Personal Post Monday - It's PEACH time! with a recipe!

So the last few weeks have been crazy busy with unpacking, organizing, prepping for classes and a trip to So.Cal (more on that trip later).  But in the midst of all of that - our PEACHES ripened!  The tree was amazing and we got tons - which meant I had to do something with all of them.  We picked our first two buckets on 8/15/15 -

Aren't they beautiful!!!  And I was so pleased when I opened the first one and it was cling-free!  So much easier for prepping them.  The largest ones were about 4" diameter!

Here's the kitchen getting ready for canning to begin!  Coffee is ready in the background - as I needed reinforcements.

The first thing I made was preserves.  I used to can all the time (never peaches though) - when we lived in Wisconsin - but it's been 20 years - so I kinda had to learn all over again.  My first batch was the hardest -getting all the logistics down - but after that much easier.  There are just a lot of steps to it, and lots of dirty dishes - lol!

After a couple weeks and some more picking (about 3-4 of those large paint buckets full all together - I ended up with preserves,

And jelly and sliced peaches - all canned and ready to enjoy during the coming months.  I still have about 6 dozen small peaches - the last ones off the tree and hope to freeze them today.  Wish me luck!

Friday I made my first peach dessert (we've just been eating them sliced as they are so good).  It is Tennessee Peach Pudding - and believe me it tastes as good as it looks.  It's a pretty unique recipe - I had never made anything like it.  Has a bit of a cobbler feel - but the bottom is creamy and more like a pudding consistency.  We had it hot last night with ice cream - and I had some cold with coffee this AM - just as good both ways!  You can find the recipe here - 
http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/2014/08/29/tennessee-peach-pudding/  Or follow me on PINTEREST - https://www.pinterest.com/mrauchfuss/ for tons of great recipes and craft ideas.

On a final note for this personal post Monday - I wanted to share this beautiful picture from sunset on Friday - I walked in my kitchen and it was aglow with pinky orange - so I stepped out the back door and this is what I saw - so beautiful!!!

Life is full of blessings - they are all around us - please, please don't get too busy to see them.  See you all soon - TTFN!  ~Maureen

Personal Post Monday - things that made me smile!

So today's post is not stamping or crafty related - it is just personal.  I am having a tough time with our move, missing my girls and their families.  My health with my autoimmune has been really acting up, and I just can get everything unpacked and put away.  Paul is working so hard - but there are just so many things I need to do. And I can't really get active in my Stampin' Up! business till I can get it unpacked - yikes!!  But I know I am so blessed still, and just wanted to share a couple things that made me very happy this week.  The first is this gorgeous crocheted tablecloth.  We unpacked a box with it in and I had, had it packed up for years and had forgotten about it.  It was given to my hubby and I by my  in-laws for our wedding to drape on the alter at the front of the church, and it looked lovely.

It was made by one of my husband's grandmothers (we're trying to track down that information).  After the wedding she asked me to keep it - and it was a beautiful gesture and gift to me.  Below you can see the detail - it is beautifully made.  So putting it on my table this week really made me happy.

The second really great thing this past week was this peach tree.  It is loaded with peaches and they are starting to ripen.  Paul and I draped netting over the entire tree this week to keep the birds away as the fruit ripens.  I hope it works - as I am soooo looking forward to canning homemade peach jam.  Just the thought makes my mouth water.  Last year Jenee said the tree didn't have any fruit - but this year it looks like it will make up for it.  I counted 120 peaches and then stopped as I was getting dizzy looking up :)

So am trying to be positive - relying on the Lord and His abundant blessings - praying for all of you to do the same.  Will share pictures when the jam is made ;)  ~Maureen