feeling a litle domestic

Just because I am feeling festive, here's a sneak peek of my table. I made the table runner. But that's not why I am feeling so domestic.I am feeling domestic because yesterday my Grandma and I had a little fun in the kitchen. My Grandmother-in-law (Luke's Grandma Joyce) got me a subscription to Paula Deen's magazine for Christmas two years ago (and I love it) and in this month's issue there was a section on "preserving summer". So many recipes for jams, jellies, pickles and more.

I have never made home made jam before so I thought I would give it a shot. Many thanks to my mom for supplying the goods.

Just getting started. First up, blackberry jam. I actually think we made the raspberry jam first but I don't know that I got any good pictures of that "in process".

Madelyn pretty much just played at our feet the entire time. She is so good. I am seriously fearful of #2 (if there is a #2) simply because of how awesome #1 is. I have been told that means we are due for a wild one!

Grandma kept checking the recipe to make sure that I was telling her right. Don't let her sweet little granny looks fool you, she is witty and sassy. Ha! (She really is the sweetest lady that you will ever encounter, but that doesn't mean she isn't a jokester-just ask my mom how she made fun of me stuttering yesterday.)

At one point it looked as though everything was about to boil over.

Grandma got it under control though.

Thanks to the little kit my mom bought for us, it was super easy to pour in to the jars.

For some reason I was really anxious while they were boiling to ensure a good seal. I kept thinking one of them was going to burst open at any moment.

Next up on our attempts to preserve summer, pickled okra.

The finished product.

I put one of the jars of raspberry jam in the fridge last night and Luke and I enjoyed it on an english muffin this morning. It was tasty. The hubby even said so! I'd call that a success.