Second Try Success...

I need to write a note to self. If I'm going to garden one day, I can plan not to stitch for at least the next two. My hands were suffering after my recent foray into the garden. I was unable to comfortably hold a needle, and going back for a second day of weeding was also out of the question. Lesson learned (for now).

So, when Sunday rolled around, I wanted to try the lilac jelly again. The blossoms are peak right now, so they'll be off the bushes within a couple days. I hoped to make up a fully successful batch before it was too late this year.

I went back through my recipes to find the one I originally used for my flower blossom jellies, and compared them to the one I used earlier last week. There were definitely differences. I pulled out all my supplies and picked blossoms to make a single batch.

I followed the recipe except for one thing. It called for food coloring to change the color of the jelly, but I added about two tablespoons of fresh lemon instead (an ingredient from the recipe I used last week), to naturally change the color away from a dull green to this pretty pink/peach. 

The tall jar in the back right of this photograph was a planned first use jar that didn't go through the water bath. I actually knew it wouldn't fit in the pot I used to process the jars, so we'll eat that one first. 

This time everything came together perfectly. It was already jelling before I could get it into the jars! A short 10 minute water bath and all the jars pinged when they came out of the canner. 

After this was done yesterday, I spent a little time just sitting outdoors and enjoying the sunshine, and Handsome and I had a nice dinner together last night. We've had a Cameron™Stovetop Smoker for the past 30 or so years, but I've only used it one or two times. It can be used stovetop, on the grill, in the oven, or even over a campfire.

We pulled it out to try the stovetop method on a couple of nice ribeye steaks. Twenty minutes in the smoker with hickory chips, and then finish browning them in melted butter in my cast iron pan. (Is your mouth watering yet?) The result was another kitchen toy that will definitely see more action in the future.

I don't work again until tomorrow, so I'm going to attempt a little frog stitching today. I don't think I'll be able to marathon stitch - as I love to do - but I should be able to make some progress nonetheless. 

Here we go with another new week. I'll be back tomorrow, and hope you will, too!