Two Good Men in My Life

While sorting through boxes and boxes and albums and albums of slides and pictures we've collected through the years, I've been able to relive my life so to speak. It has been a tedious job and the task of sorting is one I'll never have to do again. It has taken many days to sort which has to be done before I'm able to scan digitally what's left and eventually toss them all out. So far "sorting" only means having two piles — "Keep" or "Toss"  — for there will be many more days of actually sorting them into categories.

I've told you all that to tell you this . . . as I looked through all these pictures I'm reminded that I have been blessed with TWO GOOD MEN in my life . . . my father and my husband. I came across a couple of precious pictures to share with you today.

Forty-nine years ago today, August 24, 1963, these two men played a significant part in my life. One of them, my daddy, walked me down the aisle. 

And the other walked me back up the aisle to start our life as husband and wife.

I remember my dad saying to me as we started down the aisle: "J.E., there's still time, you can change your mind." I said "Thanks Daddy, but this one's a keeper!"

Many years later Daddy told Ken "I've never seen any two people get along as well as you and J.E." 

Ken and I met in 8th grade and became high school sweethearts. We had lots of time to get to know each other before this special day.

I love you Ken, and I'm so happy we tied that knot forty-nine years ago. I look forward to many more years of sharing life with you . . . you're the best. Happy Anniversary!

Life is good!

It's fun being able to share . . .

I enjoy many creative activities, quilting and tole painting are my favorites. Lately we've had quite a few occasions in our family for gift-giving. And what's a better way than to make something personal. 

I have a garden flag out by my front door that makes me smile every time I walk by. It says "Happiness is Homemade" and I believe that. It works two ways: I love making a gift for that special someone, it allows me time to reflect on all the good times we've shared together; and I love receiving something homemade just as well.

This is a box I made for our great niece as a wedding gift. Inside the lid is a personal message for the happy couple.

It also serves as a nice place to tuck in a check so it won't get lost among the other gifts.

Here's a pretty little box I painted for another great niece who just graduated from college and is planning on going to med school.

The box is lined inside and contains an inscription as well.

This is one I just finished for my nephew and his new bride who are getting married in September.

We'll tuck in a check, wrap it up, and it'll be ready to go.

Life is good!

I've been "Jammin!"

The temperatures here in our little mountain town of Coarsegold have been in the triple digits all week and we're in for one more week of the same. But since the fruit I bought at our local farmers market was ripening while sitting on the kitchen counter I had no choice but to bite the bullet and make jam. I actually love making jam to have on hand during the holidays. And this year I tried a couple new recipes.

From left: Eight half-pints "Apricot Jam," seven pints "Burgundy Plum Jam," seven pints "Dample Dandy Pluot Jam," and four pints (one is in the fridge) "Rhubarb Cinnamon Jam." These will make some nice Christmas gifts!

Life is good!

Pluot Jam — from a Juicy Summer Jewel

I went to our local farmers market the other day to purchase some plums for my annual batch of plum jam. I needed ten pounds and the vendor only had five on hand. She said many of her customers used pluots (pronounced plooo-otts) to make a delicious jam so I walked away with five pounds of Burgundy Plums and Dapple Dandy Pluots. I had no idea what a pluot was and was told that they are a cross between a plum and an apricot, developed in the late 20th century after the plumcot or apriplum. Pluots are later-generations that show more plum than apricot characteristics. The fruit's exterior has smooth skin closely resembling that of a plum. When I got home I was anxious to cut one up and give it a taste. Oh my gosh, it was so sweet and delicious! Today I made a batch of Pluot Jam . . .

Dapple Dandy Pluots

I ended up with 8 1/2 pints of delicious Pluot Jam to share. I love to use my jams as gifts throughout the year.

It was a hot day today in the high 90s but that wasn't the bummer . . . the bummer was as I was setting up my prize jars of jam to take this picture, I knocked one over and it smashed into smithereens on the aggragate flooring! We've lived in this house for a year and a half and I've never dropped anything on the floor . . . what a mess to clean up.

Life is good!