Canning

While we were up in PA this past weekend I helped Dad & Sandy make and can tomato soup and hot peppers. My father works very hard on his garden, from putting it to bed in the fall to waking it up in the spring and nurturing it all spring and summer long. The bumper crop of tomatoes this season brought about some absolutely delicious cream of tomato soup -- everything that went into that soup was natural and from their garden, except I believe some celery and carrots, although the carrots most certainly could have come from the garden. My point here is, with all of the salmonella and other food scares, growing and canning your own food makes more and more sense. Our lot is heavily wooded and does not lend itself to a garden; however, when we move to Illinois, that's one of my list toppers - a home that has a spot for a garden.

I am going to try my hand at making preserves - I have a big gallon sized zipper bag filled with blueberries from -- you guessed it, Dad & Sandys bushes in PA, as well as about a quart of raspberries, just picked on Saturday. I'll let you know how the canning goes -- hopefully, we will have a delicious taste of summer to spread on our toast through the winter!

Blue

For my birthday my DH came home from Illinois after being gone for 7 1/2 weeks. It was so damn good to see him and have him here, we miss him something fierce!

My birthday wish from my daughter was a picture frame "done by" her with a picture of her and her Daddy in it. I took the pictures that make up this collage at the airport right before he left, and I call it "blue" because we were very unhappy that he had to go, not to mention the obvious "blueness".

Sarah and her piano

Well here we are, your first notes on the piano. You are so excited! I am excited, too, because I love watching you discover new things. The dogs are extra curious, as well - and earlier, while we were eating dinner, we heard some surprise notes and then saw Kozmo and Hobbes tearing out of the study -- they discovered the piano as well!!! It will be interesting to see if your toe-dipping turns into a full swim; either way, I am happy we can give you the opportunity to try!

I wish your Daddy were here to see this in person - but I know he'll love this video too!