April's Ramblings,Scrambling&Amblings

In Hot Pursuit of Fresh Jelly And Other Domestic Dabblings

When I visited Eddie and his family for the first time earlier  this year in February , I came knife to bread with some of the most delectable  jelly that had ever passed these  lips.I had a dim memory of  my German Oma making  cherry marmalade&nbs p; and how good it tasted spread on a thick,fresh buttered slice of black crusted rye .She kept it in the cellar in her Idar-Oberstein  house (built circa early 1900's)and would ask me to bring up jars  while I was there visiting every  summer  during my childhood.
This spreadable gold was homemade  by his parents  and Grandma, and I immediately became  entranced  by the idea of learning to make some myself.
Fast forward six months , and here I am learning how to make  ( after helping  pick  and  process   the fruit)  .
I love it !
Made about  18 jars ( with help of course ) so far of yellow plum jelly .My next  excursions into  Kentucky cooking will include dried beans, homemade  biscuits  and  chicken -n-dumplings.
Yes, I am hopelessly domestic .
 It works for  us , so why fight it ??! 

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Shaving Kitty Butt and Other Tales from Kentuck

We've been here for 2 1/2 weeks now. Eddie came up to Massachusetts with his 8 year old daughter and they both helped us move out.

Oh my , does that man have stamina and determination. That man can work ,WOW. Blew us all away. His lovely daughter was also a lot of help and she got along great with my daughter. Got that 26 ft truck packed and stacked and he drove it , while Steff drove his daughter , Soph ( our resident blind houndie gurl ) and later after an overnight with some super  friends in Ohio we added two gray kittens to the mix.

Steff did great following the truck as well ( her first time doing that ).

  His family was waiting for us when we rolled into town on Father's Day , and that truck was off loaded pdq.

The rental house had some repairs we've had to contend with , and Eddie's been right there to help diagnose , and  help sort out some issues. His versatility is astounding .

Every day that passes I continue to realize that I made a wonderful decision. Being with him is easy, and emotionally satisfying. Our personalities mesh so well.

It's a beautiful thing.  

I know there are adjustments to be made on all sides , like Steff and I getting use to three younger kids in our everyday lives, as well as Soph  not being the only  fur baby in the house .

All in all though ,life is good.

 The kitties are just plain fun.

One is short haired and one long haired.The long haired one needs regular baths , and recently had to get her little butt shaved to keep it cleaner. Eddie's young  son,Terry, kept asking questions while over at the house the other afternoon while  my daughter was holding  and Eddie was shaving the itty bitty kitty butt.

 Exasperatedly Steff blurted out ,"Not now , Terry --we're shaving the cat's butt !"

That was a blog worthy statement that needed  posting if ever I heard one.

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Ancient Oven Sees Light of Day

and other tales of  spiffy cleanliness .

 Here's my current oven , manufactured circa 1959 ( like,  way older than moi), and lordy was it covered with some seriously greasy brown filth.

I had let it all get away from me... somehow ...

This baked on grease was thanks to all  the splatty  roasted beasts that made their way to my dining table (or as in our case tv  tables)over the past twelve months, and then just forgetting that it was not a self cleaning oven.

After two full days of sticking my noggin in the oven and scrubbing with  assorted degreasers and lastly some fume free Easy Off , I can now proudly show you that  lazy bums  can be redeemed .

I am living proof !

 

 

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Moving Mania In Full Swing

So far this time  around I have learned  that strapping boxes should always be done  sans flowing nightgowns and robes.

Now don't get  me wrong --I'm not advocating  nudey packing !

 I just mean wearing 3/4 length sleeve shirt  and comfy pants are preferable garb when hands , arms, legs  and feet are in motion taping anything that doesn't move within an inch of it's  existence.

Stay tuned for more tips from the frontlines , just don't get in my road ...'cuz I'm fast and deadly with scissors  and  tissue paper !Yup, you bet. Watch yourself now, hear ....

 

 

 

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New England Spring Daze

My daughter's oldest friend is in town from WV.

So,being the hostesses with the mostest ,we are gadding about trying to show her what we've discovered over the last year and a half  .

We're just  soakin up some spring rays out here in the Pioneer Valley,before our permanent change in latitude,longitude  and attitude next month .

 

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