a Shimmering Star

Freezer Jam

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:36:00 +0000

Although it is winter in Michigan I have been in the mood to experiment with preserving.

When I was young my mother always canned. She put up quarts of pickles, relish, green beans and tomatoes. And freezer jam.

As I walked down the aisle at Meijer, I came across the Ball mason jars. With the renewed interest in canning, the section is quite impressive.

When I saw the recipe for No-Cook Strawberry Jam on the back of the Ball 8 oz. Freezer Jars only had three ingredients (strawberries, sugar and pectin), I decided to give it a try. I bought the jars, pectin and strawberries. I also bought the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving to study the art of preserving food.

Mashing Strawberries

Although I used the recipe on the packaging, the Traditional Strawberry Jam on Ball's website is similar. I used Well Pict Strawberries, Florida Crystals Demerara Sugar and Ball Instant Pectin.

Strawberry Freezer Jam on 12 Grain Toast

The jam is sweet without being overwhelming. It would be delicious on bagels, ice cream, pancakes and yogurt.

I cannot wait until I can use fresh strawberries!

Michigan's 175th Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:42:00 +0000

On January 26th, 1837, President Andrew Jackson signed Michigan into statehood; today marks Michigan's 175th year, and although it has seen good and bad, the state's beauty and the resilience of hard-working Michiganders makes me proud to call the state home.

via

Michigan Symbols:

Nickname: Wolverine State, Great Lakes State, Mitten State

Bird: American Robin

Flower: Apple Blossom

Gem: Isle Royale greenstone

Stone: Petoskey stone

Tree: White Pine

Motto: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice ("If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you")

Happy Birthday, Michigan!

Flecks

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:46:00 +0000

Desert is Like the Ocean

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:57:00 +0000

"The desert is like the ocean. It takes time to get out of sight of land. And then suddenly there is nothing, nothing but waves of sand shifting and sliding in the wind, sand stretching out to eternity on every side."

Dance in the Desert, Madeleine L'Engle

Seedlings

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:55:00 +0000

A Little Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:19:00 +0000

We have been living in the house for a little over a month. I took a vacation the first nine days of the year. Even though I had a cold, it did not seem as bad because I did not have to go to work. I used the time to clean and organize our house. It is starting to feel like home.

I feel like I am living in "real time." Although I am back to work and still have a long commute, I am not letting it interfere with my life.

Change is near. And it is for the better.

Cross-Stitch Wall Art

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:04:00 +0000

By now you may have read this early 2011 interview of freelance designer and illustrator Eline Pellinkhof. Eline's book, "Eline's Huis", is written in Dutch, but the beautiful photographs tell the story of her creative home.

via Bloesem

I would love paint cross-stitch flowers on the walls of my craft room. The walls are a mid-blue, so I think I would use navy blue, white, bronze and silver.

Of course I would add stars to the design.

Silk Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:26:00 +0000

Enjoy Life

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:23:00 +0000

Enjoy Life pinned in La Vie Boheme; via French By Design

Our Lives Count

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:23:00 +0000

"Whatever coaxes us out of hiding, to write, record, and express, is a revolutionary act. It says that we believe our lives count: our lives do count."

SARK; via Fresh Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson

Snowfall

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:36:00 +0000

New Year's Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:20:00 +0000

Although Michigan is experiencing a wind and ice storm, the weather is much like the unusual start to 2011--we do not have any snow!

Matt and I greeted the our first new year as a married couple in our new home. We were invited to celebrate with friends, but I have a cold so we stayed in.

We had a quiet dinner at Giglios, and then we watched videos on Youtube and Netflix. At midnight we toasted to the new year. We are close enough to the city that we could see fireworks over the treetops.

It was a lovely start to the year.

Celebrate What is to Come!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:55:00 +0000

We are counting down the final hours of 2011 in Michigan. While some of the world has already rung in the new year, we still have time to reflect on 2011 before we join them in 2012.

Still, I cannot stop thinking about 2012. New opportunities are unfolding, and I am optimistic that the blessings of 2011 will follow me and my loved ones into 2012.

It is going to be a wonderful year.

Happy New Year!

Stairwell

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:35:00 +0000

Unexpected

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:07:00 +0000

Wise Men

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:18:00 +0000

Wise Men pinned in La Vie Boheme; via Thoughts That Stick

A Year Ago

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:48:00 +0000

It is strange how much a year can change everything. Last Christmas I would not have believed that in a year's time I would get engaged, married and buy a house.

Now I am sitting in our kitchenette, drinking coffee and looking at our snow-dusted yard.

After a string of mediocre years the blessings of 2011 were welcome.

Knob

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Enchanted

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:20:00 +0000

I saw pale kings and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried—“La Belle Dame sans Merci
Hath thee in thrall!” John Keats, La Belle Dame Sans Merci

The Best Christmas Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:04:00 +0000

If you cannot tell by my lack of in-depth posts, it has been a busy week. Matt and I have driven all over Mid-Michigan to finish our paperwork. The good news is that we are closing on our first house on Tuesday.

Next Tuesday!

We can move in as soon as the owner leaves.

Which means we are moving in a week before Christmas...on top of working our jobs.

It is worth it.

I feel blessed.

She

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:54:00 +0000

Proverbs 31:25 pinned in La Vie Boheme

Tiger, Tiger

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:27:00 +0000

Here I Am!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:33:00 +0000

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Etsy Finds: Modern Bookends

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:16:00 +0000

Now that Matt and I are about to close on our house, I am once again thinking about bookshelves. When I curated Etsy Finds: Vintage Bookends it was difficult to choose which ones to feature, so I separated my finds into modern and vintage.

Etsy is a great way to fill a home!

Concrete Bookends by Rough Fusion

Ceramic Cushion Bookends by Djenya

Recycled Circuit Board Bookends by Debbie Arem Designs

Mosaic Bookends by Claudia Gill Designs

Fleur de Lis Bookends by twfaith

Unfortunately, a couple of these bookends are no longer available.

Stars By Name

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:31:00 +0000

Stars By Name pinned in La Vie Boheme; via Bear Hugs For Jesus