomatoes are coming soon…

i tried hard to enjoy thoroughly and not complain too much about the heat wave last week but it was rather overwhelming and hard to breathe. The weather is quite the opposite now, cool and hinting at Fall. i hope you all will brave the expected rain and get out to support your local farmers at the markets this weekend. i’ll be there. rain or shine.

oh man the air was thick of sticky sweet strawberries in the fields yesterday. it was difficult not to follow my nose but i kept to the plan and found plenty of raspberries. the test batch of jam is cooled and on the counter. grandma P arrived in time to share her recipe though we changed it up just a little. i had no idea how easy jam making could be, nor how much sugar there really is in it. no wonder my kid eats and eats it. sheesh.  thank you for all the jam making encouragement and sampling!

(photo on the left credit to Margaret who snuck up on us at the farm)

if someone wasn’t turning 5 on Sunday then i’m certain i’d be jamming all weekend, alas i’m going to warm up my kitchen a few more degrees by turning on the oven to bake cake. sorry chocolate lovers but my boy wants a vanilla cake. his design is very specific and with new details each day.  i better just get this baked. that and finish sewing up the birthday pants. this little sprout is growing out of everything.

eying up the blackberries for next month’s jam session;

July is the month of many celebrations.  i thought May was busy but this month and more specifically this week tops it. Canada Day or as Little A recalls it, the lobster sparkler party, was definitely a good kick off;

equally entertaining though in quite a different way, our little friend’s 3rd birthday!

more celebrating to come. did you know it’s National Ice Cream month (in the US)? Little A will be so pleased to hear this.

After much humming and hawing about what to do i finally followed through with the day’s original plan to return to the island for more delicious berries. Is Summer passing all too quickly for you?  I can hardly believe there’s just 1 week left of picking these delectable fruits. I better call grandma for some recipes  or another jamless year will pass me by. Oh she’s more than generous with her bounty but it’s one of those things i’ve always wanted to learn and do all on my own. I’m sure it’s not difficult and i know i’ll have to suck it up and put sugar in (i am notorious for skimping on sugar when i bake and then wishing later for something sweeter) but i best get on it….raspberries are next in season and that is my most favorite jam of all time.

“Follow me” he says. “I know a short cut.” For weeks i’ve rather followed than carried. His walk is gimped but he’s walk hopping and last night he put on a “walk dance” show. Woowee (or yeehaw as he says wearing this hat) he’s on the mend.

over the bridge, on to the highway, through the tunnel, over another smaller bridge, on to the island… looking for berries! berries for jam (and smoothies and crumble, straight up and with cream).

Same island, different farm. The rows were more spaced and the plants less tall but the berries were sweet and delicious and the picking was good. ;

so good.

i’m sure this is only the start of the strawberry posts. Next time we’re bringing friends along. i love the conversation between rows…oh especially when picking raspberries…i should take my note book to copy down all the secret recipes i hear. i love u-picks.

and just in case some of you haven’t read this though i’m certain most of you have;