Canning Apples

So because we are just so 'awesome'... we got some Farmer's Market coupons and so I spent them all on apples. I got 2 boxes. One of granny smiths, and the other I think Braeburns. It was fantastic. I got them from the Rowley something farms... he was so nice.

I have never canned on my own before. Last year my mom helped me can peaches but she did all the hard stuff and so this year I did it all on my own. I started at 10 am and finished around 3 pm. I did 5 jars at a time in my brand new canner and than did the last batch with 2 jars and so a total of 27 jars... yummy! Since I have never done this before I was so proud of myself I had to take picture and document everything. This is my cutting apples up station. I had a bowl of cleaned apples. My cutting board, a knife the cut the apples in small pieces, a bowl to put the pieces in, and my trusty apple pealer, corer. It is amazing. You put the apple on, you wind it as it peels, cores and slices the apples. So than I take the apple off cut it in half and than cut the pieces in half to make more pieces fit. I have never used all 4 units at the same time, and I ended up only using the 3 after I forgot a unit was on and nothing was in a pot and burned my pot up... nice. I have a pot with the lids and rings, a pot with the sauce, a pot for the hot water to pour into the canner after I put the jars in, and than my canner. Here is my book and my towel all ready for jars, and my jar grabber. I got this box that came with everything. The magnet tool to pull the lids out of the hot pot, the grabber to grab the jars with, a funnel, and a bubble releaser. All very handy and very important. My jar soaking station. I washed all my jars than soaked 5 at a time in the hot water so they would be ready for the hot liquid and not break. Sami before she drove me bonkers by washing her hair in the soaking sink, ( I refilled it with clean water no worries) she went down for a nap reluctantly. Daphne being cute, before she bonked her head again and took a nap. She was asleep for about 3 hours during my process. Having someone at my feet while I am dealing with hot liquid is not a good thing. My first batch, I was so happy that non of them broke... but I did start smashing the apples in better as to use up more room. Half of the finished jars. The other half... Now just wait 24 hours and I can put them away in my cupboard well at least 26 of them, 1 of them will be immediately be opened in the morning for Dave to put apples on his oatmeal... and he is already asking me about apple crisp, these are the reasons behind canning apples, these will be gone by November... maybe December. Yeah, we love apples. I think next year I might can tomatoes since we eat so much stuff with tomatoes... so much fun, I wish I could can and can and can... glad that this is an inexpensive way to food storage. Last time I borrowed my mother-in-laws canner but I decided I needed my own and Dave said, for food storage purposes of course. I love kitchen items. it is my favorite place to be besides my craft table, and of course my bed. But it's tide with the TV and my books.

Sorry for so much explanation but if I forget how to do this than I can look back at this or someone else who has never canned can figure it out from here too. I used all the apples except maybe 10. Half of which we will eat and the other half I will give to my mom.

Nothing but Organizing!

So I have been kind of in a creative funk, I blame it on the ants that just can't seem to get enough of my kitchen floor, I just don't understand, if anything it has forced me to be a better house cleaner (which I confess I really wasn't very good, I still am not great but improved). I vacuum my carpet every other day, and sweet my floor after any food is eaten in it. They seem to come around less often when the swamp cooler is on... thank goodness! Although I have discovered, they do not like my vacuum! So I labeled my canisters, it gives it a homey feel and I enjoy it... it helps and it looks nicer to me ! I made this thing I have been wanting one of these ever since I saw "Marley & Me" they had one hanging on there wall. It's cool, but I keep forgetting to use it! I don't have a very good place for it. I have had the clear calendar part for awhile but I just had it stuck to the side of my fridge and than the frames were on sale at Craft warehouse and so I went for it... it was hard trying to find a piece of paper to go behind that would still be able to show the ink of my markers... they don't sell black dry erase markers by themselves unless you want to spend $6... I had some wood just hanging around and I got these cute black and white photos of us and so I put them to good use. It was fun. I also made one for my bedroom with blue, and made one for my dad for father's day to put up in there house in the mountain. It was a hit... So I had fun getting ready for Sami's party and made this banner to hang up at home... I need to re-design how I do this because it was a lot of letters and they wouldn't lay right... Up close picture... I love the sebastian! I love displaying cards, and this is the best way I have found to do so, especially around Christmas time. I had to do a close up of the Mermaid card and Shelly's "Oh Happy Day"... so dang cute... (Shelly we need to have a craft day...)

Ok, so that is what I have been up to. I take time every day to re-organize something because I love doing it. And there is always something to organize. Today I organized my cupboards because the shelf holders were breaking and so I had to take the weight off of them... I just switched some stuff around in a couple cupboards and it really freed up some room. I also have been organizing my magazine articles. I love taking clippings from magazines and have so many but I always go back to them for re-decorating, dealing with my kids, cooking... whatever and so I have been put it all into binders and organizing... it's taking me longer than hoped and so I will have to show my result. I love looking at other's blogs and seeing there decorating or there organization and so if you have something on your blog that fits those categories share... we can trade secrets!

Well Enjoy!