Plums and packing!

The plum tree in our yard is loaded this year, so I battled the mosquitoes and picked enough to make two batches of homemade cooked jelly! I tell you there is something extremely satisfying in hearing the 'pop' of the jelly jars as they seal after their hot water bath!!! I tried something new this year- reduced/no sugar pectin to make my jelly. I made one recipe the traditional way which took 6 1/2 cups of sugar to 5 1/2 cups plum juice- yikes, talk about a sugar high!!! The second batch I used Bell no sugar needed pectin. It appears to have worked great- set up well. I used 3 3/4 cups sugar for 5 cups of plum juice. (Yes, you can just cut back on the sugar- you don't need to go the no-sugar or sugar substitute route! Personally, our wild plums are too sour to eat without some sugar!) So, now I have beautiful jelly jars set aside for gifts for Christmas and other occasions, and I have a 'lite' option to give my more health conscious friends & family! Super!!!!

The other project I am doing now is helping my daughter with her "BIG MOVE" to graduate school this weekend. It will be her first apartment!- she was in the dorms for four years of undergrad. We are taking a two vehicle caravan, and that still won't carry it all! One vehicle is even a truck with topper! Her Dad has to go that direction on business in several weeks, so he'll take another load! It is an exciting but melancholy time!! I'm just happy I'll be able to spend about four days there helping her settle in before heading home. Dad is staying home to watch the fort, so to speak. If he came along we'd have to take the "Lucy" and there is no room in the truck for her kennel. Plus, since he has a job, he can't take the time off I can. :-) The trip is a good nine hours so here's hoping it is a safe and uneventful one! Peace.