Canning Adventure...

Last week a couple friends and I split some boxes of produce. We got them for a good price that Sara so kindly organized and picked up. Stacie and I decided we would can our portions of produce. Well, my dear friend Stacie had never canned before in her life! I, on the other hand, have canned many a times during my life with my grandma and step mom. That being said I am not used to being the one all knowing about what I am canning. So with a little help from this huge jem:

Stacie and I were on our way! First day we did salsa with our tomatoes and jam with our peaches. The next day we did tomato sauce with the rest of our tomatoes (we had a lot of tomatoes that were VERY ripe). Then the last day I whipped out the pears. Here is a collage of the fruit of our labors!

Who wants to join us next year?

I now declare blog strike -OVER!

I suppose I was on a blog strike. At first it wasn't a conscious decision to be on a strike. I really didn't have anything to blog about. Then came the first day of school. Everyone was blogging about the first day of school. The kids in front of the house with their backpacks on. Looking so cute in their new school clothes. Big huge grins strewn over their faces. We took pictures like that. We really did. But what happened after those pictures were taken was something we didn't really see coming. It may seem like nothing to you, but it is definitely something to me.

Separation Anxiety

No I wasn't the one having this problem, my new 1st grader was. It had been slowly creeping it's ugly head just when the summer had started. We can't even say that there was a real trigger, because it was so gradual. Then first day of school happens, and BOOM, it's ugly head is there in full force taking over my sweet sweet child. Because this child is usually such a sweet, happy, and bouncy kid this thing made her seem like someone I didn't even know. It really scared me.

When it came time to possibly blog about this occasion. I sat down on my computer and looked at the cute pictures of the happy child.

Then I lost it.

That is when the strike truly began. With time and counseling my child is doing lots better. The big ugly head that is separation anxiety only comes up a little now. We are having lots of help with dealing with this from her teacher and a therapist that we are taking her to.

I can now share the pictures from the 1st day of school. But you will have to go to the family blog to see them! Let me know if you need an invite to that.