Our current temperature in Kansas is roughly the surface of the sun with like 1,000% humidity. So why wouldn’t I want to haul out all my canning supplies and heat up my kitchen? I was having some anxiety related to world events and general unrest so I felt the need to make something. That feeling turned into one batch of strawberry rhubarb jam, two batches of blackberry jam, two batches of peach jam and one batch of strawberry jam.
Jellybean helped me off and on saying that he “didn’t like the hot and sticky parts”. Which we all know is almost the whole process. He did like how dark and ruby colored the blackberries cooked down into. All this fruit, except for the strawberries, was homegrown from my families gardens. To me this gave me a grounded feeling and a connection to people I can’t visit right now.
This project did make me feel a bit better. I did have a tiny bit of frustration when my peach jam didn’t set and I had to haul all the supplies back out to re-cook and add more pectin. But the re-do process did seem to work. Now I have some jelly stores for the next year and enough to give as gifts this holiday season.
How is everyone else coping lately?
My Tangled Yarn Knitting Adventures 
I’m a tad envious of your canning know-how! When I need to create I bake or knit or crochet or sew. Right now, I’m actually cleaning to help me feel grounded and in control!
Thanks for sharing. The jam sounds wonderful especially with the rhubarb! I’ve been dyeing yarn and watercolor painting lately to keep busy and fill my creative needs.
Oh I love this! I have been thinking of whipping up some red pepper jelly I made some last year and gave it all away for gifts.
As for coping I learned how to make sourdough and a starter and gardened 🤦
We had a few brutal days. I also spend time in the kitchen. I figure, the house (and the cook!) are already hot, so why not.