Red Pepper Jelly

With the end of summer comes canning season! Last year I didn't get to do much canning (for a good reason!) so it was nice to be able to return to canning again this year. So far we have canned peaches, salsa, spaghetti sauce, jam, and my most recent addition—red pepper jelly! I've wanted to try making red pepper jelly for several years now, so I finally did it.

I looked up a few different recipes and modified them a bit. I ended up using three cups of pepper purée, which was basically just four red bell peppers chopped up in my food processor, along with two jalapeños. Then I also added a cup of apple cider vinegar, six cups of sugar, and two packets of pectin. It turned out to be just as easy as making a batch of jam! I guess, since I didn't strain the bits of pepper out of it, that technically makes it red pepper jam, but you can hardly tell the bits are in there.

My recipe ended up making six small jars as well as some extra that went into a container in the fridge. I am very happy with how it turned out! My only complaint is that it could be a bit spicier. Next time I'll add another jalapeño!

Look at that beautiful colour! My favourite way to eat red pepper jelly is on crackers with goat cheese. So delicious (and pretty)!

Busy Week!

Since my primary occupation is caring for a one year old and a two and a half year old, it comes as no surprise that I don't get out much. But every now and then an event comes up that I'm interested in, and I put out the effort to go to it. This past week there were THREE events that I went to! And they were all fantastic, so I thought I'd share a bit about them!


The History of the Bible

There was a special lecture at Columbia Bible College last week, called "The Ancient New Testament's Transmission, Translation, and Interpretation: Questions of Reliability". Basically, it was about the New Testament and the process that spanned from the original authors writing their works through to what we have on our shelves today. The speaker was very passionate about the topic, and it was interesting to hear about the thousands of ancient fragments and copies that have been discovered, and the process of comparing them and discerning what the originals said.

After the lecture, I was able to spend some time down in the Metzger Collection, which is a really cool museum of high-quality replicas of artifacts, mostly from biblical times. Their special exhibit was on the Bible and included copies of all sorts of famous old Bibles, like the Book of Kells, which is in the picture above. I got to see the actual Book of Kells when I was in Ireland many years ago, so it was neat to be able to look through (and actually touch) such an accurate copy of it.


TEDx Abbotsford

On Saturday I got to go to the TEDx Abbotsford conference, which was fantastic! There were lots of very interesting speakers on a variety of topics surrounding the theme of "trailblazing". Everything was done very well, from the talks to the food to the activities, and it seemed very professional. My favourite part of the event was being able to meet so many interesting people!


Walk for Reconciliation

I was also able to take the boys to the Walk for Reconciliation in Vancouver. It was a big day, with a mind-boggling number of people participating. It involved a two kilometre walk and a number of events at park with speeches and entertainment and activities.

For me, it was important to go as a way of saying that I care about the injustices that the Indigenous people have experienced and continue to experience in our country, and that I am one of many, many people who want those injustices to be addressed and for there to be reconciliation.

I think my favourite part of the day was watching Steven learn a bit about lacrosse, along with people of all sorts of ages and ethnicities. It was a beautiful picture of what reconciliation can look like, and he had so much fun!

Dress Alterations

A few weeks ago I found this dress at our local MCC thrift store. I loved the fabric, but I didn't really like the style of the dress. It was, however, only three dollars, so I decided to get it and see if I could turn it into a dress that I did like!

The part of the dress that I especially didn't like was the top. I don't like how that style looks on me, and I tend to avoid strapless dresses, especially with little kids who are constantly tugging on my clothes! The dress was also a size too big for me.

The first step was to remove the smocking. I figured that this would be a time-consuming process, but it turns out that if you pull the stitching in just the right way, it unravels and comes out without much fuss at all! I also took apart the top six inches or so of the side seams.

I decided to hand-sew this project instead of using my sewing machine. The fabric of the dress is quite slippery and I was concerned that I might run into difficulties if I used the machine. Hand-sewing is more time consuming, but that didn't really matter because there wasn't much sewing I needed to do. Also, there is something about sewing by hand that makes me feel like I'm pioneering like a boss, even if I don't live in a little house on the prairie.

First, I sewed shoulder seams along the top of the dress, turning what had been the top six inches of the side seams into armholes. Then I had to hem the armholes. And that was it! I decided that I wouldn't worry about a waistline, and instead just wear it with a belt.

I am quite pleased with the final result!

Rain!

Fall weather is here, and we are loving it! These kiddos love water in any form, and they have been having a blast making giant splashes in their pool, "watering the garden", and making mud pies. For the last few days, our times outside have involved getting thoroughly soaked, then going back inside for hot chocolate. Give us wind and rain over a sweltering summer day anytime!

Mother

Gentle arms embrace
Reassuring presence
Banishes nightmares back into
The dream world, untouchable
Haven of safety
This lap, these arms
Bathed in warm light pushing
Back the darkness and fear
The old couch
Worn, but oh so
Comfortable, that is how
I remember it,
Legs curled up inside
Flannel nightie
A soft lullaby
Sends me back
To sleep.

Mine the arms now
Grown larger to embrace
These smaller ones
My lips now give
Healing kisses
And sing lullabies.
I hold my sleeping child
Soft breathing in
My ear, my heart
Overflowing
Still cold fear wraps
Its cord around
My heart, I know
My lips are not
Magic, my presence alone
Cannot banish all pain
The world is so much
Bigger, and scarier
Than I thought.
And so I crawl
Into the lap
That is bigger than mine
Held by arms that
Truly banish fear and pain
Never letting go
My fear is stilled
I sleep.

Feedback

As you may have noticed, my posts have been much more sporadic lately, but now that the summer is over I'd like to get back into some kind of routine for my writing. Before I decide what that is going to look like, I'd appreciate your feedback!

The schedule I have (generally) been following for the past couple of years has been posting twice per week, with Tuesday posts generally being poetry, musings, and thoughts on life, and Thursday posts generally being recipes, crafts, and other things I have been up to.

If you have a minute or two, please leave a comment below! I've included some possible responses that you can refer to by number, or write your own!


1. I enjoy reading your poetry and musings. I would like there to be more reflective, thoughtful content.

2. I prefer the recipes and crafts. I would enjoy more hands-on content.

3. I follow your blog to hear about your life. I want more family updates and "Mommy Moments".

4. There is something else I enjoy that I would like to see more of: _______

5. I have a new idea for something that you haven't tried before: _______

6. I think you should post more frequently. I would like having more to look through when I visit your blog.

7. Less posting would be fine with me. I don't visit your blog very often.

8. I like it when you post links to your blog on Facebook. It reminds me to check out what you've been writing.

9. I don't like it when you post links on Facebook. It's kind of annoying.

10. I think that what you have been doing works really well. Keep it up!

Summer 2017

The kids have been keeping me busy this summer. Kenneth learned to walk and climb! If I turn my back on him for a minute I'll find him up on the couch or on his brother's bed. Kenneth's new found independence means that the kids have been playing together (and fighting!) a lot more. Steven runs through life at full speed and full enthusiasm. He has lots to say, and loves singing and reading stories. He has started to play pretend with his stuffed animals, which is so cute. We didn't get away from home much this summer, but we've had lots of visitors from out of town, and we were able to go for a family hike up Needle Peak and do some canyoneering down Fire Creek (without the kids). Here are a few pictures from our summer:

Keeping cool in the summer heat

Checking out the solar eclipse

Holding the eclipse in our hands

Posing for a photo

Exploring Fire Creek

Chillin' in a waterfall

Steven leading the way up Needle Peak

Lunch break!

At the summit