canning · freezer · How-to Video

(L)Oven Monday – Pictorial Guide to Strawberry Freezer Jam

Strawberry season is almost here! Yesterday I had a Zoom Strawberry Freezer Jam lesson with ladies from my church. We had such a fun time together and it was almost like having them in the kitchen with me!
I thought I’d do two things today –
1. Share the detailed post I did a couple years ago with pictures for each step of jam making.
2. Share the link to the video that was recorded yesterday during our Zoom class. You’ll find that video here – https://youtu.be/2aTi7G3-IkY

If you have any qualms about how to make Jam, you’ll have help each step of the way with this post/video. So, happy jam making!!

RefreshHer's avatarRefreshHer

Jam3a

One of our favorite summer treats is Strawberry Freezer Jam. I’ve made it for years and we smear it on toast, PB&J sandwiches, biscuits, and muffins (especially these). I also love taking a jaras a hostess gift. I make up several “runs” of the recipe each May, and we try to ration it out to make it last until the next fresh/local strawberry season. It could be called a domestic crisis if we run out!

The freezer jam is quicker to make than the cooked jam, and it’s a really simple process. Another great thing is that once you get a stash of jars stocked up your only cost is the ingredients for the jam. This recent batch cost me $20 and I made 18 jars! That’sa great value!

But spite the fantastic taste and the value, sometimes people are afraid to try making it for fear that it…

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Crafts · refreshment at home

Dollar Tree Galvanized Tin Makeover

Back in the day when we shopped at the Dollar Tree, I got this little galvanized container…

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It was so shiny, so nice that it just didn’t fit with the word, galvanized tin!   I felt like it was lacking some character.  It needed some age on it to make it look like it had been around a while, like maybe it had a story or two that it could tell!

Sooooo, I got out a piece of sandpaper and tried to roughen up the smooth surface, but it did nothing.  I knew hammering it would only make dents.  Then I turned to Pinterest to find some answers.  I learned that all this container needed was two things – Continue reading “Dollar Tree Galvanized Tin Makeover”

Coronavirus · Refreshment in marriage

Improving Your Marriage While Staying Home Together

iron a

nug·get
ˈnəɡət/
noun
plural noun: nuggets
a small lump of gold or other precious metal found ready-formed in the earth.
A small chunk or lump of another substance.
Valuable items don’t have to be large to be worth much, and the same goes for pieces of advice.  Even little nuggets of advice can be valuable.  That’s exactly what I want to share with you today…some nuggets of marriage advice.
I’ve heard (and also witnessed myself!) that spending so much time at home together during these Coronavirus and Safer At Home days, is causing marriage relationships to be strained at times. We love our spouse and love being with them, but due to stress, added meal prep, extra dishes and a change in our normal routines, the difficulty of it all is often played out in our relationships.  
I’m going to share five nuggets of truth that could help ease the stress!

In this post I talked about appreciating the differences between ourselves and our husbands.  My little preference was about the shower bottles’ lids being closed.  I even said that my husband had no idea that that bothered me!  Every day when I cleaned the shower, I would simply snap his shampoo and body wash lids back down, but I never said anything to him about it.

Guess what?

shower pic

Ever since then his bottles have been shut tighter than a toddler’s teeth at supper time!  Yep, he read my post and took it on himself to take care of that tiny issue! (How sweet is that?!) What did it take?  Communication.

Nugget #1 ~ When there are things that bother you, lovingly speak up. 
I’m clearly not talking about little pet peeves like mine; I’m talking about things that would really cause a rift in your relationship.  Many times things go on and on simply because we don’t share it with our spouse.  Either we think he should know it (!) or we’re afraid to tell him.  Sharing what’s on your heart might not remedy the issue immediately, but at least you can get it out there where it can be discussed and prayed about, and possibly have a conclusion decided upon very quickly.

When I was changing our sheets this week, I noticed that the top hem was really wrinkled.  I started to continue to make the bed and then I remembered that I usually always iron the guest bed.  Then I had another thought I needed to make our sheets pretty, too.

iron

Nugget *2 – Never do for others and neglect your husband.
If he’s our priority (and he should be), we won’t want to forget to show him the special kindness that we do for other people. Right now perhaps we’re thinking of thoughtful things we can do for our friends and family, but have you considered what special gesture you could do for your husband?  Need a few suggestions?

~Be quick to respond with a positive word when he suggests taking a walk, a drive in the country or doing a project in or around your home. 
~Make meal time special by setting the table and/or fixing one of his favorite foods.
~Look your best by simply getting ready each day.  That doesn’t mean you have to dress to the nine’s, but put on a little make up and put on real clothes – something as simple as jeans and a cute shirt with the addition of a necklace or earrings.

Continue reading “Improving Your Marriage While Staying Home Together”