After Summer Before Canning!

Thanks to all of you who worked to keep the family posted while I spent the summer doing what I did. It was nice to check in and find that you had all been busy posting away. That did my heart good. Thanks again!

The apple trees are full of apples, the prune trees are full of prunes and the tomato plants, oh, my! Who knows when I will have time to write anything but newspaper articles. By the way, it was Dad's and my happy anniversary on the 9th. That means that we have officially been married for a VERY long time--48 years. Two more and we have the golden anniversary. In keeping with the anniversary, here is a photo of Leonard and Myrna today.

That reminds me of Megan when she was little. I had just put out our wedding photo featuring Jim Carry-looking LHT and a very skinny MRT. She looked at the photo and asked who "those people" were. I explained that it was Grandpa and Grandma when they got married. She said: "If I were you I would hide it. Grandpa turned out to be handsome and you turned out to be good-looking. I would hide that picture. You look ugly."

You'll note, of course, that LHT was the one who turned out to be handsome. What fun!

I would have posted the anniversary story earlier but we went to Lisa's Country Kitchen for dinner and then watched a video here at home. Some how, I managed to come down with the stomach flu sometime during the movie and spent the night throwing up. Now isn't that a great way to celebrate?

Self-Portrait

Sorina continues to amaze us with her self photo talents…

Ferron

We missed all of you who couldn't make it, but here are a few snapshots of our adventures in Ferron-land! Several "first" fish were caught this trip. Still sad we missed out on the yummo fish fry... another day. I will also have video to post, but it still needs to be edited (you know, the great feet/ground shots when you forgot to turn off the camera...)

For now: (btw, if you want to see the images enlarged, just click on the collage.)

Heritage Gardeners Ground Cherry Jam

Easy Peasy Ground Cherry Jam from A Year in the Heritage Gardens

The author of the article said that: "Back in March I showed you how to start the seeds for ground cherries." 

In the late summer, the ground cherries will start to ripen and fall off the bush. The author said that when they hit the ground they can be picked up and used.

I remember that my Great-Grandmother Mina Ericksen Pritchett made ground cherry jam. I think that I may have liked it but, then, I liked all kinds of SWEET things.

To make Easy Peasy Ground Cherry Jam:

Start out with 3 cups Ground Cherries taken out of their paper husks. Wash them well and put in a pot with 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/2 cup water and 1 box powdered pectin.

Bring to a boil and when ground cherries start to burst, mash them good. After they are mashed and boiling add 3 cups of sugar all at once. Return to a boil and boil according to pectin package directions, usually 1-3 minutes.

Fill sterilized jars jam jars as directed for jams. Screw on lids and invert for 5 minutes then turn over and allow to cool till lids POP! You can also do a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. (I actually use the boiling water bath method processing the jars for 10 minutes.) When the lids pop as the jars cool, you know the seal is tight.
This recipe will make 3 medium jars or 6 small jars of jam.

Eva's party invitation

George Washington Came to Visit

Our cherry tree in the backyard split in half, so here’s Shawn with the fallen half.

Crock Pot Breakfast

FROM KOA NEWSLETTER

Crock Pot Breakfast

What kamper doesn’t want to enjoy a hot and tasty breakfast when they roll out of their sleeping bag, cot or bed?   KOA Kamper, Ginger Parrish, shares her favorite breakfast recipe with other KOAKompass readers—which she says is great for those mornings when you just want to sleep in. 

Ingredients: 
1 bag (32 oz. size) frozen hash brown potatoes
1 pound bacon, diced; or ham, cooked and cubed
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 1/2 cup cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 dozen eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper (more or less to taste)

Directions: 
Place a layer of frozen potatoes on the bottom of the crock pot, followed
by a layer of bacon or ham; then onions, green pepper and cheese. Repeat the layering process two or three more times, ending with a layer of cheese.

Beat the eggs, milk, salt and pepper together. Pour over the crock pot
mixture, cover and turn on low. Cook for 10-12 hours.

Serves 6.

Shawn and Kimberly

The Great Finger Experience

I am typing this with a finger in a cast--my ring finger. I have just discovered that I really can get along without it but I am slow. 

Yesterday I had that small cyst on my ring finger joint removed. I had to be at UVRMC at 6 a.m. but the surgery didn't take place until later. The first while was spent filling out yards of paperwork, alarming the admit nurse who said I needed to get ready for general anesthesia (I told her that I was NOT having general anesthesia) and having tests done to make certain my heart would take it. It will. I have that great slow heart rate I inherited (50). Then the anesthesiologist and I had a discussion. I did not want general anesthetic. I mean, really, it was my FINGER!!!! ;) You would have thought it was my head they were removing. They finally let me choose to have my arm put to sleep with Novocain. Well that was an experience. I had to have a feeder tube put in the bak of my hand and that was terrible--only because Dr. Wilson couldn't get the needle in the vein. After several tries, he finally succeeded but by then my hand was already black and blue. He said: "We need to do this because the finger has a lot of nerves in it and it would really hurt without any pain killer." Well, I don't know what he thought the back of my hand felt like. I had my arm wrapped and held above my head to force out as much blood as possible. Then a tourniquet was put on the upper arm. The medication was fed into the tube. It was then, because I started feeling light headed, that I found out that I was still getting some general anesthesia. Drat! I thought some of the drug was just leaking back but I have since learned that "to make me calm" he had decided to give me a little something. The result was that I slept most of the day. I did stay awake for the surgery but they didn't let me watch. They put up a little tent thing between me and the surgeon for antiseptic reasons. Another Drat. After doing the things a nice patent does to get released, I went to AnnMarie's. I fell asleep almost instantly on her comfy sofa and Matthew covered me with his special blankie. (That was after I had told Alyssa I felt fine and would help her fix lunch.)

I had an appointment with the chiropractor after I woke up (finally). When I walked in his nurse assistant noticed my VERY black and sore hand. She put a Microcurrent treatment on it for 20 minutes for a soft tissue injury. The electric current used to stimulate pressure points is equal to our body's own natural electric current so that it cannot be detected during treatment only by a slight and occasional tingling. Because of its close proximity to our own body's current, Microcurrent is thought to work on a more cellular level to aid in the healing process. The theory is that electrical balance is disrupted when the body is injured at a particular site causing the electrical current to be disrupted and change course. Microcurrent is a physical therapy modality providing electric current in millionths of an ampere. The Microcurrent Stimulator has the ability to relieve pain, increase the rate of wound healing, increase protein synthesis, stimulate the regeneration of injured tissue, stimulate lymphatic flow and relieve trigger points. Because microcurrent flows at one millionth of an ampere it is delivered on the same scale as the current the body produces on its own in each cell, it is therefore physiologic. Microcurrent is subsensory and cannot be felt while it is being delivered because there is not enough current to stimulate the sensory receptors. When I left, only a small shadow of the bruise remained and all the soreness was gone. So while it sounds like snake oil, in my case it really worked. Thank goodness.

I remember, when as a kid I had a problem something like this, the Dr. sat me on his table, gave me a local, got out his scalpel and cut it out. He put in a stitch, put on a bandage and sent me home. In a few days, he took out the stitch and gave me an all-day sucker and sent me home. I get these stitches out on Monday. We'll see how that goes. Want to bet there is no candy. I'll bet this costs a lot more than Dr. Colombo did as well.

The Plant You Asked Me About

I told you the wrong name for the plant you asked me about. It isn't a silver-leafed Bishop's weed. It is Beacon Silver Lamium. 

Sorry about that. 

Love, M

http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=1.305.180

http://www.daytonnursery.com/Encyclopedia/Perennials/Lamium.htm

BISHOPRIC

I am not sure how to get the word out any better than sending an email to everyone. I know that it is Father's Day and most of you will be celebrating with your children and with your awesome spouses, so Happy Father's Day. I am spending a quiet day at home with two of my four children. Braden is out with the Elders, performing service and Howard is at the church. Howard will now be gone every Sunday before I am and will be home every Sunday after I am. He was made a High Priest today and was put in as the Second Counselor in our Bishopric. I am very proud of him.