razzleberry jam

After a big weekend picking berries like crazy (we got four pints from Sauvie Island ... cohos I think and then some Willamettes from Rowell brothers... about 8 lbs I think, though we ate a lot and Val probably brought over another 5 lbs. Val came over and we made about five batches of Jam... raspberry jam! One of my favorites (heck, I think they're all favorites in turn :).
For most of them we used the recipe on the pomona pectin box. We got, hmmm lets see 19 half pints (sent 10 homewith Val) and four pints of jam out of five batches... the first four with the pectin, the last with just a load of sugar (mostly made the pints).

summer bliss

Raspberries from the prolific bush down the street. A little uber-creamy vanilla yogurt (though maybe a custard one day when we are up to it). Whipped Cream. Crushed Amaretti cookies. Bittersweet chocolate shavings.

Cape Disappointment

Last parliament

Of owls that is... I should say mysteriously... for now!
I have arbitrarily decided that a good parliament of owls is a group of 6, with two tufted owls in the bunch. This group also had button eyes and were looking quite wise indeed.

Seeing Red..

It's that time of year! We hit Kruger's farm stand and picked a flat of strawberries... after pondering for about 30 seconds ended up purchasing two extra flats to bring on home for jam. ho boy do we have a bit of Strawberry Jam! With about half of our berry haul (a flat and a half), we ended up caning 18 half pints and 9 pints of Strawberry Jam! Honestly, I just got tired, and ran out of pectin... in fact our last batch may remain a little bit soft, but still yummy. I basically used the recipe in the Pomona Pectin package, with the full 2c sugar per 4c berries. Our actual favorite way to enjoy strawberries through the year is on strawberry shortcakes! Fresh of course is best, but we also have also frozen several batches (we're in the process right now, so I can't say how many). We've been putting in one quart of berries plus about a quarter cup of sugar, to get them all juicy. I've got to go and make sure that we're saving enough to enjoy fresh... we've been known to get a little too carried away putting up fruit, that sometimes we don't save enough for us now!!!

more owls and inspiration

Yep, I said it, more owls. I made another set for little Lilly. I have one more in the works but am loosing a bit of steam. I still think they're super cute though ... how fun. For baby Lilly we used felt circles for eyes instead of buttons.
Plus added in a few gift bags. I've done these for the past few birthday gifts for the kids. They're fun, and if the kids we've given them to are anything like Owen, he certainly likes to use the bag as much as whatever is inside.


On another note, I've had a wonderful past week... decadent you may even say. Owen and I took a trip to visit our dear friends in Florida. There were screened in porches with rockers and porch swings, sunshine and beaches.
bleached shells and wood.

Green everywhere and myriad wildlife.
Afternoon naps, soaking on the beach and in the bay, and glorious outdoor showers.

lovely.........

to follow up on a lovely weekend, B. took me to see Pink Martini at the Schnitzer, so much fun, it was definitely more of an orchestral crowd v. jazzier one, but still super fun to see. Plus... a night out, a concert, dinner at Kenny and Zukes. sweetness. Today to top off our week of debauchery we took a long lunch to watch Coraline at the Living Room. Pshew. Tomorrow I grab a huge pile of papers to grade to keep me occupied. Our summer gets a little crazy after this weekend, it has been nice doing a bit for myself... feels crazy luxurious.