You Don't See That Every Day

  I made the first batches of fresh-berry jam earlier in the week! It smelled so good and strawberry-ish in our house that day! Today was the first swim competition for the summer season. And we woke up to the sound of pouring rain on the rooftops. The meet started at 8 am, and the sun finally came out by 10:45. Miss M. S-girl Not a good sign. It was a cold and extra wet morning, until the sun finally came out near the end of the meet. This year the 3 older kids are swimming, as opposed to last year when it as just 2. The little one did pretty well, for about 2 hours, and then she needed to get up and move! The Boy, on the return

It's time for the berries! I picked half of our raspberries yesterday morning. With a little help . But if that wasn't enough, I had to go and get some strawberries too. I knew that their availability is nearly at an end here, and wanted to get in on the good stuff. So I brought home 24 pints of those. Plus my 4 pints of our own raspberries. And then I got to work ... washing, boiling, smashing, sugaring, cooking, stirring, pouring ... After almost 3 hours, my final product of 16 jars of jam. But only because I had to stop when I ran out of sugar and pectin. But we had strawberry with our breakfast oatmeal this morning, and then strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight. And I picked up some more needed ingredients, so I will finish up with the last of the berries that are waiting in my refrigerator, and making it, and my kitchen, smell like strawberry every time the door is opened.