Look what I did today!!!

I made grape jelly! My sweet husband asked me last night to make some grape jelly. Let me take you back a little bit....

My friend Elisabeth's in-laws had an incredible amount of wild blackberries growing on their farm. Being the kind friend that she is, she called and asked if we wanted to go blackberry picking with them. Being the fruit-loving friend I am, I said, "yes". In the process of picking (we picked for 3 Fridays in a row) she tells me that she made blackberry jam. The conversation ensues, she tries desperately to communicate what she did EXACTLY, but being the visually geared person that I am I had to SEE it done. So we plan a jelly making day.

Jelly making day arrives, I bring every canning item I own to her house including a bag of strawberries, some fresh peaches and of course, blackberries. She whips out her superior canning making tools in addition to her blackberries and away we go! This was WAYYYY easy, but like I said, I just had to SEE it done. When we got done I felt as if we had conquered

Domesticland and I had been annointed queen. I was so excited to bring home that batch of jams for my man! Scott did not disappoint...he was just as excited to receive the gift of my jam.

So I am thinking what other fruit do I have. The next day, I make peach. A week or so after that, I make some more strawberry and a blend of black/blue & raspberry.

I CAN NOT stop. Last week I find a recipe for Pumpkin Butter and I am on it! My friend Elisabeth (the one who started this craziness) emails me and says she has an abundance of pears and do I want to come over and make pear butter!!! Uhhhh....YES!!! So next week we have a pear butter date!

Last night, we are driving home from Arkansas and Scott & I are talking about stuff. I tell him what a joy it is to make jelly for him. I know he really enjoys it and considers himself somewhat of a jelly connoseuir (sp?). He tells me that he is enjoying all of the flavors that I am making and we both agree we like eating jelly that does not contain corn syrup & high fructose corn syrup. So I asked him, "What flavor do you want me to make next?" He said, "I really miss Grandma's grape & apple butter. Can you make those?" I said, "Sure."

So after school today, eating lunch with Scott & errands, I head home to get my jelly-making skills on! Just as I finished putting the lid on the last jar...the UPS delivered the cute labels I had designed and had printed. So, I had to promptly adorn all of my jars with cute labels! As we get closer to Christmas, I will continue to make more jelly to give to family & friends as gifts, hence the need for the cute, new labels. Anyway, Scott gets home and I show him his gift. Being a man whose love language is "acts of service" he truly appreciates this. My love language is gifts so this is a great compromise...I get to make him a gift that I know he will enjoy and he receives the gift of my service...so all is good. I give Scott a taste of this grape concoction and he says Mmmmm, mmmm, mmm, that is really good. It tastes just like Granny's. And gives me his beautiful blue-eyed, happy dimple smile. This comment of course makes me tear up, as this truly is one of the greatest compliments he could have given me. And then we commence to hug while we gaze upon our jelly wonderland. Life is good!