Apple Peel Jelly

Canning has become a new passion of mine. In fact, I think I'm a bit obsessed.

When I was in Afghanistan I couldn't wait to get home and try making some of the recipes I'd come across on the Internet. The unusual ones are especially intriguing. 

The idea of making rose petal jelly, dandelion jelly, red hot cinnamon cucumber pickles and corn cob jelly thrills me to no end.

I'm just glad my family is appreciative of my canning endeavors because I always end up with way more than I'll be able to eat in a year's time ;p. 

Last fall I went a bit crazy and purchased two bushels worth of apples. It didn't take me long to realize I may have gone a bit overboard. We had apples in most everything for a good month. 

Somewhere along the way I decided to save the peels and cores. I wasn't sure how I'd use them at the time, but I knew I'd eventually figure it out. I put all the scraps in a couple of freezer bags and stored them in our freezer.

Sugaring Off

Maple syrup season has begun!!!

 

We first learned about tapping maple trees when we visited a local maple syrup festival a couple of years ago. My husband became obsessed with the idea of eventually tapping our own trees and making homemade maple syrup. I was a bit skeptical at first because it seemed like such a complicated process.

Holiday Cheer

It's crazy to think December is finally here!

I spent the weekend in Memphis, Tenn., for my sister-in-law's Elvis themed wedding. I'd never been to Memphis before, but everyone certainly had a blast. We took a tour of Graceland and the car museum. It's crazy to realize what an impact Elvis had on society.

Dustin and I in front of Graceland after the wedding.

While we were there we tried the infamous grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich. It certainly was yummy! I'm thinking I'd like to try it with some homemade bread. Deliciousness!!

On a side note, I've decided to make most of our Christmas gifts this year. I'll admit, this has resulted in some creative brainstorming. My favorite idea so far is this little beauty.

My oldest sister-in-law loves coffee and monkeys, so I decided to combine the two and make her a coffee cozy. I'm also going to tuck a Starbucks gift card inside the coffee mug since she's a hardcore addict.

The really great part is I already had all the items on hand. So all it took was a little bit of my time :).

I found the pattern here if anyone is interested.

Gettin' Back in the Groove of Things

I can't believe I've been home for over three months. It's funny how Afghanistan all seems like a dream now that I'm no longer there. I'm just thankful I am finally home with my loved ones. There are times where I still struggle with realizing I don't have to be on constant alert. I know I'll always be more aware of my surroundings, but in a good way :).

I've finally managed to get back into the groove of things. It took me a while, but I suppose I earned some time to become reacquainted with myself and the lifestyle I lead. Dustin has been super supportive and I'm so glad he's such a wonderful husband. I couldn't ask for more.

A Bookworm's Flower Garden

My Glory doily blanket has been giving me quite a bit of issues lately. I've had to undo multiple rows, which can be a little disheartening. So, I decided to take a little break and use up some of my leftover yarn creating these charming bookmarks.

Goal: Read All the Newbery Award Winners

Source

Earlier this year I made it a goal to read all of the Newbery Award winners. I'm a big fan of children's literature and young adult novels. There’s something timeless about well-written books from these genres.

Confessions of a Perfectionist

My day started at 0430. It was still dark outside when I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and grab some water from the nearest water point. Everything was quiet and the stars were slowly beginning to fade as dawn splashed across the distant horizon. At first I was still half asleep from not getting enough sleep the night before, but it didn't take too long for me to get warmed up and anxious about doing well on my Physical Fitness Test.