• Home
  • About
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Contact
  • Activities for Kids
    • Alphabet Preschool Activities
    • Sunday School Crafts
  • DIY
  • Recipes
    • Gardening
    • Home Management
    • Natural Living
    • Parenting
  • Encouragement
    • Bible Reading Plans

Blessings Overflowing

Faith~Family~Creativity

August 8, 2013 By Jackie 8 Comments

My Garden This Week: Blackberry Jelly

Blackberry Jelly

On Tuesday I spent several hours making blackberry jelly. I ended up with 15 pints and 14 jelly jars of jelly. Whew! I was one tired woman but the hard work was so worth it.

That night I shared a picture of the results of my efforts on Facebook and I wanted to share it with you as well.

Blackberry Jelly

I used to make blackberry jelly with Sure-Jell, but I got brave last year and tried it the old fashioned way.

Blackberries are a fruit that actually doesn’t require pectin to be made into jelly. So, I saved myself close to $20 to make all of the jelly by using just blackberry juice and evaporated cane juice (Sugar).

The first step to making blackberry jelly is to juice the berries. I usually boil them for about 5 minutes. This really gets the juices flowing.

Up until this year I have always used a tomato juicer attachment to get the juice. However, I wasn’t having much this year (getting gummed up) luck so I crushed the berries and let them strain through some cheesecloth.

I saved up the juice for a week or so in order to make all of the jelly I wanted at one time.

I made a total of 4 batches that had 8 cups of juice and 8 cups of sugar. This 1:1 ratio turned out to be just right.

Blackberry Juice 8-8-13

So, I brought the juice to a boil and then added the sugar. I brought it back to a boil again.

Then, I set a timer for about 20 minutes and stirred the boiling mixture fairly frequently.

One thing to remember is that the longer you boil the jelly the more gelled it will get. I think I could have boiled the jelly a little longer but 20 minutes really was just about right.

I ladled the jelly into boiling hot jars, added lids and rings, and then I just let them sit on the counter on top of a towel.

This is the old fashioned open-kettle method that I usually don’t use. The recommended method would be 5-10 minutes in a water bath canner.

However, all of my lids sealed and the jelly is delicious. 🙂

Here’s a tutorial I wrote last year for making grape jelly that might be helpful.

Now, about that weed patch garden of mine.

My Garden This Week (8-8-13)

My Garden This Week 8-8-13

Would you believe that my little 6-8 inch tall stunted green pepper plants produced about 5 green peppers today? I couldn’t believe it.

Other than that there isn’t much to say about my main garden spot this week. I’m hopeful for some more sweet corn and maybe a few tomatoes.

Blackberries 8-8-13

Our blackberries have been the best thing growing in our garden this year. I am still getting at least a gallon every time I pick. One thing I am going to try is to make some fruit leather. I am also freezing some juice in ice cube trays for smoothies.

2 My Garden This Week 8-8-13

My back garden spot looks even worse than my main garden. I am very hopeful that those potato towers are full of potatoes. It won’t be long until I can find out.

Pumpkins 8-8-13

Amongst all of the weeds I did pick 3 pumpkins and 7 butternut squash this evening. It was like finding buried treasure. 😉

How is your garden growing this week?

Filed Under: Gardening & Canning Tagged With: Jelly

« How to Turn a Dress into a Skirt
Week in Review (8-17-13) »

Looking for Something?

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe for Email Updates

Follow Me on Instagram

jackiesblessings

I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that h I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that has happened in 2020. There have been so many negatives for so many people. I can’t say it has all been positive for me either. However, there are some things that have happened in 2020 for which I am so grateful. 
.
The main thing I am grateful for is the extra time I was able to spend with my kids. We had so much fun during quarantine and this summer. I know this wasn’t the case for everyone, but I do not regret the days when we had nothing planned and could just have fun together. Whether it was walking in the woods, playing games, watching a movie together, or even doing chores, I never once heard an “I’m bored.” 🙂 
.
In addition to the gift of more time together, I am also grateful for all of the milestones we have celebrated this year. In June, my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary, and then we had four milestone birthdays. Julia turned 21, James turned 18, Joshua turned 16, and Joseph turned 13. (Janna felt left out, so we told her that her birthday was special because it was her last birthday in single digits.) Also, today marks 25 years that JT and I have been married. 
.
While I won’t be sorry to see 2020 go, and I hope
and pray 2021 is better for so many people who are hurting right now, I don’t ever want to forget the good times we had this year. 
.
P.S. I took all of these pictures over fall break.
The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual church service yesterday, and I couldn’t resist getting a picture with them in front of this beautiful Christmas tree. ❤️
James has been playing school basketball since he James has been playing school basketball since he was in the fourth grade. Tonight he and his fellow Seniors  were recognized at their game, and I just can’t believe James is this old. 
.
Normally, Senior Night is the last game of the season. However,  because everything in the world seems so uncertain right now, we wanted to make sure the boys got a chance to be recognized. We wanted something “normal” for them. I am thankful James and his teammates not only got recognized but also won their game. 
.
P.S. We had our masks on at all times other than when we took pictures.
We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is t We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is turning 13 today, and it just doesn’t seem possible. The beautiful baby boy who was placed in my arms on a cold and foggy day in December is still my “little” guy. However, after looking at this picture of the two of us, I don’t think he will be shorter than me for long. Joseph is still my shy guy, but he is also sweet, loving, kind, and just an all around good kid. We also lovingly refer to him as the cat whisperer because the kittens and cats follow him around like puppies. 🙂 It has been so much fun to have Joseph at school with me this year now that he is in junior high, and I am so thankful that I get to be his mama. Happy birthday, Joseph! ❤️
2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of 2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of those challenges was self-inflicted. 🙂 I just finished my fourth master’s level course of 2020 through Ball State, and I passed the high ability licensure exam last Thursday. This means that I will soon have high ability added to my teaching license. 
.
When I signed up to take my first class in January, I had no idea what 2020 was going to entail. Teaching in a pandemic isn’t for the faint of heart. Taking classes and caring for five kids while teaching in a pandemic has allowed me to see what I am really made of. I don’t mean to brag, but I am pretty happy that I received straight A’s. Beyond that, I learned so much, and I am grateful for this opportunity even though I felt stretched to my limits some days. 
.
Yes, 2020 has been challenging, but I have been blessed with more time with my family, knowledge gained, and challenges met and overcome.
I almost forgot to post this here. 🎂 Joshua is I almost forgot to post this here. 
🎂
Joshua is 16 years old today. It doesn’t seem possible that my little pip squeak of a baby boy is now about 6’4”. Joshua is now the tallest of the family, and I’m not sure he is done growing. There hasn’t been a dull moment since Joshua arrived, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. He is a fun-loving, hard-working, kind-hearted, and intelligent young man. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. I am so thankful God thought I was up to the task of being Joshua’s mama. ❤️
My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t c My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t cry as soon as he was born but first looked around to see what was going on in the world, is now a 6’2” handsome man. I truly never thought the years would go by so quickly, but here we are. James is 18 today. 

There are so many words I could use to describe James: hardworking, dedicated, persevering, intelligent, funny, curious, kindhearted, dependable, respectful, and helpful. I could also expound upon his accomplishments, and I could tell you how great he is. However, I don’t love James for what he has accomplished but simply because he is my son.

I have been so blessed to be James’s mom, and I thank God every day for entrusting him into my care. I don’t know what the future will hold for him, but I know he will do great things. 

For anyone reading this who is struggling with a tantrum throwing toddler, a strong-willed child, and/or a child who questions everything, I would like to encourage you. Look for the positive qualities your child possesses such as perseverance, dedication, and curiosity and build upon that. I will never regret the hard days of parenting because my prayers and hard work have paid off. Helping James reach his full potential and keep those qualities without breaking his spirit has been worth the effort.

Happy Birthday, James!
I’m not going to sugar coat it. Today seemed sur I’m not going to sugar coat it. Today seemed surreal. It felt chaotic. Nothing was normal. We are all exhausted. However, it was wonderful to be with my students again after five months, and my own kids enjoyed seeing their friends. I don’t know how this school year will play out, but I am ready to go back tomorrow and try to make teaching virtually and in person work to the best of my ability. My students are worth the effort. 
.
James is a senior, and this was his last first day of school. Joshua is a sophomore, and Joseph is in 7th grade which means I have all three of my boys in the same building with me. Janna is in fourth grade, and she was very excited to be back at school. Julia will be a senior in college when she starts back next week. 
.
I am praying we all have a safe and healthy school year. I plan to try not to think about the unknowns and what-ifs and take it one day at a time.
This morning I told four of my kids we were going This morning I told four of my kids we were going to go on an adventure. (No, I didn’t leave one out of the fun. James played in a golf tournament with his dad. 🙂) Anyway, it was quite an adventure. It started with my vehicle telling me one of the tires needed air, but it must be a bad sensor because it was fine. Then I almost ran out of gas. I drove us on all sorts of country roads we had never been on, and I even thought I was going south when I was actually going north for like 10 miles. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It was very obvious I have not been many places since March. 
.
Anyway, Julia, Joshua, Joseph, Janna, and I went to @maxandhoneys where we took some pictures and picked a beautiful bouquet. It was really fun. After that, we went to Greencastle and then to Lieber State Recreation Area. We finished by stopping to do a few things in my classroom, and we made it home before it started raining.
.
I am so thankful for a day of doing something fun and “normal” but out of the ordinary. I don’t know if that makes sense, but that’s the best way to describe it. Yes, we had to wear masks sometimes and practice social distancing, but it was still a good day. 
.
Here are some pictures from our day. The last picture is of James before he went to play golf. How is he old enough to be a senior? 😢 I am so thankful for my family. 💕 Also, kudos to Joshua and Joseph for being good sports about picking flowers. Their future wives will thank me. 😀

Topics

Popular Posts

You Are My Sunshine Footprint Art
“Tire
“Easy
“Cooking
“Crockpot
“Sunday
“Sunday

Facebook

Blessings Overflowing

Pinterest

Visit Jackie's profile on Pinterest.

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe for Email Updates

Copyright © 2021 · Blessings Overflowing · Built on the Genesis Framework · Designed by Strong Tower Design