Thursday, August 4, 2011

Making Jam

A couple of nights ago I popped over to my Dad's house for tea and a chat. I found him up to his elbows in nanking cherries - he had just finished straining a large pail of them them that he, BA and Allan had picked the evening before.

And I got my first jam-making lesson!

What a satisfying feeling, as the clock prepared to strike midnight, to survey 16 jars - 2 gallons - of jam ready to be labelled.

As we worked, he talked about how he and Mum would make jam together: about how they would meticulously measure out the ingredients; about how they would discuss the exact right amount of time to stir to produce the perfect consistency for the jam; about how one would pour the bubbling, fragrant liquid into the jars and the other would quickly place the sealer on top and tighten the lid. I could picture the two of them moving together in synchronicity, falling into the easy rhythm they had perfected over the years.

And it was almost enough.


5 comments:

  1. That's one of my favorite things to do WITH Scott:). I've done it on my own to surprise him after a long day of work,but it's more fun to work on it with him. To have the extra hands and conversation. I never did it with my parents. Scott taught me how and it just seems right somehow:).

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  2. How I'd like to taste that jam! Love you and grandpa lots Aunty Karyn!
    Chloe

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  3. yes. YES. almost enough...

    love to you, dear karyn.

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  4. Lovely. Miss you dear Karyn. I thought of you while I sipped out of my yellow polka dot tea cup!
    I was wondering, could you tell me where you order your tea from? I would really love to get some cream earl grey and I don't know where.

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  5. Marissa, you can actually get it from me - I sell the tea that I serve in the TH! Email me at info@nilgiris.ca ...

    The thought of the yellow polka dot tea cup evokes blue skies and golden sunlight and green, warm grass and exchanging confidences. The first tea cup my Mum gave me when I told her I wanted to start the TH was a blue-with-white-polka-dot old Royal Albert cup and saucer. I have a soft spot in my heart for polka dot tea cups! xo

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