Peach jam!

Our peach trees produced rather well this year considering this is only their second season. The peaches started ripening several weeks ago, so I have been busy canning peaches daily. This morning, I picked the last ones from the trees and proceeded to preserve them. Since all of our trees seem to be cling peaches instead of the desired free-stone type, I was dreading the labor intensive seeding. Time for Plan B! Peach jam! This is much easier since I do not peel the peaches when making jam. I chopped my way through 41 peaches this morning, cooked it down and popped it into the jars. Seven more quarts of peach jam are now on the shelf awaiting winter! This makes a total of 23 quarts plus 12 quarts of peach jelly and 18 quarts of peach pie-filling. We will have tasty treats during the cold weather!

This evening it is threatening rain. There are dark clouds to the north and west of the Bayou and thunder is rumbling in the distance. I had hoped to fish from our pier this evening but I guess those plans are dashed now. Our freezer needs to be filled with seafood just in case the oil from the BP spill ruins our waters. We depend upon the Back Bay of Biloxi as one of our main suppliers of food. We have always been able to catch fish, shrimp and crabs from our pier to supplement our diets. I am not sure how much longer this will be the case as the oil looms just offshore like some sort of monster.

On a happier thought..we do need the rain! The garden could use a good soaking. Yesterday, I pulled out all of the old, spent squash plants and remade the rows. If it does come a shower, I will replant with hopes of getting a second summer crop. There should still be plenty of time left for them to produce before I put in the fall garden. It is amazing just how much work there is to live this simple life! Still, I am happy..tired but happy.