serendipity

Ah, the first morning on the new site. I love it! There are so many buttons and features, it is just perfect. Thank you so much to Darlene and MountainMommy and everyone else who made it happen. It is awesome. On tap here at Chickadee Lane Lodge today is some more canning of ground beef (I browned it yesterday and chilled it so I can remove the fat), and cleaning house since I didn't hardly get anything done yesterday what with wasting soo much time online, lol. And I was right about not getting any sleep last night...I was just too darn excited. Yes, I have issues, lol. Oh, and I want to make some lemon curd to freeze as well today since I have a surplus of eggs. We will see how it all goes!

Welcome, Angela!!! My name is Angela too! And there is one more on here as well! (ain't2nuts) We are so glad you are here and we were all beginning canners ourselves once. I just got brave enough to pressure can meats myself this year after canning for 20 years (water bath). A huge welcome to you!

How wonderful is this! I just love the new home for Mrs S! I can't wait to explore all the ins and outs of our new site. What a wonderful day this is!

Thanks, PCS! This is pretty neat!

Very cool! It looks kind of like crystal, lol!

Your unknowing dh looks around at your stash and asks if we became Mormon when he wasn't looking! (yes this happened to me, lol)

Ha! Good point jewlz! Gee, now my name will be up there again just like that, lol! Lucky me. Quick, someone else post SOMETHING on this thread, lol! Too funny!

This thread is hysterical. Just found it for the first time and ...er..well..hmmm...how do I say this, not exactly what I was expecting?? roflmbo Too funny! Where in the world do you all get all these pics from? Mercy.

Okay I just checked their prices as of today...a #10 lb. box is $57.00 shipping included! Wow! Great price! Hope this helps someone...we have been happy with this company in our preserving.

I thought I'd post a source for pectin. We get ours from Pacific Pectin, Inc. They are online at: www.pacificpectin.com I ordered a 10 lb. box from them in April of 2006 for $54.00 plus $4.20 UPS shipping charge. If I remember right from this past summer a batch of jam takes 1/3 c. of their pectin. This is the equivalent amount to what a batch of Sure-Jel makes for quantity of jam/jelly. It came with a few recipes on a sheet too. If I remember right they carry Clear-Jel too (thickener for pie fillings, etc.). Might be worth a look-see although I would imagine prices are up from what they were then. I will have to order more this year myself so hopefully it didn't go up too much. Hope this helps...

Wow, Debbie! Good for you! How exciting to get started for free! Keep us posted on your canning adventures!

I also cut up every decent square of outgrown/torn up jeans and clothing to make into simple scrap quilts for my kiddos to take with them when they are older. This also has the benefit of holding some memories of a special shirt, etc. The one I am working on right now is denim (worn, of course!) 4 x 4 patches with pink 4 x 4 fabrics. Very sweet... I am also off to start some loose leaf lettuce in a pot. I have wondered if that could be done indoors in the winter and my dear mil did it last year so I'm going to give it a try. Lettuce likes cooler temps anyway and it will be in my basement.

I cut off the ends of the arms of old sweaters that are too worn out to donate to Goodwill and use the bands to "seal" the space where my children's mittens or gloves meet the sleeves on their jackets. They love this and ask for it when they are out sledding/playing in the snow because it keeps the snow out of their sleeves. The bands dry fast too...