In celebration of bounty (bountiful)

 

I feel gratitude for these full days of summer and astonishment, as always, that they can pass so quickly. These days full of grandchildren - 4 now!! - who fill my heart with smiles and remembering.

 

Much of my day is spent in the garden or putting up the harvest. I froze brocolli 

 kale and chard

making my favorite garlic dill pickles (the "secret" ingredients are a bit of hot pepper and fresh horseradish)  I make them by the jar every few days when I have 2 or 3 quarts of cucumbers ripe

I also canned some dill relish, made with zucchini, and a few jars of blackberry jam. i have plans to do more jam as the berries ripen

today i baked up a delicious loaf of zucchini bread - gluten free - a recipe from karina's blog, truly the goddess of gluten free 

We celebrated grandson Ethan's birthday - a swimming party at the Bainbridge Island Pool!

It was a BIG hit

I spent wonderful time with baby Jackson

we all had fun at the river

especially their golden brody, who couldn't get enough of the river. poor guy has city paws though, and his little pads got quite the beating while he was here

Auntie Heather holding Jack

 

little goofball  lily

        a trip on the ferry for a day in Seattle. it seems the only time we go to seattle is when we have guests. 

went to the Pike Place Market

the produce and flowers are always inticing

a great place to people watch too   

and the seafood so fresh

and the restorative act of kissing baby feet and toes....sweet memories all the way around.  

Comments

[Jennifer White]

a fabulous montage of pictures katie!!! i think the dill pickles may be my favorite, though.. we canned every year when i was growing up.. and it always turned out the be the hottest day of the summer when we did... hundreds of jars of pickles, dilly beans (my all time favorite) and of course cutting up and freezing peppers for stuffed green peppers all winter long. I only wish I would've liked them as a kid...now, I love them! xo

[kelly snelling]

so wonderful! it makes my heart full to see you celebrating with your people and all this joy. so happy for you!

[cindy o'leary]

Oh Katie, thanks so much for sharing these photos--what a blessed life you live! I feel the same way about my grandbabies, as you know. They are beyond precious. Aren't we so lucky to have such little creatures to love, and to love us back?! xoxo

[pilar]

Your grandbabies are so beautiful! So wonderful that you are having this special time with your family. I am jealous of your delicious harvest and canning expeditions. xoxoxoxoxo

[Marie]

Photos of such great bounty, both from the garden and in your family! hugs xox

[Deborah Carr]

Looks like you've had an amazing summer (and a busy one). I, too, have been jamming, pickling, freezing, baking. I loved this time of year...the feelings of productivity.

[Dawn E. Nguyen]

Hi Katie!
What a wonderful post about the bounties of life. Thank you so much for sharing it with us all. :)

XXXOOO

Dawn

[Elizabeth]

What a wonderfu write up in SS. I so enjoy your artwork.