We’ve worked hard this summer to preserve all we can for the winter. It was a first for me. I was so grateful for the encouragement of the designer, the expertise of his mom, and some wonderful recipes I found online as well as in books The Zucchini Houdini and the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.

Soon we had a couple different relishes, marmalade, salsa, tomato sauce, plums, spiced apples, and several summer creamy soups.  Our pantry is now full of beautifully colored glass bottles and some bulk foods.  There was a lot of chopping involved and several trips to buy bottles and canning supplies.

Special thanks to friends and family who gave us surplus from their gardens and fruit trees.  It was a busy, exciting, summer and I look forward to learning more next season.  Meanwhile, between you and I, I’m happy for a little break from preserving, and hope to get a dehydrator next spring so we can continue all the conserves and creating in our lil’ kitchen.  As for the break and lovely white winter that has already approached, I’m hoping to catch up with my artwork that has truly been on the back burner!

ps.  don’t miss this month’s painting giveaway by janice here…ends Halloween 🙂