To everything there is a season...

This is my campfire rose.  Isn't it amazing? The photos are a week apart.  It just keeps evolving.  

These are the first photos.  It started out somewhat light and then the colors get more vibrant with time.  It is just about the only thing blooming so I need to enjoy it.  

I picked my sweetgrass last week.  I didn't get as much as I normally do.  I had a partner, and he was an impatient puppy. Especially since it was very hot that day. 

To everything there is a season, and this is the season of harvest.  I got a pile of plums and a peck of peaches.  It makes for an exhausting weekend, but it is by far the thing I look forward to in the summer.  I am forever thankful for a mom who taught (at the time I felt it was child labor) me how to preserve and use the food from her garden.  I am proud to have this skill.

Something I learned on the internet was the best way to remove the seed in stone fruit is to cut it in half and then gently twist the two sides.  Voila.  They separate easily.   It only took 50 some years to learn that.  I do appreciate the internet when it comes to finding new recipes.   

I ended up with 9 jars of Spicy Peach Preserves, 8 jars of Maple Whisky Peach Jam, 10 jars of Vanilla Peach Jam, 8 jars of canned plums, 2 jars of plum syrup, 2 gallons of plum wine, 2 gallons of peach cider, and a bowl of peaches and plums in the fridge.  There is NOTHING better than a bowl of peaches and cream.  I've been gobbling it up.  

I also harvested some of my carrots. Seasoned them and roasted them in the oven then froze them.  I also canned 6 jars of beans from the garden.  On the herb front, I picked and dried some sage, oregano, and basil.

I forgot to take a photo of my Minnesota midget melons.  They were delicious and I did save the seeds.  

Besides canning, gardening, and chasing a puppy, I managed to braid the sweetgrass.  I am so glad my mom bought me a sweetgrass braid for Christmas one year. Until then, I didn't know it was possible to capture the essence of summer. I take this as seriously as I do canning and freezing food.  

As for puppy chasing, Dollar has us busy. On the positive side, he is keeping the deer and turkeys at bay.  They don't know what to think of him.  

While Ella loved pinecones, Dollar loves sticks.  He is always picking them and carrying them around.  Our yard is littered with them.

The bigger the better.  We can't go for a walk without stopping to inspect every branch and log.  The one below is his absolute favorite stop.  He is determined that someday he will take it home.  

Right now, he is crashed out at my feet.  We are finally getting into a routine.  For a while there he thought 5 am was a great time to eat.  Finally, he realizes 6 might make for a happier household. 

There are some nice sunrises at 5:30 am.  I do appreciate that aspect of getting up early.  

When was the last time you got a new pet? Do you do any canning or freezing?  If so what are some of your favorites?  Who taught you to preserve?