Pop, Pop, Pop

I made apricot-pineapple jam last week —— 10 pots worth of delicious jam.

Making jam is one of the most pleasing elements of summer.  The smell of hot jam on the stove is heavenly.

When the pots of jam come out of the water bath to cool on the counter, the sound of the seals as they pop is one of the happiest sounds of summer.

These jars will be stored on the shelves in the basement, at the ready for warm slices of freshly-toasted bread, fresh scones, and Winter gift-giving.  That’s happy!

Summer Bouquet

Between the zinnias seedlings and the gladioli bulbs, I've got some great prospects for late July bouquets.  But I want flowers now and so earlier this week I went ahead and picked a lovely dark purple hydrangea blossom.

I added some of the lighter purple hosta flowers to one of my favorite vases: a Mason jar.  Then I set it on the table and I've been admiring it ever since.  Bouquets of garden flowers are one of the great pleasures of my summer.  What makes your summer happy?