New Toy

We had a busy weekend and lucky for you, it was all documented by my brand spanding new 50mm f1.8 APS lens. I offically have a new toy.

Here's a few photos depicting what we were up to.

On our way to the Pigs and Peaches BBQ contest Saturday, I picked up a few pounds of just picked South Carolina peaches. On Sunday, I whipped up this tasty Peach BBQ sauce. I can't wait to fire up the grill next weekend and spoil our houseguests!

Greg discovered some baby squirrels out roaming our backyard. They followed him around all afternoon in search of thier mama. Avery was infatuated with them and really wanted to find thier mommy.

Even Maggey was not spared from my new lens, and was suprisingly tolerant. I love how just one of her eyes is in focus in each of these photos.

Emme gave me a smile at the barbeque festival. I think it was the face paint.

The team didn't place, but the 'cue sure looked and tasted good.

It was a good weekend to be camera happy!

Visit from Meme

Meme paid us a visit this weekend while my 62 year-old Dad went off to Jacksonville for a bachelor party (I just can’t make this stuff up). Meme showered Avery with attention and thoughtful gifts, including a Disney Princess 24-piece puzzle. Avery was thrilled to put together her new puzzle of Sleeping 'Booty,' Snow White, and Cinderella over and over again. Amidst the puzzle infatuation, I actually captured a rare photo of Meme with Avery both looking at the camera!

Speaking of photos, I spent Saturday afternoon at a photography workshop learning how to use my Nikon DSLR on manual mode. I enjoyed the class and learned a lot that I need to practice, so I did a little shooting on manual last night in the perfect early evening light. I got my ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to produce the perfect exposure, only to have my subject refuse to stand still for more than 0.5seconds. The perfect camera setting can’t fix that, but I did got one decent shot. Is it just me, or does setting my own camera settings really capture Avery's blue eyes? Those baby blues almost distract you from the spaghettios smudge on the side of her mouth, don't they? Oops!

Gettin' Figgy With It

As yet another sweltering Georgia summer begins to wane, we’ve still got a few jalapenos coming in and our Tabasco peppers are just starting to ripen, which means I’ll have plenty of peppers to put up in the coming weeks. But while I like a good hot pepper as much as the next girl, I find myself wishing that I’d found my new passion for canning a bit earlier in the season and made jam from the ripe berries of early summer. Fortunately, I may not have missed my opportunity to experiment: California figs are in season, and a recipe in my cookbook for fig jam really struck my fancy. The author really ups the ante by suggesting serving fig jam over brie baked in phyllo. Mouth watering yet?

Since this notion of fig jam (over baked brie) just won’t leave my thoughts, I did a little research on my new acquaintance, the fig. There are many varieties: Black Mission, Calimyrna, Kadota, and Brown Turkey (which by far has the catchiest name) to name a few.

After spying figs for sale at Publix for $5.99 a pint (too expensive for this frugal
gal considering the quantity I need for jam), I’ve been on fig alert all week looking for them for sale at local produce markets. I happened into Fresh Market and found what I’d been searching for: Brown Turkey figs for $3.98 a pint. I quickly inspected them for ripeness and secured four pints.
Aren't these pretty? Brown Turkey figs are described as having copper skin, light pink pulp, and fewer seeds than Black Mission, Calimyrna and Kadota figs. They are ripe when tender to the touch and produce a sweet aroma.

I won’t bore you with the details of my chopping, stirring, and boiling water canning, but I will show you the finished product. Yum! I've already polished off most of the first jar!

Saturday Mornings at the Farmer's Market

Avery loves tagging along with me to the Farmer’s Market Saturday mornings. I think she likes the atmosphere – there’s usually live music and a bouncy house. Plus, she gets plenty of attention and compliments. Who wouldn’t like that? While we peruse the fresh produce, she really talks up the bouncy house but upon approach, she chickens out citing that there are too many big kids inside. I don’t blame her. She may be scrappy, but she’s still pretty little!

This Saturday, we shopped for pickling cucumbers and bell peppers to make a sweet pickle relish from my new favorite cookbook, Canning and Preserving wish Ashley English.

We also purchased some ripe tomatoes to pair with our homegrown jalapenos to make salsa. Avery helped me pick the jalapenos Friday night and collected them in her bucket.

I made both the relish and the salsa and “put them up” Sunday afternoon while Avery napped. The relish was easy and turned out beautifully. If you are lucky enough to be on my Christmas list, you might just get a half pint. Here's a sneak preview.

I had to sample it of course, to make sure it was tasty enough to share with my friends and family.

The salsa, however, was extremely time consuming and didn't yield much. In fact, I might never want to see another tomato. The Farmer's Market runs until October, so Avery and I will see what seasonal delight inspires us next!

Garden Assistant

Since we moved onto to our 3 acre property, I’ve wanted to start a garden. But unfortunately, our very shaded and sloping yard just isn’t conducive to growing produce, and then there’s my black thumb to consider! To indulge me, "Prince Daddy" secured a half-whiskey barrel from the “tractor store” for some container gardening and found a sunny spot for it in the driveway. He planted several tomato and pepper plants, and has been caring for them diligently. Throughout the growing process, Avery has assisted Greg with watering and picking. Her picking can get a bit overzealous, resulting in a few tomatoes leaving the vine before their time! Not the one below, though!

Last weekend, Greg went away to WI on a fishing trip and left me with about a dozen ripe jalapeno peppers. Not wanting to waste them after all his and Avery’s hard work, I contemplated what to do with them. Freezing wasn’t an option because they get mushy, and I didn’t think eating a dozen cheesy jalapeno poppers solo would be wise for my waistline, so I considered canning them.

I’ve never canned anything but wasn’t opposed to the idea; my paternal grandmother was a whiz back in her day. So, I did a little research on the internet and decided to go for it after finding a pickled jalapeno recipe online from a canner in Canada. Get it? Canner in Canada? Hee hee. So, Avery and I hit Wal-Mart for the supplies (mason jars, canning salt, and a canning rack), and I boned up on all the safety procedures. Having just survived a case of e coli in the household, I’m not taking any chances with food-borne bacteria.

I washed and sliced the jalapenos and determined I had enough for one pint jar, the perfect test run!

Next, I sterilized my jar, made my salt and white vinegar brine, and filled my hot jar, leaving the recommended ¼” head space necessary for sealing.

Then, off into the boiling canner my jar went. After 10 minutes – voila! My jar was perfectly sealed and the jalapenos will be ready to enjoy on nachos or BBQ chicken pizzas in 4-6 weeks.
The process was really easy and I feel so accomplished. I am as excited as Avery for next crop!

"My Tummy Hurts"

Poor Avery had a pretty tough July due to some unexplained and persistant stomach issues. Two trips to the doctor, various tests and even a x-ray later, Avery was finally diagnosed via a lab test with a case of e coli. As scary as that sounds, we were very lucky. Avery's case was not severe, and though she's still recovering, things could have been much, much worse. For the last few weeks, we've made the best of our weekends as her condition kept us from her favorite summer activity: going to to the swimming pool. Ironically, this is probably where she contracted the bacteria in the first place.

Fortuneately, Avery has a wonderful imagination to entertain her. Her many "Avery games" include all kinds of play, including dress-up. The red Olivia tutu is one of her favorite accessories, but rain boots can be fun, too!

Of course, there's nothing like a nice pair of shades to keep things cool on a sweltering Georgia afternoon. Notice the soccer ball? She's been obsessed with "playing soccer ball" ever since we watched the Women's World Cup together. She's certainly no Hope Solo, but a mother can dream!

All signs now point to Avery being on the mend, but just in case, it wouldn't hurt to keep her health in your thoughts and prayers.