JOSEPHINE'S KITCHEN AND GARDEN: August 2009

Sunday, August 30, 2009

DOLLY SODS BLUEBERRY PICKING

Last week, we were suppose to go blueberry picking but decided to wait until this week.
The weather was great but very windy.

WIND MILLS BEFORE DOLLY SODS

FAMILY POSING IN FRONT OF DOLLY SODS SIGN

SCENIC PICTURE #1 FROM MOUNTAIN TOP

SCENIC PICTURE #2 FROM MOUNTAIN TOP

SCENIC PICTURE #3 FROM MOUNTAIN TOP

LINDSAY BUGGIE RIDING

JOSCELINE TRYING TO FIND BEARS

LINDSAY HIDING FROM THE BEARS

LUNCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLUEBERRY FIELD

BLUEBERRY FIELD

AND MORE BLUEBERRY PLANTS

AND YES, MORE BLUE BERRY PLANTS

We literally sat in a massive blueberry field which happened to have some flat rocks so we could eat lunch.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? GOOD!

POOPED OUT FROM BLUEBERRY PICKING

FARMER GIRL (LINDSAY) LOOKING PRETTY ON SOME ROCKS

JOSCELINE SHOWING SISSY HOW TO REALLY LOOK PRETTY ON SOME ROCKS

TIME TO GO HOME

No. Lindsay didn't fall on the rock and I was a horrible mother and took a picture. She got really grouchy after a couple hours of blueberry picking/sight seeing and would lay on the rocks and cry. :(

TO RECAP, 1 HOUR OF LOOKING FOR THESE...

AND THESE EQUALS...

6.17 POUNDS OF BLUEBERRIES!!!

Monday, August 24, 2009

MY FIRST PRESSURE CANNER AND COOKER

Yes I know. I'm a sad being for being so excited about a pressure canner & cooker. I've been wanting to pressure can something, in fact anything, since last year. I've heard horror stories of jars busting and glass shrapnel flying everywhere. Last year I wasn't that brave but this year I felt a little more comfortable with my Mason Jars. I bought my nifty new toy last week and had to wait a WHOLE WEEK for the tomatoes to ripen, come back from vacation, and finally start pressure canning.

MY FIRST PRESSURE CANNER & COOKER

PRESSURE GAUGE
It was suppose to stay on 11 lbs of pressure but I had a hard time keeping it that low. It usually varied between 11-13 lbs. I guess its better to overprocess than underprocess right? Plus, my elevation for Kingwood, WV states an average elevation (1,800 ft) but I know I'm higher than that because my house is at the top of the "mountain" and you drive downhill to get to town. Also, all 5 jars "PLINKED" as Pam would say.

5 QUARTS OF WORLD'S BEST PASTA SAUCE FROM ALLRECIPES

MY FIRST HARVESTED ORGANIC CABBAGE.

I've been waiting on it for 5 months!!!

Isn't it beautiful???

FYI: No children were harmed during my first pressure canning experience. Josceline was outside playing with the next door neighbor and Lindsay was napping during the 90 minutes cooking time. Also, husband is experienced with pressure canning so he was within earshot of the stove at all times.

Friday, August 21, 2009

VIRGINIA BEACH VACATION AUGUST 2009

Tons of fun in the sun! My family went to Virginia Beach to go spend some much needed R&R. Our last vacation was May 2007 to Florida's Cocoa Beach and Disney World so its been a while. We (I mean I) started driving at 10:00PM Monday evening. The plan was to leave earlier but the Army kept husand busy Monday so we couldn't leave Monday afternoon. So, our new plan was to leave at night to wake up to a sunrise on the beach.

DAY 1:

AS YOU CAN TELL, I MISSED THE SUNRISE ON THE BEACH BY ABOUT AN HOUR

FREAKY UNDERWATER TUNNEL

UNHEALTHY SANDY DOUGHNUT BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH

GREEDY SEAGULL SAYING, "GIVE ME YOUR DOUGHNUTS!"

JELLY FISH

LINDSAY'S FIRST REACTION TO THE WAVES

JOSCELINE IN A SANDY HOLE

OUR BEACH SET UP

PLUS OUR UMBRELLA RENTAL

FORT STORY BEACH VIEW

WE WERE SUPPOSE TO GO ON THE VIRGINIA BEACH STRIP BUT DECIDED TO GO TO FORT STORY'S PRIVATE MILITARY BEACH BECAUSE IT WAS LESS CROWDED AND CLEANER. ALSO, WE HAD ABOUT 10 DOLPHINS SWIM CLOSE TO US ON THE FIRST DAY. I COULDN'T GET A GOOD PICTURE THOUGH.