Three days ago I sailed an eleven inch in diameter canning kettle lid over the kettle and down behind my kitchen stove.

At that time I used the grabbers and tried to get it out.  No luck so I went down the the food room and got another lid so I could continue to can the next day. 

The opening between the back of the stove and the wall is three inches wide and 30 1/2 inches long. 

I couldn’t believe my eyes when that lid just disappeared.  If I tried to put it back there I would have to lean over under the range hood and drop it down.

Yesterday after completing the cherry project I was cleaning up around the kitchen and flip the second lid onto the kettle.  But to my surprise that one kept right on going and joined the first one behind the stove.  With eyes wide open and mouth forming Oh Damn I did it again!  It was after 10 pm so I gave up and went to bed. 

This morning I woke up resolved to get my lids out.  After all there will be more jam to make shortly.

I started by removing the back burner grid so I could lean on the stove top.  Next came a large bath towel to cover the stove top.  Then I got my little fold up foot stool so I could get up high enough to lean over the stove top.  I got a flashlight and my grabbers, set them within reach, and climbed up on the stool and leaned over the stove top.  I could see the lids so I put the flashlight down and took the grabbers trying to remember where the lids were behind there. My stool started to slide but I lean on the stove top and managed to pull it back.

After three tries I managed to grab one lid and bring it up without dropping it.  I used the flashlight again to determine where the second lid was then set it aside again.  I managed to grab the second one but lost it when I tried to maneuver the grabber handle around under the range hood.  But I had succeeded once and I wasn’t giving up that easy.  On the second try I grabbed the second lid and managed to bring it up and over.

I swear I will never flip a lid onto anything on the stove again!     

This afternoon Jay and I drove to Spicers Orchards near Hartland, Michigan, about 100 miles, to pick cherries.  As luck would have it we were able to buy eight pounds of frozen cherries to go with four pounds I had in our freezer.  After purchasing some eight ounce jars, a red onion, and two apples we were ready to start in again.  The results of our labor are as follows.

13 half pints of Tart Cherry jam and then 10 half pints of Cherry Chutney.

Needless to say I’m pooped and I think Jay is too.  But we have to get these things done when the fruits are available. 
Good Night All!

A beautiful 58 degrees according to the big thermometer on the porch wall.  So far this morning Molly has been fed, watered. let out three times and back in two.  Jay and Brandy are still sawing logs and the birds are still covered up.  There is one tub of laundry in the dryer right now and another in the washer.  The dishwasher has been emptied and is now working on a dozen jelly jars in preparation of finishing up the first apricot project.  When I finished the first batch I still had 2 2/3s cups left over so after the doctor’s appointment and the get together at Cindy’s house yesterday I stopped by Vgs.  There is three lbs. of regular apricot in the fridge waiting for the food processor and to be added to the leftover black ones.  Then I will produce a few more jars of jam this morning.

Speaking Of Cindy here are some pictures from yesterday;

This is good friend Darlene with Cindy’s Kiya (not sure of the spg).

Darlene’s hubby Michael.

These guys that Cindy calls her two daddies.  Jay and Paul, Marguerite’s hubby.

This is the birthday girl with her new earrings and the elephant fountain she wanted.  That is David in the background.

Of course no party is complete without the all important birthday cake.

Well I think my jars are about ready so I will close for now and update later!

Update: 

We now have nine half pints of what we will call apricot variety jam.  Not too shabby for a morning of work. 

  My baby daughter, who will be 37 years old tomorrow, is the object of my duties today. 

I am peeling potatoes, chopping onions, boiling eggs to the music of the Moody Blues.  It is always a pleasure to be a domestic goddess when the melodious voices of this fabulous group rings through the dome.  Later this evening I’ll turn all this into potato salad.

We have to go to Henry Ford hospital in Detroit tomorrow but when we get to Cindy’s house, after Jay’s appointment, in the truck will be the fixings for Schwans hamburgers, onion buns, the salad,  maybe some Bushes Bake Beans, and a store bought birthday cake.  The cake will be in a box if I buy it and transporting it is a little safer. 

Next on my list this morning is to see if I can make some jam out of the black apricots I bought at Sam’ Club yesterday.  I already know that getting them off the pits is going to be a bear.  But hey I’m determined to try.  So it is down to the basement for jelly jars and the canning equipment,

I couldn’t answer a call from my doctor’s office yesterday because Jay and I were at Dr. Ross’ office for a check up on the left eye.  Jay now has a surgery set up for the 5th of August.  I called Dr. Hukill’s office this morning and it seems I have a polyp on my gall bladder so doctor has set me up an appointment with a surgeon on July 29th to determine the next step.  Oh well if it ain’t Jay it is me.  But nobody said that getting old was a bed of roses.  But I’m not going to worry about this development because I have a lot of things to do between now and then. 

So anyway Cindy ( Cynthia) Catherine Jenkins, Axsom, Gokey will be 37 tomorrow.

We are going to share part of the afternoon with her. 

Love you C.C.

Update:

72 ounces of Black Apricot Jam is sitting on my kitchen counter now waiting for me to make labels for it. 

I also wanted to show you the lilies that come up every year at the base of a tree in the yard.

Phyllis’ pond next door makes a lovely background for them doesn’t it!

It was down to Pontiac, Michigan this afternoon to help old friends celebrate James and Kathy Murphy’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. 

Neighbors, old friends, and family consisting of four generations gathered for the picnic.  We, having moved away some 25 years ago, have kind of lost track of who was who’s children or grandchildren but among the celebrants I did remember James Jr.

The food was abundant and delicious.  I found myself going back for a little bit of seconds.

It was fun to see everyone again and talk with Jim Sr. and Kathy about how everyone was doing.

Our gift was a simple one.  A card with some money and 12 jars of assorted things that we have canned.
We also came home with an empty pan so I guess the cheese cake tarts were a hit! 

I remember the celebrations on the Fourth of July in my younger days.  Parades every where.  Even the Governor walked in the parade in our small town and then went on to the next town to walk there.  There were flags everywhere, fire engines, old classic cars and people in costumes and uniforms.  They used to mount flags on the radiator caps, the hood ornaments, even some that clipped to the car doors.  There were picnics, swimming, families getting together to celebrate the day, and of course fireworks.  Some of these thing still go on but as we age the urgency to join in begins to wane.  That was the case today.

Tomorrow we are going down to Pontiac, MI. to the old neighborhood to help some long time acquaintances celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Their kids and mine used to play together and we would gather for a picnic in one of the vacant lots with the rest of the neighbors. 

Jay and I decided it might be nice to make some mini cheesecake tarts to take down.  So this morning we started with forty Nilla wafers for the crust.

We added five tablespoons of melted butter and one teaspoon of vanilla to the crushed wafers.  Then put the mixture in mini cupcake papers and baked it at 350 degrees for seven minutes.  Next we took 16 ounces of cream cheese, one cup of sugar, one teaspoon of vanilla, and two eggs, (beating each ingredient as it was added).  After the wafers had cooled we spooned the cheese mixture into the cups and baked them in a 350 oven for twenty minutes.

As they cooled I found two four ounce jars of home made jam to top them off.

The tarts on the left are topped with the Dutch Apple Pie Jam.  For those in the right I used the Pluot-Apple Jam.  They are now tucked away in the fridge until tomorrow afternoon. 

My other duties today included the bird cages and covers, feeding both inside and outside birds, designing another form for Jay’s information on blood sugar, pressure, and weight,  and of course supper.  I have read my daily blogs and e-mail and am torn between going to bed or putting two more rows on the afghan.  Either way I must say good night! 

I heard somewhere that to get through a difficult time it helps to keep busy so that is what I am doing.  Today it was jam making. Check over at Jay’s Jammin’  to see what is going on. 

I have woke up the last few mornings thinking of Danny.  I was remembering when I was around 10 or 11 years old.  My mother asked me to carry Danny upstairs to his crib.  I started up but tripped falling forward.  I remembered seeing Danny’s tongue bleeding as he cried.  I don’t remember what happened next but for years later I could see him crying every time I thought of him. 

The Catalpa Tree is in bloom again.  It seems to get taller every year and the side that was hampered by some trees that have been removed is filling out well. 

No word on my ultra sound yet so I figure nothing is in immediate danger of falling off if I haven’t heard anything by now. 

Dear friend Pammie   has made the front page of the Oakland Press today.  The article was on her efforts to make afghans for needy children overseas.  Great job my friend!

Have a get Fourth of July everyone.  Let me know what you did to celebrate our nation’s birthday.