It is really too hot to get any sort of Christmas mojo going but I have noticed a few places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby are beginning to sneak a few Christmasy things out. I suppose those are for the true crafters who start and finish projects before the seasonal rush.
These people are not my people!
I finally did get the pickled pears made and canned, and still have a ton more to pick and process. I think I will pickle another batch and then make pear preserves to also give as Christmas gifts. I have one friend who always talks about how much she loves them, so she will definitely get a jar.
I did not touch the room of horrors, but have noticed on the local Buy Nothing facebook site, people are starting to sort through their decorations and give away those not used anymore. There seem to be many people who are interested in getting them, so I need to finish sorting and give it away sooner rather than later. However I have managed to ignore the room pretty successfully so far. Maybe there is no reason to think I will do otherwise in the very near future.
I read the Christmas book I had chosen from the Libby app, You Make It Feel Like Christmas. Now I need to read 4 more to catch up on the one a month I anticipated reading.
Amazon Prime Days came and went and though I found a really good buy on what would have made a great "add in" Christmas present for my sons, I did not pull the trigger and get it for them. Now I regret it!
Speaking of Prime Day and Christmas__I did order a set of calligraphy markers, and downloaded a font I really like. I have been trying to master the Alphabet to possibly address my Christmas Cards this year. Or maybe just address the ones to my most special friends?
Ho, Ho, Hum
Anne
My MIL used to do calligraphy...then her older daughter made, badgered, guilt tripped her to do all her wedding and thank you cards in calligraphy. That was right before my husband and I met and I've never seen her touch a project since.
ReplyDeleteI have pretty decent handwriting anyway, but I thought it might be fun to learn how to do it for card addresses. If I had been your MIL I am pretty sure I could/would have said no to the thank you cards, but I might have done the wedding invitations depending on the number invited.
DeleteI think the pickled pear preserves will be a welcome Christmas present. I made and gave away apple butter last Christmas and it was well received. I think people like to receive homemade canned items like that.
ReplyDeleteCalligraphy on your Christmas cards would be beautiful!
And I agree with you, it is so hot and humid right now. It's all I can do to get out in it and then get in my car and turn the air on.
My granddaughter learned a valuable lesson about getting into the car on an Alabama summer day. Never shut the car door until the car has been started and the a/c turned on.
DeleteLowe's had Halloween out last week. Just because people buy crafts early does not mean they actually make them. I console myself with that. I may just leave this Christmas tree up now.
ReplyDeleteIf the Christmas tree is still up, I am pretty sure I would leave it
DeleteYes, any type of jellies, coated nuts, candies, cookies, etc. are all welcome by nearly all as gifts at Christmas. I am impressed you cooked the pears in this heat!!! Luckily it is cooler and rainy here today. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteThe pears really just require cooking the pickling syrup. It was thw canning part that got a little hot, but it had to be done.
DeleteThe video was interesting, but I don’t think I will be doing much more than watching it at this point. :)
ReplyDeleteLive and Learn here.
DeleteThere was actually nothing on the video I would even be interested in doing and can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would even want to make a Santa from a paint brush.
DeletePickled pears and pear preserves sound like ideal gifts to me. I like to give jars of my peach jam and/or chutney as gifts.
ReplyDeleteIt would make great gifts!
DeleteMy handwriting is crap now.....no calligraphy for me.8-/
ReplyDeleteMy handwriting is the only thing girly about me!
DeleteThere is no thinking of Christmas here, with the exception of flights that I may need to book to ensure I'm home for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the room!
I am so skilled at avoiding that stupid room!
DeletePrime days were disappointing. No big deals on anything we're looking for, so we didn't partake. I'm finding more and more that I cand find and buy things elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI just don't need more stuff, except for the pens which were a want rather than a need.
DeleteWho is that person in the video??? Definitely not me. Wish you had not reminded us of how close we are to Christmas. I never know until a few days before.
ReplyDeleteNot me either. I do want to be prepared for Christmas this year and have started picking up a few gifts here and there.
Delete24 weeks? That gave me a bit of anxiety.
ReplyDeleteTime is flying by, isn't it?
Delete“Those people are not my people.”
ReplyDelete-Nor mine! I can’t even enjoy putting a jigsaw puzzle together if the picture seems out of season. I find I enjoy holidays, particularly Christmas, so much more when they are “framed” seasonally. I do, however, keep an eye out for Christmas gifts all year. I also can my jams, salsas and relishes, and make candles far ahead of time. That said, PICKLED PEARS??? Those would be a very welcome treat here. How lovely. Will you link the recipe?
-Meg B.
I did not follow a recipe, but I can tell you what I did.
DeletePeel, core and slice, half, or chop hard pears into whatever shape you want. Put them in a water/lemon juice bath while the syrup cooks.
Apple cider vinegar, sugar, (I used about cup of sugar to a cup and a half of vinegar) cinnamon sticks (one for each jar) cardamom pods ( two or three per jar) peppercorns, allspice berries, bay leaves, pickling salt.
Put everything is a pot and cook to a boil, turn the heat down and let it simmer until it smells really seasoned and has slightly thickened. Pack pear halves ( if you want it to be pretty) or pieces ( I quartered most of them, but some I cut in smaller pieces to really fill the jars) into canning jars (I recommend wide mouth jars) Strain the syrup saving the
spices. Pour the hot syrup over the pears , leaving about 1/2 inch air space then add the whole spices (make sure you have some of each spice in each jar) and cinnamon stick to each jar. Discard the bay leaves though. Put on lids and rings and process in a water bath for about 12 minutes.
I did not let the syrup thicken quite enough, but it did not affect the taste at all. I had a bumper crop of pears this year and felt like I needed to preserve them in several ways.