I cranked up the jelly making machine last Saturday after having frozen all the deep purple juice from our chokecherries. I’m not sure what it is about putting up your own jelly, jam, zucchini, tomatoes or whatever you’ve managed to grow in your garden or on your trees, but it just feels so good to see the jars lined up on the counter and later, in the pantry. It is the same for me when I get a deer or elk or antelope and all that meat is in the freezer.

It takes a lot of work, just like anything else worth doing and it reminds me that I have more strength than I give myself credit for. Now, if I could just figure out how to grow some coffee!