T minus 3 days and counting....

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain

Well, day before yesterday my friend gave me a gallon and one half of blackberries. I was really excited to do some canning. Yesterday, I began the process (remember, I haven't done blackberries since I helped Pearl (my grandmother) way back.

My problem is that I had not ever done this on my own before. I juiced the berries with the old juicer. I then strained the juice to get the remaining seeds out of the juice. I washed my jars. Then I began to cook the jelly. I followed the directions that were written down, but the missing direction was my grandmother.

The juice was cooked, I skimmed the foam, and began to fill the jars. My husband helped (bless his heart but, that may have been part of the problem.) He freely offered his opinion about my errors (remember, he's never done this before) and so I was very nervous. Canning really is an art--you have to get the proportions exactly correct and then you have to know (and I mean just know) when to stop the cooking process. Too little--syrup. Too much--blackberry bricks. After I filled the jars and put on the lids, I gave them a bath. Yes, they all sealed properly. Success!!! Set them to cool.

I remember how Granma's jelly would turn so pretty in the jars. This morning, I turned the jars--syrup. I could have cried. I read on the internet that sometimes it takes two weeks for the jelly to turn. My mom called this morning and I asked her if it took two weeks for Granma's jelly to turn and she said, "Hmmm, I think when the lids popped, the jelly had already turned." Oh, well, I'll wait a couple of weeks but, I'm doubtful; I think I made canned syrup. Next time, I think I'll choose another partner to help...my mom.

There are just some things you have to learn on your own, with prayers, of course...