Scattered Sundays
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Happy Sunday, loves!
Just a reminder, waaaaay back in June (maybe?) I mentioned that I would be doing shorter Sunday posts during the summer. And then I became a dang dirty liar about sticking to that.
That ends today!
The boys and I have been up in Skagit Valley (of the tulip festival fame) since Friday morning for a soccer tournament. We have another one next weekend, and the season hasn’t even officially started.
It’s been a very busy week with work, and with some garden goodness preservation, not to mention trying to get work done ahead of being at a soccer field for three days.
Also, thank you SO MUCH for how many of you weighed in and showed interest in wanting to learn more about electric canners. I was able to source an electric water bath canner at a local farm store for 50% less than the online price.
And I snagged a flash sale on an electric pressure canner. Which is still definitely sitting in the box.
I used the water bath canner on Wednesday to can some peaches, and I learned a lot. As an experienced canner, I found the instruction manual that came with it was super confusing. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be if you were brand new and following those instructions.
The rest of my summer is truly shot due to soccer and work, but I will be making guides on how to use both machines at some point in the future. Maybe in Fall? Maybe in Winter during a canning lull.
So with that, I wish you a fantastic week ahead while I jump from shade puddle to shade puddle at the soccer fields trying to stay cool. It takes a lot of work to stay this pasty.
Oh, wait. Speaking of the sun, we are absolutely crushing our solar production compared to last year. July 2023 was our highest production month since we got our panels back in April 2022.
We’re still so thrilled with our decision to get solar. If you have questions, check out this old post where I talk about the process of getting solar.
It’s not for everyone, but it might be right for you. And I don’t earn a dime from anyone if you put panels on your house. Smooches!
In the Garden This Week
Berries, berries, and more berries – YUM! In addition to the blueberries and raspberries that are in our garden, there are ripe blackberries all around the neighborhood that are just there for the picking.
It’s to my eternal shame and disappointment that we’ve been too busy so far to go blackberry picking. Hopefully that changes next week. I only have one gallon of frozen blackberries left from last year.
If you’re blessed enough to have excess berries, here are a few ideas of what to do with any berries in your life:
The lettuce seems to be officially done for the season. I had shade cloth over it, but the plants just aren’t designed for summer weather. The chickens will enjoy the plants, and I’ll be transferring some chicken compost to that bed for Fall planting.
Tomatoes are ripening, and burrata has been procured. Yay for the summertime treat of tomatoes, good cheese, olive oil, salt, and balsamic.
We also enjoyed a huge batch of Garlic Butter Green Beans with green beans from the garden that I picked 20 minutes before they were cooked. Life is good and summer is tasty.
Years and years ago, my grandpa gave me and my sister a potted lily at Easter. We said thank you and then as soon as he left, we put it outside because it made us sneeze so much.
My dad randomly planted it in the yard. And every year, it blooms and reminds me of how much I love my grandpa. We miss him so much, but every July, it’s like he comes out to say hi. And make me sneeze.
What I’m reading this week
I finished Something in the Water at some point in the last week. It had some good twists, and I don’t want to give anything away, but it has my least favorite types of characters. And that made it harder to read than I expected.
I started Code Name Helene, and basically, it is exactly the kind of book that I love to read. An awesome strong but flawed female character, WWII Europe, spying, blah, blah, blah.
READER SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Randi left this five-star review on our Canning Peaches tutorial {Pin this recipe}:
Great recipe and easy to follow. Thanks! I tap the jars with the peaches and syrup lightly on my cutting board to remove all air bubbles. Works like a charm!
ON SUSTAINABLE COOKS THIS WEEK
This week’s posts scream IT’S SUMMER AND TIME TO EAT ALL THE THINGS!
Zucchini Relish – A simple and easy recipe for canning homemade Zucchini Relish. This tangy squash relish recipe is perfect for anyone new to canning. Enjoy it on burgers, hot dogs, or in potato salad. {Pin this recipe}
Blackberry and Apple Crumble – This tasty Blackberry and Apple Crumble will become your go-to dessert! So easy to make, this apple blackberry crisp captures two incredible fruit flavors in one delicious dish. {Pin this recipe}
THE FIVE MOST POPULAR POSTS THIS WEEK
