Plum Jam

We have become the caretakers of three Italian Plum trees in our backyard.  This past weekend we decided to make jam before the plums became too ripe and started falling off of the tree.  Scott and I picked about 7 pounds of plums from the areas of the trees we could reach on foot or by ladder.  Odessa captured the plum picking process with my camera (although she mostly took pictures of her feet, the ground, and her soccer ball).

We used about 3 pounds to make jam.  Never having actually canned jam, it was an interesting experience.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed for no botulism.  The remainder of the plums Scott cut up and froze to use in recipes we found for muffins and sorbet.  Now that we feel a bit more comfortable with canning, I anticipate the next several weekends may be full of canning pear jam, peach jam, and applesauce.  Any other ideas for interesting ways to preserve our fruitful bounty through the long (wet) winter?

 

 

Comet Falls

A few weeks ago we drove to Mount Rainier National Park to do a hike to Comet Falls, a giant 462 foot waterfall.  Also near the end of the trail is the impressive Bloucher Falls.  It is a popular trail, and there is very little parking available.  When we arrived, the lot was unsurprisingly full.  We drove for a little while and parked in a different lot and hiked to the start of the trail.  Immediately, we were greeted with several warning signs.

The point they were trying to make was that even though it was almost August, there was still snow everywhere above a certain altitude.  They cautioned that only experienced hikers and/or nutjobs should attempt this hike.  I thought about this for a moment and used logic to decide if we should continue our ascent.  “Well, I don’t see any snow down here.  So, there probably isn’t actually any snow up there.”

And, aside from there being tons and tons of snow up there, I was exactly right.  Often you had to guess where the trail went based on how few trees there were in a direction roughly where you were headed.  And it was slippery, and you were prone to falling through the snow.  Also, I was carrying Leo on my back and feeling very top heavy.  Mix that together in a ceramic bowl and you can start to cook up some fun times.

So, this hike.  Not super strenuous or anything.  We’ve done many hikes more difficult than this.  But I’ve never done it with a kid on my back and I could not believe how much harder that made it.  I did pretty well on the way up, but after we started going down I was getting really tired.  I don’t think I’ve ever been more exhausted.

The waterfalls on the top were worth it.  Near Comet Falls the trail just gave up and turned into a continuous snow field.  At an ominous looking stream, Serena decided that the kids could go no further.  Of course, I had to go further.  So they hung out while I, once again, went off in search of the waterfall.

 

Highlights from the Past Week: August 13 – 19

Tonight for our Friday treat we went to Krispy Kreme.  Two words: Doughnut Sundae.  Oh my goodness….  It pretty sums up the highlight of the week but here are a handful of pictures.