Yesterday was quite. a. day.We woke up at 7:30am (which in normal life isn't early, but since we have been sleeping in every day, it felt VERY early!) so we could be on the road by 8am.
We arrived and were in awe by all the apricots to pick. As you can see, Taylor, Luke, and Blake each had an ice cream bucket to fill and fill them they did!
That morning, my mind was filled with memories of my Grandma J. She had a peach and an apricot tree in her backyard. As we entered the orchard, my mind was taken back to her house and the vision of her apricot tree and her delicious apricot jam. My grandma was an excellent cook and her home was always filled with yummy goodies to snack on. Her apricot jam was one of my favorites!The orchard was very peaceful and as I stood there, on the ladder, picking apricots, my mind continued to wander and think about my grandma that I loved so much. All of a sudden, my arms were covered with goosebumps and, in that quiet moment, felt an enormous amount of love and warmth surround me. I began to cry. It was my grandma. She was there. And, I know how much she loves me and is still watching over me.
It was such a good day. A day I needed. The kids had so much fun and couldn't wait to get home to make jam with all of their apricots!
Finally, 13 hours later...all of the apricots had been cut, frozen, pureed, or made into jam. Doesn't it sound yummy!
25 comments:
Wow look at you!! What a woman! I want some of that jam. I can finally post. Thanks to Aimee!! I wanted to comment on your blog weeks ago. I laughed so hard on you dang it blog. You are such a cute mom . I am so happy you are living close by. Well, alot closer anyway. Can't wait to see you. love ya
What a beautiful experience. I've had that same thing happen before when thinking about Grandma and Grandpa J. I have no doubt that they'd get a kick out of all their great-grands running around.
That sure is a lot of jam! I'm impressed that you actually made jam out of all of it. Let me know if you need to get rid of any of the extras :)
Jamison is the same as your kids -- with sleeping only in their cribs. We had to take a picture because it was such a rare moment.
Oh my word! There is no end to your talents. I would have no idea how to make apricot jam. It sounds delicious. I loved reading about memories of your grandma. I am sure the people that love us on the other side are not that far away. My grandma was so good at making jams and pickles and making jar goods. You made me think of my grandma too. I am so glad you had a good day.
Where is the pic of the FLDS women? J/K...the pictures you posted are much cuter.
I wish we could have gone!! Love all the pictures, it looks like so much fun. Great memories for the kids with their Grandma D. I still cam sad you don't have a story to tell about meeting any FLDS!!!!
I'm impressed, it sounds like you had a very long day. I made jam last summer lots of fun and plenty of hard work. Enjoy your labors!
Cute pics! Makes me think of the time when I was in France and lived with this family who had fruit trees on their yard. We did the same climbing and picking. And got to enjoy of the fresh fruits. It was wonderful!
WOW!!!! You are amazing!!! That is a lot of hard work!!!
Your pictures are sooo cute, I LOVE 'em!!!
And what a cool experience to feel the love of your Grandmother:)
I hope you are hanging in there with all of the big changes in your life right now. I'm sure that you have a long list of friends to call when you need someone to talk to, but I wanted you to know that I'm here for you if you need to someone to talk to:) (I know how it feels to not have your own space and a home to call your own) ~Love Ya
What a wonderful post! Sweet pictures and memories.
YOU LOOK AMAZING! I don't think I would have looked that good just to pick apricots.
You did a lot of work! So wonderful for your kids!
Hey Kimberly your experience gave me chills just reading it. You are such a sweet spirit and you have so many talents I can't keep up. I can't believe how many jars of jam you have!!!
i have no idea how to can. I wish I knew. My mother in law used to do it all the time, my sister in laws all do it. I ask to learn and everyone says OKAY but no one ever actually has time for me. I hope that someday i can just download the information like the MATRIX and just know without any help, I think that will be the only way i will learn about that stuff. (not trying to sound negative! (smile))
Anyway you always take awesome pictures! I love it
Love
Aimee
That looks soooo good! I wonder if they have stuff like that here. I LOVE apricots and anything jam! Plus I bet it is wonderful memory you will always have. You must have/had an amazing grandma! And I have to give you props for the cutest pictures...maybe orchards do that to people!
What a special experience! See...we're all thinking about you and praying you will adjust to your new surroundings. Even your Grandma is concerned about you! You needed this experience. I guess we all did. Thanks for sharing it
Yeah, mom told me about that the other day when it happened. She asked me if you had told me about what happened at the orchard, and I got that pit in my stomach thinking that something bad had happened. Then she told me about it, and it gave me chills.
"They're my guardian angels, and I know they can see. Every step I take, they are watchin' over me. I might not know where I'm goin', but I'm sure where I come from. They're my guardian angels, and I'm their special one."
Also, that is a TON of apricots. Did your kids ask if there would be "popcorn popping on the apricot tree[s]?" I bet they had no idea what an apricot tree was until this!
WOW!! You ROCK. I have NO idea how to make jam. Alicia made jam last year and it was so GOOD!! That is one thing I always say that I am going to learn to do and the one thing that I just don't. Look at all your hard work. What a GREAT feeling to feel that your Grandma was there watching over you, how cool is that feeling? Well I am sure that you and your family our SO TIRED after that long day of WORK!! I am so IMPRESSED!!
way to go with the canning. I have had a similiar experience with my Grandma Asay when I was at Ricks College. It is such an assurance to know that we are never alone. I hope my comment on your last post didn't sound to rude...I read it again and thought I sounded a little heartless. I'm sorry you are down. I do know what its like to move, I just haven't done it for so long. In the words of Howard Jones: "things can only get better" and it looks like they have. Keep smiling!
What a special experience and at a time that you really needed it. What a special, tender girl you are and I love the pictures of the fruits of your labor. I do know that we have guardian angels that watch over us and you can just hug that thought to you. Love ya!!!
You told me that you were thinking about Grandma J, but I didn't realize that you felt like she was there...that is SO COOL! I love apricots and apricot jam! Save some for me!
Hey Kimberly, I have something completely unrelated to this blog to say to you. Remember when you made that blanket-bib-burp rag set for me? It was when Megan was born. That made me cry. I made a blanket for you too, except I never managed to finish the stupid thing. I also got a face mask and some masage oil for you so your hubby could spoil you when you had your baby. I left it in the hot hot car and when I went out to get them, they were no more...in a really messy way too. I've always felt pretty bad about that and wanted you to know. I love you.
I am looking at all the yummy pictures with great envy. I can't believe how much you picked!!
Speaking of apricots, I just made a pork dish I saw at a cooking blog, and it uses a lot of apricot jam. It is delicious! Reminds me of the pork you get at Chipotle.
http://mostlikelylate.blogspot.com/2008/01/tangy-pulled-pork-tacos.html
I couldn't find the actual recipe for the pork in the blog, so I will copy/paste it from my file. You can just put it in a crock pot in the morning too.
Tangy pulled pork..
2 to 2 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 cup-1/2 the jar of apricot preserves..depending on how Tangy.
1-2 jalapeños, sliced into rings (..and seeded.)
1 red onion- chopped
corn tortillas(AUTHENTIC HAND MADE-from TRADER JOES.)
fresh cilantro
avacado
lime, cut into wedges
Heat oven to 300° F.
Place 2 large sheets of aluminum foil on a work surface. Place the pork in the center of the foil and season all sides with the salt, pepper, and cumin. Spoon the jam over the pork, turning to coat. Scatter the jalapeños and onion around the pork. Fold the double layer of foil around the pork and crimp the edges to seal tightly. Place on a COOKIE SHEET. Roast until your house smells AMAZING, about 4 hours; let cool. Unwrap the pork, RESERVE THE JUICES.. Use two forks to shred the pork, and transfer to your serving bowl. Pour the cooking juices, onion, and jalapeños back over the pork.
Serve with the tortillas, cilantro, avocado and lime wedges.
NOTHING ELSE.
my husband loves to pile everything on. cheese.fresh salsa. rice.guacamole. it makes me so mad.
TRUST me. it is just a simple taco and should be
topped with a sprig of cilantro..drenched with lime juice and
garnished with slices of avocado. and that is PERFECTION.
Tip: The best place to warm the tortillas is in the oven: it's quicker than a skillet and less drying than a microwave. As soon as you remove the pork, turn off the heat, wrap the tortillas in foil, and warm them for 10 minutes.
..Makes for about 6-8 servings..if its a sunday meal..maybe 6.
Sometimes when we think we're all alone we find we're not. I had a similar experience just a month or so ago with my grandma. It left me in tears too but it was a good cry not a bad cry")
Sounds like we're in a similar funk with life. Can't quite place it but it just feel blah...
Just keep trying to make it fun everday. When I moved into this house I went through a weird depression. Almost like I didn't know what to do with myself and I didn't feel like it was my house. I can't explain it but I went to the doc and he put me on meds, which ended up helping me gain 25 pounds, I finally snapped out of it and found myself - got off the meds and lost most of the stuff I gained and now I feel like me again. Don't stop excersizing you know how those endorphins kick in and help with your mood. It'll get better you just have to get to know yourself as a Utahn again instead of a California girl. I know you can do it! love ya
Beck
Ok, so I hope it's ok, I've become a little addicted to your blog Kimberly! I just read this fun apricot entry and found myself crying too! It reminds me of the apricot tree we had in our front yard growing up. And for 18 years we went out every summer and picked and then made jam.
What a great Mom you are! It looks like a fun day!
I truely believe that when we need them they are there. Your Grandma knew you needed her love. You and your sweet family have been through a lot of changes this last little while. Your story made me cry, thanks for sharing.
Your jam looks yummy, you will remember this beautiful summer day when you are putting that jam on your toast and it is snowing outside.
That is so impressive! I cringe just thinking of spending 13 hours of apricot labor. And what a sweet moment with your grandma. Thanks for sharing.
yum! yum! yum!
Love apricots! And the ones in the store are never good. Your pictures make me wish I was there! So glad you got a big hug from your grandma! What a neat experience.
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