Gus' Duck-y

Just a quick little snapshot of something sweet I caught while hanging laundry (the camera is pretty much attached to me around my neck these days - so many Kodak moments to capture). Gus and Duck-Duck (that's the little Weimeraner, staying next door) have really taken a liking to each other...whenever we're not looking they meet at the fence and play...

From tree to jar

Yep, I'm really into that canning thing right now. Every time I see produce (preferrably free) I jump at the chance to peel it, cook it up and fill it into jars. There is something extremely soothing about canning and I love the security I see when I open my pantry and see the pretty little glass jars sitting there obediently in a row, waiting to be openend and enjoyed.

I found an appletree behind a closed convenience store on my long run last weekend. It's brimming with juicy, tart apples and the ground is covered in the slightly dinged up variety - not spotted enough to stop my industrious imagination from getting jump started...for the rest of my run, I mulled over the possibilities and by the time I finished, I couldn't wait to jump in the shower and return with Gus and a large bag...I was actually worried that someone else might have discovered it too...

No need to worry...with my mother-in-law and my grandmother-in-law's tutorials over the phone, I managed to cook my harvest down to sauce and can it neatly into five pint jars.


Did I mention how much I love summer?

Tennis anyone?

This post is for Uncle Andy, exclusively. No explanation needed. Gus is ready. Bring it on, Edward!

We Love Lake Heartwell

This weekend we got to go back to Lake Heartwell in South Carolina with our friends Heather and Richard. As you can see, Gus liked it just a little bit and so did his Daddy...who surprised all of us with his waterskiing prowess...the man can ride a wave reeeel purrty!

We enjoyed our stay with Heather's folks again - so very much. Good food, inspiring company, good sleep, beautiful scenery and a tranquil lake. What more can you ask for?

Walk this way...

Tatata tahhh! (drumroll inserted here) here is is! The proof that Gus is walking, well, sort of walking. It's still really teetery, but he has shown to think before he lets go and take a few slow steps before he sits or falls down.

Here he just got excited about falling into my arms...

Summer is so sweet!

Jacob and I spent an hour Sunday evening picking black berries in a nearby park by the French Broad River (Gus got to hang out with Auntie Say-Say). The park is secluded and just overgrown around the edges with berry bushes that are heavy under their sweet load. We managed to pick about four quarts with only a few splinters and scratches (blackberry bushes are prickly suckers!) and a tiny patch of poison ivy for Jacob (he is the poison ivy magnet, if there is such a person).

Naturally I excitedly started mulling over my options the moment the berry harvest hit the kitchen counter and Monday afternoon (while Gus was snoozing) I decided to make low-sugar preserve, with the help of an online primer and Jacob's Mom's handy inversion trick (helps seal the lids).

Six jars of pure not-to-sweet, almost herby goodness are now gracing my pantry (actually five - one is already in heavy use in the fridge).

Have I mentioned how much I like Western North Carolina during these sweet hot days of high summer?

I'm going back for more berries next week...I'm thinking cobbler and maybe some smoothies...

"This is Gus, speaking..."

Gus talks to Granna in these two photos. After just waking up from a good afternoon nap, he was in the mood to gab.

Unfortunately I didn't get the shot where he held it up to his ear (he is mimicking me), but he loves to hear the voices and lick the display (that's how much he loves his Granna...)

Here he is listening to his Grospabe calling long-distance from Switzerland. For some reason Grosbape always makes him giggle on the phone.