siriradha

I’m so glad I did my microlending through Kiva. Because I could reinvest my loan money, once it’s been repaid, I’ve now been able to make twelve loans! Eight have been repaid, and turned into loans for four more people. I plan on reinvesting as long as there’s Kiva!

The picture is Tres Estrellas, a group of women in Bolivia which needed a group loan. Some of their family members are also pictured

I just found my bookcrossing friend, 4libros, has a new pledge up at the pledge bank: www.pledgebank.com/MayDayGifts
How utterly mahvelous! I joined and have released my first 12 books.

I found a recipe for Rose Petal Jelly at Miranda’s blog
http://simplereduce.wordpress.com/
and decided to make my first effort at canning.

Looking online, I found a box of canning jars, lids, and bands for $20 at Target, just so I could see how much this new endeavor might cost. Filed that in my brain and went to run some errands. While I was out, I stopped in at a thrift store to return some things I’d bought and decided I didn’t want. Prowling up and down the aisles, I spied a box of jars, bands, and lids for $4.99! Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell exactly what the box held.

When I got them home, I discovered that only half of the jars were the right size for matching up with Mason lids and bands…
but, there was a whole box of good lids and a few usable bands, enough to get me through the jelly.

We have wild roses out in our front yard, but the blooms don’t last very long. So, I picked a bunch of flowers that were just past their prime (and some perfect blossoms) and used them in my jelly.

After you’ve done one batch of canning, it seems very simple, but this first run filled me with trepidation! I kept wondering if the jelly would gel, if the jars would burst, and if I’d be killing my family off with botulism.

Well, the jelly gelled, the jars are intact, and DH and I are still standing…so far. I’m glad I could make food from flower petals that would’ve just fallen and rotted, that I learned a new skill, and that I was able to find the jars at a thrift store.

BTW I just found out that I can use the jars that don’t fit bands. If I sterilize the jars, fill them with jelly, and put melted wax on top, the food will stay good for a few months.