A great Howdy Doo, Sweet Peas and a very Happy Thursday. Where has the week gone? It has slipped by quickly for me. How about you?
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| My view from the porch on a rainy day in July. |
Yesterday was a rather gloomy stormy day. I loved listening to the pitter patter of the rain on the roof as I bustled about the kitchen. The day before, we picked 3 bucket loads of produce from the garden .
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| The big black pot is boiling! I wish you could smell the aroma of the relish. |
Soooo that meant canning the day away!🤗
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| Sweet relish in the making. |
I ended the day with a grand total of 60 jars ready for the winter season which included salsa , zucchini , squash , pickled peppers and sweet relish.
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| Jars of squash , zucchini and salsa. |
Wheew! I think today will be a perfect day to sit and rest my weary bones and work on embroidery work.
I have completed Week 1's Embroidery assignment in Joy's "Tis the Season" Stitch Along.
If you haven't heard, Joy at Days Filled with Joy is sharing another free Stitch along on her lovely blog. She shared Week Two's Embroidery last week and tomorrow she will share the next motif. Oooh ! I better get on the stick! 🏃
I have my fabrics cut for this week's Step Two in Joy's Christmas Quilt Along . I will be piecing them today as well.
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| 32 squares cut . Now to mark and sew them down the diagonal . |
Hmmm. What else? Well I do need to work on my Country Christmas redwork ornies.
Last week I shared these quick simple country Christmas Doodles. I also shared how I made the ornaments.
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| Behind my dough bowl is Plum Street Sampler's freebie called 12 Days of Christmas which was posted on Paulette's blog in 2015. Click on the colored text to visit her post. |
Four more will be added to the ole' dough bowl soon.
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If you are interested in stitching this piece, just grab , the images. For printing tips, refer to the post Tips for Printing which has loads of tips from my sweet friends.
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Since this post is mostly about Christmas- how about a little cross stitch ornament?
I have not fully finished mine, but it is a super quick stitch. It is called Ho Ho Ho Stamp. If you are interested, just choose your favorite Christmas colors and go to town or should I say the North Pole.🎄🎅 Either way you can have it stitched up lickety split.😀🤗
I just used what floss colors I had on hand and used a scrap of leftover aida. The floss colors were DMC 498, 895 and Blanc, but you choose whatever colors your heart desires.
Well ya'll , I think that just about does it for today. I don't want to chat your ears off - well I could but gosh I know you have loads to do too. You have the most beautiful day , my friends and ...
Happy quilting and stitching, ya'll
Melisa
We are better throughout the year for having ,in spirit, become a child again at Christmas time. - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Hugs and Stitches !!!🤗❤🧵
Dedicated to my sweet baby sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.
I shared Chicken Mitten in July 2021. I still love this little quilt.
Melisa you have been very busy. I love looking at all your jars. Mjammie !
ReplyDeleteLove looking at your twelve days of Christmas in the background. I stitched it too !
It has been a very busy week, Annelies. I am definitely ready for some down time. I loved stitching the 12 Days . I stitched it for Christmas in July years ago. I leave it out year round because I love it so. Have a blessed day and thank you for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteSweet ornament! Well done on the canning, Melisa! We had a few sprinkles, but nothing significant here.
ReplyDeleteAaaw thank you so much, Robin. It was a quick stitch. It has stormed for the last 3 days here. We have a chance of rain tomorrow and then I think it will dry out. Have a great weekend. Hugs.
DeleteYou had a very productive canning day, Melisa. Your embroidery is so pretty. I look forward to following your progress on Tis the Season.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much, Jeanna. It was certainly a long day, but a productive one. I wanted to tell you how darling your patriotic stitch by Cricklewood Crossing is and your hydrangeas are gorgeous. For some reason my comment the other day would not go through. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Hugs.
DeleteEverything looks very appetizing, Melisa!
ReplyDeleteYou had an intense day in the kitchen so take advantage today to embroider and sew!!
I loved the little Christmas decorations!!!
Kisses
Oh thank you so much ,Isabel. I spent 10 hours canning all of that food. Our pantry is getting full . It has been nice to be able to sit back and relax a bit. Have a blessed weekend. Hugs.
DeleteMelisa, you are always so busy. Your canned goodies look yummy, I always wished I had learned to can…got your Christmas doodle ornies ready to stitch and am working on your Ho Ho Ho stamp. They are adorable. Thanks for sharing with us. I ALWAYS look forward to your blog. You have a great stitchy day. Hugs🤗❤️
ReplyDeleteAaw thank you so much, Patti. I try to stay as busy as possible , but this summer seems super busy, but that's ok. It sounds like you are staying busy yourself. I am so honored you are stitching the Christmas doodles and the stamp. I hope you enjoy each and every stitch. Hugs.
DeleteI store my canned items on shelves in the basement. If I leave the rings on they seem to rust faster. I usually stor them separately. Thank you for all the tours of your collections. I love seeing your different displays. Also thank you for all of the stitchery patterns. I have so many that I want to do this winter when the cold Wisconsin weather hits!
ReplyDeleteOh Lorraine thank you so much for the info. about the rings. I have never tried storing them without the rings, but I am thinking about doing it . I figured that might be why my rings are rusting so quickly. Thank you so much for the sweetest compliment too; you made my day. I truly appreciate your sweet visits and I hope you enjoy the little stitcheries this winter. Have a blessed weekend. Hugs.
DeleteI think you are the most productive person I know, Melisa--wish I had half your energy :) Good for you for doing so much canning--everything looks delicious. Love your latest ornament design--thank you as always for your generosity! Have a great day ♥
ReplyDeleteAaaw , Carol . You are the sweetest:) Thank you so much. I don't feel like I get a lot done, but Lol I try my best. It was a long day of canning and I am sure I will be doing the same in a couple of days unless I can give some of the produce away. Lol. Have a great weekend. Hugs.
DeleteI am still waiting for enough produce from our garden to make canning worthwhile. I remove the rings from my jars after about 24 hours. Then I move them to my storage area. Every so often I check the seals on my jars. That way I know if one of them breaks a seal for some reason and can toss that jar out.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much for the info. on removing the rings. I have been reading about removing them and I think that is what I am going to do. I have always left mine on, but they rust so. I hope you have a great weekend and thank you for the sweet visit, dear. Hugs.
DeleteHow do you get so much done? You are amazing! I used to can when my children were at home and I took the rings off. Your relish look so good. Your embroidery patterns and Joys are delightful and your cross stitch is cute too. Thank you both for sharing your creativity with all of us.
ReplyDeleteAaaw , thank you so much , dear.. You just brought a smile to my day and I so appreciate the info. about the canning rings. I have always kept mine on, but I have been reading about removing them. I thought it might reduce the rust. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed weekend. Hugs.
DeleteI have been reading your blog for a long time, but have never commented. I don't know how you accomplish so much. I love your designs that you do generously share with us. I don't can any more, but I used to leave the rings on for 24 - 48 hours and then removed them. Then I could tell if a jar lost it's seal. I really love the 12 days of Christmas stitchery. Do you know how I can get the pattern?
ReplyDeleteAaw thank you so much . I can not tell you how much I appreciate you being a long time follower. That just warms my heart. I also appreciate the information about removing the rings. I believe I am going to do that this year. The 12 Days of Christmas was a freebie from Plum Street Sampler on her blog . She gives a link to the steps in her December 20, 2015 post. I hope you are able to locate it. I will try to add a link to my blog too. Have a great weekend. Hugs. https://plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com/plum_street_samplers/2015/12/the-grand-finale.html
DeleteAs Lorraine said, rings off. I never had enough rings to keep them on all the jars during my "Mother Earth" years and had to re-use them later in the week when the next produce came in from the garden. Loving the Christmas in July ideas and patterns. Thanks again for sharing! Kris
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much, Kris for the info. I have always kept mine on , but now they will be coming off. Those rings can get expensive so it will be nice to reuse them and hopefully they will not rust as quick. Have a wonderful day. Hugs.
DeleteOh, I just love the look of full pantry shelves. Your jars are looking so nice! All that promise of good eating to come. I don't can near as much as I use to. I have gone both ways with the rings - left them on and taken them off after they sealed. I mostly freeze now. Seeing what you are doing makes me kind of miss it. My green beans are coming on finally. The berries are done for this year. The tomatoes and peppers are coming on, too, but nothing ready to pick but a couple of little cherry tomatoes so far. Thank you for the cute doodles and the Ho Ho stamp. I love that 12 Days of Christmas stitch you showed. I will do that one of these days. So pretty! You definitely deserve to put your feet up for a bit and have a nice cool glass of sweet tea.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on loving the look of a full pantry especially when it is homegrown. It has been a busy canning season this year, but I will miss it once it is over with. It sounds like you have a great garden. Mmmm - green beans. I wish we had planted some. I hope you enjoy the bounty of your garden as it comes on. Have a blessed and wonderful weekend, Ginny and thank you for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteMy mom taught me, and most books recommend, that canning jar rings come off after 24 hours or so and if the jars are "sticky," as often happens when canning fruit, they get washed gently before being stored.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do with canned squash or zucchini? I've never done them separately - only in a ratatouille style sauce.
Oh thank you so much, dear. I have been reading about taking the rings off , but have always kept mine on -not knowing. I think taking them off is a great idea and I plan to do that now that I hear people do. We make a lot of squash casseroles with them. Mmm ratatouille sauce sounds yummy. I also canned some squash pickles. I really like them , but Mr. Pinker doesn't. Lol. I hope you have a great weekend and thank you again for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteI do leave my rings on. I have plenty, and I misplace them if I take them off. I know that goes against what everyone else here said, (who cares?) but it's what I did, my mother did, my grandmother did, and probably back for generations!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great stash of canning, and looks so prepared. Thanks for the doodles, and the Ho Ho Ho stamp looks great, too. You are amazing, and we had that rainy day today - loved it!
I have always left my rings on too as my mom did. I have a lot of rusty ones this year and have had to buy some new ones . But I don't have enough so I was wondering about removing them. It is always fun to learn something new and hear how other do things. I hope you enjoy the new doodles , dear Susan. Have a blessed weekend. Hugs.
DeleteYears ago when I canned, I did not leave my rings on. Personal preference.
ReplyDeleteLoads of thread flying in this post, Melisa. Love it!!!
Oh thank you so much, Susie. I was wondering what the consensus was on what I should do. I have always left mine on, but I do not have enough this year and they seem to rust quickly so I think I will take them off. Thank you so much for the information. Have a blessed weekend. Hugs.
DeleteMelisa...I've always left the rings on
ReplyDeleteSafer with little hands. 😉 Thank you again for your patterns. You've always been so generous. Sorry I haven't been around...spent the last week at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.
Happy Friday, Donna. I have always left my rings on too.I think because that is what my mom does and of course like you sad "safer with little hands about". Lol. I have been having to buy new rings this year and am low so I was wondering about going without rings and have learned a lot. Oooh I hope you are having a great time. My parents went there a few years ago and loved it. You have made a great round trip this year.- I bet you are having a time. Have a great weekend and safe travels . Hugs
DeleteYour relish looks SOOOO yummy! It reminds me of my mom's when she canned. We made some tomato relish together before she passed. Unfortunately it is long gone and I don't have her recipe (if she even had one!). We have always left our rings on the jars but I have heard some people remove them after they seal?? Thanks for the new stitcheries!
ReplyDeleteAww, Brenda that is such a sweet memory of you and your mom canning. I know you miss those times so. Tomato relish sounds delicious. I am going to see if I can find a recipe. Thank you so much for the sweet visit. Have a great weekend. Hugs.
DeleteWow! You have done a lot of canning and all of them look delicious! Nothing compares to opening a homemade jar! Love all of your stitches!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Diana, I think our pantry is full. The garden has kept us so busy this year. It was nice that hubby was able to help. I do not think I could have got it all done without him. Thank you for the sweet visit . Hugs
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