Peach Jammin'

 

 Every so often a day comes along that is so perfectly delightful I just want to bottle it up and preserve it for future enjoyment.

Today is one of those days. 

Nothing big or earth shattering going on, just a peaceful, ordinary day that began with a plan to make peach jam.

So, after exercising, showering and making the bed I began to set up for jam making.

Earlier this summer I was pleasantly surprised to receive this Sugared Peach candle from my sister.  It smells so good and seemed like a nice accompaniment to my peach jam session.

The other scent that I was enjoying was the fresh, crisp air blowing into the kitchen through my open windows.  Yes, really, open windows!!  This is hugely exciting to me as they have been sealed shut since May keeping the dreadful heat and humidity out.

Honestly feeling fresh air again is enough to make me giddy.

It's like the spring fever I remember experiencing every year when I lived in Michigan.  It makes me happy, energetic, invigorated and inspired.  

Every year since I've been blogging I marvel at so many of you who can and preserve the most beautiful bounty from your gardens or local farm stands.

Every year since I've been blogging I tell myself I've got to try my hand at some food preservation.  For whatever reason, it hasn't happened until today.  Today's the day :).

I got my "fit for the freezer" jars washed up and then let the fresh, fresh air go to work at drying them while I got ready to get the jam session underway.

 

 While waiting for the water to boil, I got a bowl of ice water ready.

 The blanching method for removing the peels works very well.

A quick dip in the boiling water...

followed by a quick plunge into the ice water

and...

 those skins practically fell right off.

 

 In no time at all I had a pile of peaches...

 and a pile of pits.

 All chopped up and mingling with the sugar & lemon juice.

Soon it was time to add the pectin and fill up those jars.

 Before long those summer peaches were preserved and ready for the freezer.  

I may not be able to bottle up this lovely day, but I somehow think I might have preserved a little of it along with those peaches.