Life is Peachy!

This year for the first time I canned peaches! I have lived in New England my whole life and until this year, for some reason never realized I could get locally grown peaches right down the street.  I always thought they did not grow around here?
 I noticed last year while picking blueberries at Ward's Berry Farm that they had peach trees and a sign that said Pick your own Peaches!  So I accually remember this summer so go back!

I bought a flat of peaches, well accually a box.  There was 17 pounds for $28.00.
Many of you may not know this but I am allergic to most RAW fruit!? I started when I was 20 years old, all of a sudden after a life time of eating raw friut I developed an allergy? Anyway I can not eat peaches unless they are cooked or canned.  I love peaches!  I wanted to also enjoy fresh locally grown peaches too! This was my soulution.
With help from my mom and this wonderful book...Ball-Complete-Book-Home-Preserving,
I got started!

1. After washing them because although they are locally grown they are saddly not organic. I placed them in boiling water for 1 min.







2. I dipped them in ice cold water...this makes the skins slip right off!








3. This is my mom spipping off the skins,cutting them in halve and taking     out the pit.  Thanks for helping mom!






4. I dipped them into a solution of 4 cups water to 1/4 cup lemon juice. This keeps the fruit from turning brown.





5. I dont have a pic of it, but next I used a slotted spoon to layer the peaches into the hot jars, that were in the canner waiting.  I layered them pit side down so they would fit nicly in the jar and then laddles boiling water into the jars leaving a 1/2 inch head space. Then I slid a plastic stick in the jar around the peached to release the air bubbles. I put the lids on next.  Then I put the jars into the canner and water bath processed them for 20 mins for pints and 25 mins for quarts.



6. TA-DA! Now I have 8 pints and 6 quarts of nice, yummy canned peaches!!  It really was easy, it took us 2 1/2 hrs including processing time for 2 batches.

A great Article- Smart Enough to Home School?

Another great article I wanted to share.  This one is about a comment I hear all the time from non-home school parents..."I don't think I am smart enough to home school."  Written by a fellow home school mom.
Smart Enough To Home School?

Aren't you worried about socialization?

Aren't you worried about socialization?

This is a great article written by a fellow home schooler.  It explains allot of the ideas that I have, only she already wrote it out so well, I thought I would just share her article with you.  This article explains SOME of the reasons we have chosen to home school our boys.

I would love to read any thoughts on this......

Rain Symphony

I love a summer rain!
Rainy days for me are peaceful and calm.
Rainy days are days we relax and play inside with toys forgotten, by the warm draw of a summer day to play outside (all the time).
Rainy days mean no rushing around to get somewhere, like a beach or playground.

Today as I sit with my tea, eating yummy chocolate chip, blueberry pancakes, with real Vermont Maple syrup I hear the sounds of a summer rain....

The "ting.....ting......ting" of rain drops filling my cannier I put out on the deck after making strawberry jam.
The rythmic patten of drops softly patting on the ground.
The excited chirping of the Tufted Tit Mice, feasting on the worms poking out of the ground.
The cool damp breeze on my shoulder thru the window.
The crowing of a rooster calling the hens to munch on the bird seed fallen to the ground under the feeders.
The sound of two boys happily playing with toys forgotten.....

Ahhh...I love a summer rain!

Article on Mercury in High Fructrose Corn Syrup

This is an interesting article that just makes you wonder, what is really going on with the food process in this country? 
Yeah convince foods are quick and easy, but is it really worth saving 10mins now, instead of eating more whole foods to protect your health later?  Really once you get in the habit of NOT eating all the junk they sell on the shelves and prepare healthy,whole snacks and meals it just becomes life and not a chore, besides there is no chore in eating an apple over a bag of Cheetos! (which contain MSG that is very addictive BTW)
I am not saying once in awhile I don't crave a junk snack....I do...and once in awhile I will indulge..
but read the article and see how much High Fructose Corn Syrup you are actually eating in one day!................think about it!

Article about Mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup

Home Made Laundry Detergent

Ingredients in laundry detergent + shaved soap bar

Today I made home made laundry detergent as part of my mission...read about it here.

I was going to make the liquid version, but I need to acquire a 5 gallon bucket with a lid first.  So I made the powder version instead.  I followed the recipe from here.. Earth Easy (great site)

1/2c Borax

1/2c.Super Washing Soda

1 shaved bar of soap, I used a homemade bar I had

(Ivory or Fels Naptha soap is suggested),

I put all ingredients in a cleaned out coffee can

Use 3 Tablespoons per load

So the clothes...came out clean!  I put them on the clothes my recycled clothes line, just in time for a thunder storm to add some natural fabric softener!

I LOVE knowing what is really in my laundry detergent that I clean my families clothes in.

I LOVE no plastic bottle to recycle.

I love knowing that the ingredients are safe for the Earth!

Dishwasher Soap

ingredients in dishwasher soap

As I posted before here I am on a mission to replace my already Earth Friendly cleaning products with some better home made ones.  I started with dishwasher soap.  The recipe I used was from Earth Easy (check out this great website!)  it was..

Equal parts Borax and Super Washing Soda.  I also added distilled white vinegar to the rinse aid compartment.  They came out....CLEAN!  Some of the glasses had some spots if you looked close, I don't look that close! You should try it! 

I LOVE knowing exactly what is in what I am cleaning my dishes with,

I LOVE not having any plastic bottle to recycle ,

I LOVE that in the end it saves me money,

I LOVE that both the ingredients are all natural and both are product and companies that have been around for a LONG time and tried and true products!