Pear Preserves

Some of my fondest memories are of eating some with one of my grandmama's homemade biscuits. I liked them a lot! Funny thing is in all these years I've rarely made them. 

This year I'm excited to have a bumper crop of Kieffer pears. They are a rather hard pear at first. Actually, they are ready for picking before they ever turn soft. You have to pick when ready and place in cold storage until ripened. This took a few weeks, sorry I didn't time it but some were ready in a couple of weeks sitting in front of an air conditioning vent. I'd move them around separating and removing some with overripe spots. 

This post is how I made the preserves and there are many ways to make but this is how I remember the grandmother's making theirs with one big exception. It seems they simmered theirs forever until canning This is simple just combine sugar with fruit put in the fridge overnight and make preserves the next day.

Lobster Apron Anyone?

A wider bib Cora Apron 

Adjusted from an antique family pattern

The original pattern used in the family for over one hundred years!

One size fits most

Original one-of-a-kind

You can read more about it at dolly's designs blog

or 

See and purchase if you desire at ETSY Shop

or
Visit Handmade Artists Shop dolly's designs

The Prepper's Medical Handbook by William W. Forgey, MD

A while back I received a book for review.  I'll admit I've had it on a table and picked it up reading several times.  The other day one of my grandsons read through it. I asked for his opinion as well. I call him 'Brainiac' for a reason.  The boy is constantly in thought. We had a good afternoon talking about this book.

I think it is a great handbook to have on hand like those medical guides or handbooks we've had in the home for years. 

Today's Product Review:

Junior Johnson Racers, There Were Two!

Dargan Watts and Jr Johnson of Florence

I especially enjoyed this racing story and the history it includes. We are grateful to Dargan for the photos, records, and stories he has shared with so many of we family and friends of racers. What treasures!

Many only know of one Junior Johnson but this is the story of two and I hope you'll find it as interesting as I did. Granted I'm prejudiced as one is my uncle, but the story is of two racers that have now gone on but led many others to the sport of racing.

I love that each had their own very distinct personality and did things in their own way. I know that my Uncle Jr Johnson did what he loved and that was racing. Did he do it for notoriety?  Heck no, he did not! He did his best and didn't give a rip about all of the 'hoopla' that comes with winning. He, shall I say, was a true southern gentleman and smiled through it all. Fans love winners especially good-natured winners and he was one of them win or lose. Notice I said fans, other drivers weren't so fond of him winning week after week. Hey, that's racing!

I'll say one more thing he was the smoothest driver I've ever seen in my life. He could win with ease and although traveling at a high speed did so most times looking like he was coasting on a Sunday afternoon. He was a great driver!

I remember Dale Earnhardt driving the uncles' cars when he started out and those were some good times. I can't say that he drove smooth, but will say he kept the suspense high on the nights he did drive some in his early career on our local tracks.

Uncle Jr and his brother (my other Uncle) Cecil were great drivers and race car builders as well as my brothers in later years. Chippy grew up at Uncle Junior's shop and as daddy once said, "That boy is good at what he does that's for sure". Big named racers wanted him and my other brother Steve to come work with them, but they like their uncles loved home and family. They still do some work around cars, but things have changed. Racing isn't what it used to be by any means. Sadly it like most sports has become a money-making venture that seems to have taken over the true racing of the past. My cousin Judy was very involved in the racing and all that was included. She could probably write a book!

I would be remiss if I didn't add one other member of the Johnson racing team his name is 'Cat'. Now that is a character who might as well have been a part of the family. The stories he could tell.

Friends of the family too numerous to name were also very important parts of our extended family. To this day these friends are still considered family.

We all miss the uncles, my dad and our cousin (Junior's son) Slick as he passed away from a wreck at Daytona. Now the other family members still build and race go-carts. Maybe one day I'll get Chuck to tell us something about that. He a cousin and other cousins that flat grew up in the shop and learned from the best! All have stories to tell.

Excuse me please as I got long-winded talking about the family. I love family! Now for the real story from a very accomplished writer and historian Mr. Dargan Watts.....

Alzheimer's Disease, Covid, Losing A Loved One.

A few days ago we laid a dear loved one to rest. We are all a little sadder and life will change because she is gone. The main thing that keeps us stable is our knowledge that she truly is in a far better place. God gives us this to live on and we will. Plus she was a person that lived life to the fullest and would expect no less from us!

Honey Ham Glaze for Baked Smoked Ham

Y'all know I like a baked ham always have. I've been ordering my groceries and picking them up. Finding a smoked ham is almost impossible. Harris Teeter had a Spiral Cut Smoked Ham to go on sale recently so I was thrilled to get one of those.

I wasn't thrilled to read the ingredients of the Honey Ham Glaze packet they included with the ham. High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar (who knows what kind I don't like the GMO beet sugars extra info), All kinds of preservatives, artificial flavors, etc. Nope, not for me.

I'm not trying to pick on this particular brand

There are many in the marketplace

I've always made a brown sugar pineapple glaze for my baked hams that we tend to really like around here. I decided to just convert this into one for the spiral cut ham.

Larry's Tomato Pie Recipe

Today sharing a school friend's tomato pie recipe. Those beautiful tomatoes are still coming off and homegrown are the very best. With a great supply and you want something different this is the way to go. We've been canning them, making tomato sauce, and eating tomato sandwiches around here. I think it's time for a pie!

The Chicks Are Growing

This cute little gangly bunch 

The picture was taken at 3 weeks on July 14th

It's amazing how quickly chicks grow at this stage.I don't know what is happening with the black chick middle's neck. They are putting on feathers at this point to replace the baby fuzz 

I'm still crossing my fingers that none of them will crow. Oh alright, let's just say with our track record hoping we'll at least get 1 layer out of the bunch!