Makin' Jam

Doesn't this look delicious?  It's blackberry jam.

I'm feeling quite accomplished lately.  A few weeks ago, Mother and I made strawberry jam and it my first attempt at jam making.  Mother taught me how to make it and I was surprised at how easy it was.  On Saturday, we made blackberry jam.  Mother sat at the kitchen table crocheting and supervising while I measured, smashed, and stirred.  But she helped when it came time to fill the jars.  I filled and she put the lids on.

I couldn't help but think about my grandmother as I stood at the stove, in what used to be my grandmother's kitchen, stirring blackberries and sugar in that big white enamel pan with the red rim.  It is the same pan that my grandmother used when she canned and made jams and jellies.  To fill the jars, I used their dipper they used when they had a well.

Since we had three cookers as my Mother calls them, I had plenty of time to think and meditate while I stirred.  As I waited for the blackberries to boil, I thought how deep, rich, and beautiful the blackberries were and how I wished that I could have a wrap that color.  If anyone knows of a blackberry colorway, PLEASE let me know! 

We're planning on making pear preserves, blueberry jam, and muscadine jelly next.  So stay tuned.