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| Three Pints Full |
It was two degrees cooler, today, with a high of only 97F. It was cooler inside than outside when I woke up, so I kept the windows closed to keep the house cool. I waited until it was 86F/30C inside the house before I turned on the ceiling fan, and then, waited until the outside temperature had gone down to 87F or so to open the windows. It is 77F outside at 9:30 p.m. as I write this and the windows are still open and the ceiling fan is still on. The temperature inside is 85F. The neighbors are taking down the tents.
I canned the peaches, today, and I could have cried. Almost every single peach M picked for me on Friday evening had spoiled! I had kept them out on the dining table, instead of putting them in the fridge, and it had been too hot for them! I had to compost so many peaches that I thought I wouldn't be able to can any peaches. But, I had a few other peaches in the fridge which were slightly bruised, but, not spoiled, and I managed to fill three pint jars. I hot canned them by cooking them in the hot sugar syrup for a few minutes, as doing so enabled me to pack more of the fruit into the jars. There were a few additional slices of peaches that were partially bruised - I cut off the bruised parts and cooked the rest of them in some of the sugar syrup to make a peach compote (the pieces weren't good enough to can).
There are a few more peaches on the tree and my plan is to pick them, tomorrow, and can them.
I borrowed another ebook from the library, today, and read that in the evening, when it was too hot to do anything else. Later, I put water to the fruit trees and the vegetables in the back garden. I watered the few houseplants, too.
Brunch was a salad with the last of the lettuce, some green grapes, and a few slices of chicken cold cuts. Dinner will be the last yogurt flat bread and the last of the chicken curry. I will have some of the peach compote for dessert.
One of the highlights of my day was a lovely email from a blog reader, who is reading my blog from the very beginning! How wonderful is that? In July, it will be 10 years since I started this blog! I'm so glad that I let my daughter persuade me to start blogging. I have made so many wonderful friends through this blog and everyone has been so kind with their comments. Thank you!
Today, I am grateful for:
- A truly lovely email from a blog reader
- Being able to open the windows to cool off the house
- Three pints of canned peaches
- Ceiling fans and electricity to run them
- Water for the garden
Today's joyful activities included canning what peaches I could and reading another ebook.
Plans for tomorrow include picking more peaches and canning them, changing my bed sheets and doing a load of laundry, and making a meal plan.
How was your Sunday? What are your plans for Monday? How is the weather where you are and are you managing to stay cool if the temperature is hot?
Oh no! What a shame about the peaches. I hope you manage to get the rest of them canned today.
ReplyDeleteAnd how lovely to receive an email from one of your readers. I really value the connections I have made through blogging. Xx
Thank you, Jules; yes, it is a shame about the peaches. I really should have processed them on the same day we picked them, but, I didn't and it got too hot, too quickly!
DeleteIt was really lovely to get the email and I, too, appreciate the friends I've made through blogging. :)
What a shame your peaches spoiled in the heat, I'm glad you had some in the fridge you were able to use and the three jars full look delicious. That is quite something for someone to read ten years worth of blog posts, if you add them up that's a few thousand. Such a nice compliment and Bless and you are my daily read and I'm so happy I discovered your blog.. My son encouraged me to start blogging in 2005. I am sorry to say I deleted my very first blog which later became a big disappointment to me as it would have held such memories but i have several that are kept hidden now. I suppose I have never been comfortable revealing too much of my private life online and that was compounded recently by a stalker who I thought was a friend, more fool me!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a shame that the peaches spoiled so quickly and I am angry at myself for not processing them on the same day we picked them.
DeleteIt is definitely something for someone to read almost 10 years of blog posts! And thank you, Eileen, for reading my blog, daily, and commenting; I appreciate that, very much. I am so sorry that you have had a bad experience with one of your blog followers. My daughter always reminds me to be very careful about what I write about and how much I reveal online, but, it's hard, isn't it?
Congratulations on 10 years blogging. When I started there were so many bloggers & I must admit I miss many who stopped & I agree some wonderful friends made along the way, many I miss. Too bad about the peaches spoiling so quickly, but thankfully you were able to rescue some for canning. We have finally had a break in the extreme heat & humidity - windows wide open this morning for fresh air.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. We might have to have a virtual tea party on the 10th anniversary! :D Yes, I, too, miss several blogs I used to read (hint, hint), but, I guess all good things must come to an end. Yes, I'm angry with myself for not processing the peaches right away, but, at least I was able to can some. And there are still some peaches on the tree that I might be able to salvage. The thing is, it got too hot too quickly!
DeleteI'm glad it has cooled off for you and you are able to open the windows to get some fresh air.
That’s a shame losing some of the peaches, but it’s great that you canned the rest. I hope you get more from your tree today.
ReplyDeleteI cooked the 3 small zucchini yesterday and they were so delicious we ate them all. I wish I had bought more of them. The tomatoes and chicken were good too. The simplest meals are sometimes the best meals.
How exciting that you’ve been blogging 10 years! It’s a commitment to be proud of. ☺️
Yes, Taconix, it is a shame that so many of the peaches spoiled before I could can them. My fault for not acting faster!
DeleteSounds like you made a wonderful meal, yesterday. Maybe you can buy more zucchini the next time you shop and they will be equally delicious.
Yes, it will be 10 years of blogging for next month. I am so happy that people actually read what I write about, because, as you know, I'm just writing about my daily life.
Your house would be too hot for me, and definitely for my husband. I'm so glad that we have AC.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, my house gets too hot for even me, much as I like the warmer temperatures! I shall be asking M to put up the window AC unit in my bedroom, sometime, soon.
DeleteThere is nothing like extreme temperatures for messing up one's day! I'm glad you managed to can some peaches at least.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. Yes, it got too hot, too soon! Oh, well, no point in crying over spilt milk or spoiled peaches! There are more peaches on the tree to be canned! :)
DeleteIt is not letting me sign in using my Google account so I will need to sign in as Anonymous. It is Pam from the email I sent. Again, I would like to thank you for your wonderful blog. I am sure your readers would agree that we all smile after we read it. You certainly make the world a better place with the kindness you show everyone.
DeleteHi Pam! I'm sorry that you aren't able to comment using your Google account, but, thank you for commenting as Anonymous and identifying yourself. And thank you for your very kind comments. You are going to give me a swollen head! :D
DeleteThis is Pam from your email. I tried to comment, but it did not work. I will try again. Thank you so much for responding. I know all your readers agree that reading your blog brings a smile to their face. Your positive attitude and kindness to everyone is very heart warming.
ReplyDeleteThank you for continuing to try, Pam. Your comments did come through, but, I moderate all the comments, so, sometimes, they don't get published at once. I do hope that you will be able to comment as Pam, but, for the time being, thank you for commenting as Anonymous and identifying yourself in the comment. And, again, thank you for your very kind comments. :)
DeleteThat is really disheartening about the peaches, after all the time and love put into the tree. I guess lesson learned for next time, just not much comfort for this. At least you managed to share quite a few around before they spoiled. Hopefully the recipients ate them quickly or put them in a cool place. (Hey, maybe you could ask each person to give you one or two back, so you can enjoy them too!!!! That's a joke, in case you're tempted to take it seriously.)
ReplyDeleteNow I remember I had started to read your blog from the beginning too ... I have lost the bookmark now.)
Ella
I've no one to blame but myself, Ella, for the peaches spoiling. I really should have canned them earlier. I think everyone I gave peaches to have already eaten them, even if I took you up on your suggestion! :D
DeleteYes, I remember you started to read the blog from the start. It's quite a slog, I know. :)
Not a slog. I went through a busy period when I was not able to read it and then I lost the bookmark and I guess I forgot about it. I wouldn't have to read 10 years' worth, as I've already read the beginning and the (current) end!
DeleteWell, if you have insomnia one night and you want to read something that will put you to sleep... :D
DeleteI wish I had a peach tree.
ReplyDeleteI bought peaches from Walmart the other day day and they were on the kitchen table until I read your post. I quickly put them in the fridge. :)
It's very hot here as well. I am used to warm temperatures, but this is too hot even for me.
10 years of blogging! That's wonderful, Bless. Congratulations.
Nil
It's lovely to hear from you, again, Nil. :)
DeleteYes, fruit ripen quickly when it is hot. It turned very warm here and went from comfortably warm to uncomfortably hot, practically overnight. I'm finding that I seem to feel the heat more as I get older.
Yes; it'll be 10 years for next month! Hard to believe, isn't it?
I hate that happened to your peaches! I love the idea of reading a blog from the beginning! I just may do this myself!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mandy; I was pretty upset, myself. But, like I said, no one to blame but myself. I've read a few blogs from the beginning, myself, and it is interesting to see how blogs evolve. :)
DeleteOh that's too bad about your peaches, Bless. I wouldn't have thought they would spoil that quickly either.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that you are now able to check out your e-books. It really is such a convenient thing to have access to, isn't it?
How nice to hear from a new reader, and lucky her to get to read all about your life from the beginning for the first time.
Thank you for writing your blog :)
Yes, I was sorry that the peaches spoiled so quickly. I think they got partially cooked when it turned so hot while they were still on the tree!
DeleteI am really enjoying the convenience of checking out the e-books. I am allowed to borrow up to 15 e-books each month and that's plenty of reading material for me. :)
Yes, it was lovely to hear from a new reader.
Thank you, for continuing to read my blog and for commenting on it. I appreciate it very much.