Remember these strawberries from yesterday? 

They were what we had left over after making strawberry jam.  Today, I decided to try something new and made strawberry scones with some of them.  The rest I cut up to make strawberry shortcake.  The kids were really anxious to try them after they came out of the oven but I told them that if they wanted them we had to get some exercise first.  So we rode down to the school to play for awhile and then took a 4 mile bike ride.

 Even the big kid joined in the fun

And when we got home they were rewarded with this:

Strawberry shortcake made with strawberry scones and real whipped heavy cream



A field of strawberries

We went strawberry picking today.  I love going to farms and picking my own fruit.  There's something about the act of walking through the orchards and fields and choosing which fruit you want that makes it taste better.

Cerah almost got lost out there

While Morgan carefully checked each berry out before picking them

Anthony was braver and just stuck his hand right in there

I showed Hannah the art of walking around to find the best strawberries

We couldn't resist one little bite.  Not to worry, we had them weighed before we started eating.

 With so many strawberries I decided to try making strawberry jam.  We bought stuff last year to make the jam but ended up eating all the strawberries!

Here's everything we need lined up and ready to use

The first thing I did was wash all the berries

Then I took the stems out

After that they were put on a pan to be mashed up

Next came the cooking of the berries and the sugar

Meanwhile the jars and the lids were being sanitized

Finally it was time to put the jam into the jars

These strawberries are feeling left out but I tomorrow I will make strawberry scones with them to go along with the jam

The finished product

Doesn't that look yummy!

A rose by any other name...

Should not be called a rose. I don't care what anyone says. Let's get honest here people and call 'em as you see 'em. Here's my example:
This is Cerah's rose that she made while practicing her icing in preparation for her next cake decorating session. Very classy and reserved. Probably not something you'd see on a cake that was ordered for, say, a bikers club reunion. Or, getting in the spirit, a halloween costume party. No ma'am, this is something you'd see at a tea party for high society ladies who want to compare outfits and manicures.





This, on the other hand, is not a rose----------->
I'm not even sure it could technically be called a flower. This is a kid playing with play-doh trying to stick the pieces back together and hoping they stay there so they can trick their little sister into eating it and then rolling around on the floor laughing at the look on her face. And this attempt at flower making belongs to me. I have this weird feeling that should Cerah ever make it onto a food network cake challenge she will not ask me to be her assistant. Unless I guilt her into it. And with that thought I am signing off. I have an appointment with my play-doh.