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!

Lilac Jelly...

Yesterday was lilac jelly day. By the time I finished, there were sixteen 4 ounce jars and eight 8 ounce jars of mild, sweet goodness for the pantry.

I made a double batch, which I've done before, but after water bathing the first batch, I didn't feel like it was going to set up, so I emptied all the jars, added more pectin and re-jarred everything. As of bedtime last night, it appeared to be turning into a jelly, but I think it may be a day or so before I'm confident. I really don't want to have to rework it again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I can say it tastes delicious, so I'm happy with that part. The jars are beautiful, and I'm looking forward to creating a lovely pound cake to become the base layer for said lilac loveliness.

I'm working today, but will be back to stitching on my frogs this afternoon after I get back home. Nothing like a little needle dancing to end the day.

We woke up to overcast and cool weather yesterday, so I knew it was a perfect day to spend baking. I began with farmhouse bread, and while the loaves went through the process of rising, folding, repeat, I made the dough for the cinnamon rolls.

No. These aren't all for us. I definitely know my boundaries, so we share. Some will go up the hill, and this time I'm also sharing with a couple friends from work. One of the gals bartered venison and halibut for some of our canned delights. I'm adding baked goods when I see her today. I do love bartering!

I work from 10-7 today, so I'll be away most of the day while Handsome and the girls hold down the fort. This weekend, I'll be setting up the last of the frog brooches to make into scissor fobs and brooches. It's time to send them hopping to their new homes. I'll probably set them up on Saturday so I can start on them right away.

Did you notice the fresh lilacs in the background of my picture? The blossoms are just beginning to open up. I think that means there will be lilac jelly in the near future, too! If you've never tried it, you don't know what you're missing. I don't make it "perfume" strong, so it only has a lilac hint, but served on pound cake with a little whipped cream is heavenly. Yes. I'm sure there will be lilac jelly again this year.

Are you ready for the weekend? Do you have plans for Mother's Day? Are you creating something fun right now? I'd love to hear about it!

A Wonderful Weekend...

Brynwood Needleworks - Beautiful Mother's Day Flowers

After all the excitement of Friday night, it was hard to come back to earth on Saturday. I drove to town to help our nephew and his fiance' move into their first home. It's older than our farmhouse, and needs some TLC, but they're up to the challenge, and it's large enough for their family of six. They're so excited to be there, and their enthusiasm was contagious.

I arrived with a large crock-full of homemade chili, chili toppings (diced onions, shredded cheese and sour cream), rolls and chips. Handsome and I made it after we got home from the banquet on Friday night, and it cooked in the slow cooker overnight. There was plenty for everyone who came to work - plus the bit I put aside for our dinner when I got back home.

There were lots of boxes to unpack, so I thought I'd help where I could (without lifting those boxes). I washed all the cabinetry in the kitchen, and then I tackled windows and doors. When my niece got back to the house, the cabinets were ready for her to decide where things will start in the kitchen. I told her not to sweat it too much, because she'll likely change everything around once she starts actually working in the space. By the time I left, everything was put away.

My nephew's dad, and his future wife's dad both tackled the large fenced-in back yard first, mowing and picking up debris left over from winter. Then they mowed the front yard. Their property looked 100% better - and loved - by the time they were finished.

When I got back home late afternoon, there had been a flower delivery for me from our younger son, his wife and our granddaughters. They're so beautiful, fragrant...and perfect!

Brynwood Needleworks - Lilacs In Bud

Handsome and I spent most of our day outdoors on Sunday. We mowed the lower yard, leaving the dandelions in bloom on the upper hillside for the emerging bees and butterflies. We also did some maintenance on the large pole barn doors and gutters, and then ate lunch outside.

 

The lilac bushes are all greening out and budding. I can't imagine blossoms won't be far behind, which means lilac jelly in the next month. Yum! 

 

Bella discovered chased the black cat that's been my guest all winter. Thankfully, the compass barn doors were opened so the cat had a place to escape. She (I think it's a girl) jumped up to the loft where she stayed the rest of the afternoon. I took food out to her, hoping she calmed down. 

 

It must have worked, because when I looked outside before going to bed, she was curled up on the stairs to the porch. Yep. Right outside the house. Short memory or no fear? Your guess is as good as mine.

 

I love the promises that come after a cold and snowy winter. It's going to be a beautiful late spring and summer at the farmhouse. I hope you'll continue to join me as I celebrate the seasons this year.

Tag will see you tomorrow. He had fun outside this weekend, too. I'll let him tell you about it. See you Wednesday!

 

"Just The Flax, Ma'am"...

Watering  The Flax Flowers

I apologize for the bad pun. If you're anywhere my age, you'll remember Sgt. Friday on the original Dragnet tv series. (This was frequently his line when a witness got sidetracked when answering one of his questions.) Handsome groaned when I told him what I thought of for today's post title. lol

It was a wonderfully busy day yesterday. It was in the mid-60sº, so I got a little stitching time in. I was going to wait until last to do the flowers (kind of a treat, really), but I couldn't resist tackling them at this point. I stitched between running downstairs to rotate loads of laundry.

Farm Girl, Flax Flowers and A Sweet Sheep

 

My sister stopped by late afternoon, too. She brought some of her homemade floral jellies (peony, white apple blossom, and wild plum blossom) for me, and I shared some of mine (pomegranate, garlic-onion, cranberry/jalapeno, Christmas jam, and lilac). Then we headed down the road to a place where I'd seen "wild" lilac bushes on an abandoned farmstead. We picked enough for me to make jelly, and Sher to make lilac water.

 

After dinner, I made up the last batch of lilac jelly for this season. By the time I was finished...I was finished. I originally planned to stitch afterward, but decided to put my feet up and enjoy a late cup of tea instead. So, when all was said and done, all I stitched yesterday were the flax flowers. 

 

"Just the flax, ma'am." 

Sometimes I crack myself up. lol

 

The Latest Blessing From The Farm...

Liljegren's Hickory Hill Farm Lilac Jelly

Our weather was unseasonably warm last weekend, so I didn't spend as much time as I'd hoped in the sewing studio. I didn't want to have my sewing machine and my iron further heating up the space.

Instead, I decided to make lilac jelly (for the first time). The results were so fabulous that I spent the past two days making more.

Liljegren's Hickory Hill Farm Lilac Jelly

All of these jars were created with blossoms from the same lilac bush in our yard. (I have a sprig from that bush in front of the jars in the first photo.) We have two others in the near yard (different colors), plus a grove of really old ones in the front corner of our yard.

I decided to harvest from the same bush for my first experiment in making this lilac jelly, and there were a total of four batches created this time.

Hickory Hill Farm Lilac Jelly (L: Afternoon Blossoms R: Morning Blossoms)

 

I learned last year that most sources suggest harvesting the fruit (or in this case, blossoms) early in the day, so that's what I did for three of the batches. The resulting morning blossom jelly is on the right in the above photograph. It's a golden/honey color with a touch of peach tinge.

 

I went back into the yard for the last portion of blossoms around 2 pm yesterday, and made my final batch for the day. The result is this gorgeous, peachy/pink color shown on the left. All the batches taste the same, but I learned that I can harvest at different times of the day for differences in the final color of the jellies.

 

If the weather stays nice today (we're expecting rain), I'm going to take blossoms from the bush closest to our old apple tree. Those blooms are the palest of pink, leaning toward white. I'm interested to see if blossom color further affects the color and flavor of the jelly. 

In the meantime, I'm creating the most wonderful of treats - yet another gift of the farm - that will be enjoyed long after the blossoms with their heavenly fragrance are spent for this season. I'll savor this jelly on toast on chilly fall mornings, or spread on a delicate slice of pound cake (baked from my grandmother's recipe), and then topped with a bit of whipped cream.

I'm also looking forward to sharing a portion with our family. As I stood at the stove, I imagined our granddaughters, in years hence, standing in our kitchen, recreating these same treats from this grandmother's recipes to share with their families - right here at our family farm - and my heart is full.