Pork for Jam

A few weeks ago, I bought some fresh pork belly from our local butcher to make bacon. I got it home, put it in the fridge to deal with the next day since we were having company that night. Then something came up the next day so I figured I'd cure it the next day. Or the next. Or the next. It went rancid before I could cure it and my heart sank. I wasted food and money. I was really, really sad about it. I didn't tell anyone but Ken, it made me that upset.

I vowed to take on only projects that I could tackle (if they involved perishables, at least). Yesterday, I went strawberry picking on Sauvie Island. I picked 12 lbs of berries and when I went to pay for them, I saw that they had a jamming flat reduced for quick sale. My inner struggle. Get the hurting berries or leave them. It was the pork incident all over again.

For $6.50, I purchased the additional flat of berries and went to a barbecue at a friends house while they sat in the back of my car. By 9:15 p.m, I was on my way home. By 9:30, I was sitting in a chair pulled up to the sink, hulling and washing berries. Come hell or high water, these berries wouldn't rot on me. By 10:00, I was almost finished processing the 15 cups of strawberries that would make up my jam. By 10:03, I realized I didn't have enough sugar. I called Ken, who was on his way home from kickball and work to pick some up. (You have to love a husband who knows you well enough to know that when you ask for sugar, you mean a 25 lb sack of it -- he called to confirm that's how much I wanted, which it was. He didn't ask why I wanted it either. He just picked it up for me. Another reason why he's my best. Sidenote: he was also very understanding about the pork incident.)

Back to the stove, it was now 10:10 on a work night. I had my pot of boiling water going for the jars and I'd just finished processing the strawberries and adding the lime juice when Ken walked in with the dog and a 25 lb sack of sugar over his shoulder. I am stirring a 26 gallon sized pot of red goo.

His only response: "You're doing this now? Is this because you're motivated to make jam or because you're still feeling guilty about the pork?"

Yes. Talk about hitting my reasons out of the ballpark.

Ken said he needed to walk away from the canning madness. I mumbled something that may have sounded like "ok" but I can't be sure. I was in jam-land. I added the sugar, cooked it all down, ladled the jam into the jars and processed it in the boiling water. Thankfully, it was a cool night (a welcome change from normal jamming weather) so I was only a sticky mess rather than a sweaty, sticky mess. By the time I pulled the last of the jars from the water and cleaned up, it was around 11:30 pm. I had 24 pints (around 3 gallons) of perfectly-set, jewel-colored strawberry jam. I left it on the counter overnight so I could admire my work the next morning.

Upon seeing my work this morning, I was proud of what I accomplished but I am still thinking about the pork. I am also thinking about the other 12 lbs of strawberries still sitting on my counter.

Hello lovers

I dropped off some black maternity pants to be hemmed after work yesterday and then went shoe shopping. I'm normally not much of a shopper but I only have one pair of plain black flats for work -- and they need socks in order to wear them. Since it's summer and socks are starting to cut into my cankles, I figured it was time for some new ones.

I found some nice black ones on sale at Macy's, which was having a promotion that if you bought any two pair (even if on sale or clearance), both pair got an additional 20% off. So I got another pair that I've been lusting after since Easter. I love them because they're so bright and outside of what I usually wear. They're so comfortable and are the most vibrant lime green I've ever seen (the picture doesn't do the color justice -- they are even brighter than what you see below). I don't know if they're stylish or if I look like an old lady. But I don't care. I love them and am wearing them now. They brighten my mood whenever I look down and see them.

Lisa, version 3.5

Lisa Tape Age 3.mp3 -

Lisa, version 0.1

We've been asking our parents for details and photos about ourselves from when we were babies. I'm asking in hopes of getting an idea about:

• how big our kid may be
• how long labor has taken for the moms (10-13 hours, gulp)
  
• what the baby's temperment may be
• what it might look like
• etc, etc.

My parents just scanned this and sent it out. I'm posting it because I find it hilarious and horrifying at the same time. My favorite parts are:

• "Friends and people can't believe how pleasant and happy Lisa is. Lisa at 9 months still hasn't gone through a shy period - Lisa will go to anyone. Particulary men."
• that I didn't need a haircut until I was pretty much 3.

Vertigo anyone??

I've had so, so luck in planning vacations for us that have involved a modicum sense of adventure. I usually overshoot the mark (by a lot) and find us knee deep in something.

Flash back to Thanksgiving 2003, we were backpacking in Canyonlands National Park over the long weekend, hiking about 20 miles total over crevices, up ladders, in the middle of no where. This was planned....what wasn't planned was the water freezing in the canisters at night. 15 degree freezing!

Flash back to Summer 2006. We were sea-kayaking in Alaska. We hoped it wouldn't rain but it did. We were soaking wet on the last of three days kayaking when we needed to paddle 12 miles to our pick-up point. This was planned....what wasn't planned was the 20mph head wind, the six foot swells, me not being able to see Lisa in the kayak behind me due to said six foot swells, and our radio call to change our pick-up point to a spot much closer to where we were.

And so flash back....to the last two days. Lisa, Kinley and I went backpacking up Eagle Creek in the Columbia Gorge this past weekend. It's a very reasonable 1/2 hour from Portland. It's 7.5 miles up the creek, camp overnight and hike back 7.5 miles back to the car. Elevation gain is about 1600 feet. This was planned...

We're on our way!
Looking up the canyon
The three of us after about 2.5 miles.
A view up the trail
One of many great waterfalls
A tired dog after 3.5 miles.
Food's a-cookin'
A very tired dog after 7 miles and a full belly!


Now, what wasn't exactly planned you ask?

The intermittent hikes through Mordor
The crazy cliffs right off of the trail
And more crazy cliffs next to and behind Tunnel Falls. Yes, you walk BEHIND the waterfall!
Here are two videos leading up to and through Tunnel Falls



And more cliffs (see Lisa in the distance)
But the view around the corner is spectacular!


Overall I think we had a great time and it was a great experience for all. I couldn't be any prouder of Lisa and Kinley. They were great troopers but I doubt I will be planning a trip like this anytime soon.

Who knew that such amazing things could be found within a 1/2 hour of our house...literally!

The entire album of photos can be viewed here.