weekending

We have been filling jars with summer fruits to enjoy in the winter, enjoying some family time after not seeing Steve for about a week straight while he was working a storm.  It's been a lovely week with a laid back weekend, just perfect.

Oh and PS - my attempt at a "sock bun" - still not sure what to think, it just might be too big of a bun and I had a hard time stuffing all my hair into it haha.  I just had to share and get some feedback...

jelly, syrup, and sun

Wednesday morning was so beautiful.  There were no clouds in the bright, blue sky, and the sun was shining at such an angle that everything it touched seemed golden.  I especially love the sun in the late summer and fall, its light so rich and heavy.  

After eating breakfast, Riggs and I went on a walk together in that warm, morning sun, and I spent about an hour and a half scavenging for the last fireweed blossoms and for as many ripened rose hips as I could find (we did not find too many that were ripe - it's still a little early for them I think).

When we got home, we separated them out and processed them, getting them ready for making syrup.  I picked a diluted syrup recipe from an old Alaskan cookbook I have.  It was very simple and quick - my kind of recipe!  I only had about 2 cups of rose hips, so I had to modify the recipe for that reason.

Those rose hips smelled so good while cooking, and the syrup turned out just delicious.  But as you can see from the photo above, I'll need about six times what I found for next time that I make the syrup.

Around my house, fireweed is about blossomed out, so it took a while to find enough to make the jelly. I think this weekend if Steve and I take the dogs on a long walk we will go somewhere nearer to Anchorage where the fireweed still seemed pretty abundant (at least as of the last time I was there).  I'd love to make some more jelly for the winter and for gifts.  As it was, I found enough to make two and a half jars of jelly, and I can't wait for it to cool and be ready for eating!

right now...

Right now I am...

...so thankful to have such a wonderful u-pick farm across the "street" from us.  I biked over there yesterday, and loved being able to leave my (not too expensive but completely invaluable to me) bike and baby trailer just leaning again the barn while I went out to pick what I needed for dinner, here and there, in the fields.  Then, to my complete embarrassment, I realized (after picking everything) that I had forgotten my wallet at home.  Cue the most gracious and friendly ladies ever who provided many easy options for me to continue home with my purchases.  I love Pyrahs!  Despite the mishap, I biked home with strawberry and rhubarb plants as well as some freshly picked strawberries and some greens for our dinner.

...enjoying more and more time spent outdoors since moving to our new home.  There are so many beautiful things to do outside, including just sitting in the yard and watching the leggy spiders scurry past me.

...watching the colors change to fall and loving it!

...digging in the yard.  I'm making space for the new plants from Pyrah's and for the three bags of spring bulbs I picked up the other day.

...amazed by the way that Riggs' so carefully inspects his surroundings, finding a sense of wonder in the simple things, like the way his shadow moves as he does.

...satisfied with the strawberry-rhubarb pie I made last night with all locally grown fruit (and honey!).  

...settling in so comfortably to this new life in our new home.