What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 124

All that space I had cleared last week is but a memory now...
The crafty chaos has crept back in.... bit, by bit.
Took a picture as soon as we got up this morning.
There's a lot of 'progression' sh-tuff on my table today:

Working away on my piece for the Landfillart.org Global Artist's project (psstt... check it out! 1041 Artists from around the world!):
*Got the hubcap: Beaut too... nice and chrome-y! :O)
*Got some ideas... just gotta see where my Muse takes me in the next few days.
Pulled a collection of rusty, copper-y, brass things together to see if anything jumped out and said 'pick me!' we'll see what happens today.

Also printed off some of the Amelia digi-stamps for the 2nd round of the Sassy Studio Design: Sassy Steampunk Progressive Challenge. I'll be starting that ASAP (after coffee, of course) since I have 12 hours left to get step #2 in.
Most of my Steampunk stamps are above that... again: see and be inspired, I hope! :O)

The rest of my 'workspace' is in the kitchen, LOTS more canning to do:
*Last batch of Apple Chutney (unless I find a deal on more apples)
*More 4 fruit marmalade
Gettin' those Christmas Gifts done now so I can relax *fingers crossed* closer to the holidays. (nuh-huh...)

The Mess-Fest:

1st 16 1/2 L of Apple Chutney... made Friday:

Marmalade Dreams...,

The canning continues...
Next up was Marmalade.
We um... made a LOT.
12 1/2 L by the time all was said and done.

It's on the bitter side, just the way *most* of us in this house like it. ;O)
The perfect morning Wake-Up Call when served with strong Tea.
Dubbed: 4-Fruit Markdown Marmalade.
2 bags of markdown limes, lemons, grapefruit and oranges went in plus the addition of 4 grapefruits and 5 oranges that were already in the house. Took almost the entire day to zest, shred and cook.
A real Family Project.
Almost overtook our largest pot too! But we tamed that marmalade monster. Looking forward to using it basted on chicken (adding some ginger) and for baking.

Pretty Sunshine in Bottles:

This batch of Blueberries got made into syrup.
Planning to make jam later *hopefully* with some more local-ish berries but the sale at Sobey's was just too hard to resist.
This Blueberry-Lemon Syrup is for waffles, ice-cream and baking... yum!

Pictures do this No justice, they're just so durn pretty:
I'm trying to teach the boyz to do more baking/cooking this summer.

Skillz, gotta have dem skillz!
I so wish I'd gotten pictures (smack! baaad scrapbooker)... I had them cutting potatoes with our heavy old fry cutter earlier today. They're all too small to really uh, 'put their weight into it' as this ol'cutter needs.
It was a riot watching them try. So determined/stubborn!
All the hard work pays off though:
Looking forward to marmalade chicken and homemade chips tonight.

Can You do the Can-Can?

Greg's summer schedule has worked out to be all weekends off Whooo Hoo!!! So that's when the bulk of sh-tuff on the house can get done. Between the 'funner' summer activities like Picnics, BBQ's, Day-Trips and Festivals it's urm... not a rapid progression, so... still no Studio, but I (read: We)'ve been busy none the less!

After the loss of what little canning equipment I had in the final move to this house (chaos!) I gave-up on canning for awhile. Thanks to a find of some used Jars (FreeCycle) and the "You'll be inheriting it anyway so you might as well use it now since we're not" *loan* of my Mom's Canning Pot we've been in full all out canning mode. Summer Fruits and nummies stored away for the dull dreary winter months like Frederick from my favorite childhood book by Leo Li0nni.
Best thing is the Boyz are all old enough to help in some way or another!
Arthur has been chopping. The younger 3 stirring, though William tends to hog this job since he likes it best-est. Many little hands very happy to deliver the finished goods to their designated shelves in the coolest, darkest corner of the Basement. A job I'm more than happy to let them do since I KNOW there are spiders down there. *shudder*

First up was Nectarines in Extra Light (10%) Spiced Syrup. They were a bit of a PITA to trim because they were quite crisp. Worth it though, they do look so perty in the jars, like bright bits of sunshine. They will be a real treat come snow-time!

Next some simply aaaamazing strawberries from the pick-your-own farm we're lucky to live 'round the corner from. They're just bursting they're so juicy and sweet; red right up to the green almost no white to speak of. Simply Gorgeous and soooo fragrant they're intoxicating.
The first basket we made into a light syrup and canned in smaller jars, because it's so sweet you only need a wee taste. Did the syrup up in 2 batches. You can see the berries floating in these: We like it chunky! Since it made so much *wink* we've already sampled some on vanilla ice-cream and pancakes. Deeevine.
Made too much of the spiced syrup for the Nectarines (Oops!) so went a little crazy and raw packed some leftover Grapes. Bought a HUGE bag on markdown at the fruit store, 8+ mixed bunches for $2.99. After 3 solid days of noshing the rest would have gone to waste since everyone was sick of them. Just enough left to fill 2 jars, it's an experiment... hopefully a tasty one!
Waste Not-Want Not! :O)
Pictured here in front of the 2nd run of the Nectarines.

Second basket of Strawberries was made into Jam. Canned as much in the larger jars, family 0f 6 we don't buy small so no point in packing it small. These will be great when the never ending sandwich requirements of 'back-to-school' starts again. No floating berries here but it's still chunky!

There is still much to pack :
Almost 18 cups of Blueberries waiting to be made into Syrup and Jam... yum!
and
2 bags of markdown Mixed Citrus ($2/bag!) for Marmalade.
As more yummies come into season or superb markdowns appear we'll keep canning away. So, even if I'm not in the Studio making Art I'm still making pretties, in jars, with my Boyz.
Edible Art! What's not to love?