Idaho unpublished post from August of 2011. Most likely the last time I accessed the account. Just published today.

Tiny little town east of Lewsiton.  One stop shopping, guns, gas, ammo, tackle, beer and soda.  Kid friendly snacks too.

I couldn't get a photo of the sign that said winding road next 99 miles.  This gives you an idea of where I was. 

My first post since September 4th, 2011.

 Life gets busy and things get forgotten.  I've thought about this blog for awhile now and I've often thought if I would ever find it.  I typed my name in the Facebook search for some reason last night and started looking at old posts where friends mentioned my name.  Dana for some reason shared my post about cinnamon rolls.  That lead me down a rabbit hole of trying to access my blogger account.

Imagine my surprise, I got in.  I remembered 3 of my 11 or so posts.  I deleted the three pictures I had of my kids because why not?  They would have been 6 and 8.

Maybe I'll revisit this and start using blogger instead of Facebook.  I can post my daily meals here.  This way I won't bother my friends and well.  I'm rambling now.   I wonder if I'll forget about it for years to come.  

 

Life will go on without technology

Cascadia State Park

The kids survived 3 days without electricity, t.v., or internet.

Surprisingly they survived.

I thought it looked like a face.  

The kids saw turtle. 

Lower Soda Creek Falls

Lower Soda Creek Falls with small boy.

  

A view of the creek.

Forrest flowers.

And fungus.

 

And wildlife.

 

My hand spans roughly 4".  Good sized spider.

Indiana Jones rock!

Smores.  The best part of camping.

Road signs

Let's just say  my kids are easily amused.  The two signs were taken for them.

Having just polished off countless goldfish and tossing them well.....

we'll leave that untyped this sign for Goldfish Farm Road sent them 

into hysterics.

I have to wonder.......was the road really named for the sign?

Strawberry Fields Forever

I told the kids to turn off the t.v. because we were going berry pickin'.  They weren't too happy with that concept.  But I washed the sand out of our buckets and we all piled in the car.  A few minutes later we arrived at the u-pick farm.  A short drive down the farm's dirt road and my car looked like this.

 Strawberry fields forever

 How do we know which berry to pick?

"I FOUND ONE!"

Dessert.

Thomas has never eaten a strawberry.  He's told me he doesn't like them.

Since he picked them, he decided to give them a try.

Funny, he likes them.

What to blog, what to blog?

What to blog?  Do I blog about food, waterfalls, day trips, strawberry pickin'?  Canning or home cooking?  Kids and pets?  In the great scheme of things who besides me is going to care?

Tonight's dinner consisted of meatloaf, Au grain potatoes and green beans.  If you had seen the expressions on the faces of my children you would have thought I was attempting to feed them worm tartare with a side of chicken livers.  They should be so lucky to have good food to turn their noes at. 

Today I was an evil mother because I turned off the t.v. and computer and  took them to the library to see the Reptile Man and an assortment of 18 reptiles.  My son got to have an alligator pet his head 2 years ago.  Today my daughter got to help hold a snake.  I was impressed by the young boy who let the Reptile Man wrap a king cobra around his neck. I hope that with all the whining and complaining that they never have any fun that someday, just maybe, they will look back on all the things I made them do during the summer and realize, Mom wasn't so bad after all.

Rose Petal Jelly

3 Cups water
Juice of 1 lemon (2 T)
2 C sugar
1 box pectin
2 C rose petals (white part removed) about 6 large  see note

Low pulse water and petals in a blender just to chop coarsely.

Pour into saucepan.

 Bring to a boil.  Turn off heat right away.  Cover and let sit for 30 minutes.

Strain.

Where did all my color go?

Assemble all your ingredients if you haven't already.

 Return strained juice to pan.

Toss out strained petals.

 Add sugar, lemon juice and pectin.

The color comes back!

Turn on heat and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Boil 10 minutes or until mixture begins to set. ( You do not need a rapid boil that cannot be stirred down like traditional jelly.  Just a steady boil.)

I test by placing a plate in the freezer.  As the time nears I pour some jelly on the plate from a spoon.  

If it thickens like jelly it's ready.  You can also temperature test with a thermometer.

220 degrees is the jelling point..

Pour into jars and seal.

Process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

Rose Petal Jelly.

Spread on toast and enjoy.

In my experience the darker and more colorful the rose the tastier the jelly.   I have not had success with yellow or white roses.  Orange and red roses give the best flavor.  You may also combine colors. They color always goes away when strained but always comes back when lemon juice is added. 

Makes 2 -2.5 half pint jars.