Canning

Every so often the place where I work gets the opportunity to can fresh produce at a cannery down in Denver. Being the volunteer coordinator I get the chance to go down and help can and I think it is so much fun! I've canned pinto beans, pear sauce and cherries in the numerous times I've been there.

Today was one of those canning days and I got to make something I have never made before - strawberry jam. This was certainly the stickiest if things I have ever canned. First we poured frozen strawberry puree into two large vats, added 13 LARGE bags of sugar and 3 even larger bags of powdered corn syrup to each vat plus pectin and once the mixture reached 180 degrees it was ready for pouring. We set up the assembly line - one person adding empty jars to the conveyer belt, two people using the hoses attached to the vats to fill the jars, me with a pitcher topping off all of the jars, one person moving the jars from the conveyer belt to the lid table, four people putting lids on the jars and two people taking the completed jars and placing them in a large metal bin. Once a metal bin was full it was moved to a cooker where the jars were boiled for 15 minutes then cooled with cold water. Once they dried we were able to wipe off any remaining water on the jars and send them through the labeler. Once they were labeled we put the jars in boxes, stacked them on a pallet and we were done! In total we made around 1,250 jars of strawberry jam and although it smelled great, I don't think I'll be eating any strawberry jam for a while.

Lovebug's Love Bug

With this blog I officially say farewell to my 1999 Toyota Camry. It was a good car; reliable, safe, got great gas mileage, ran well, had no major problems and saw me through many good and bad times. I’ll miss you, Camry. And now that Camry is totaled and has been taken away by the insurance company in exchange for a large check, I would like to introduce you all to the newest member of the Alessi family… Bug!





Bug is a 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle with many bells and whistles such as TURBO, heated front seats, heated side view mirrors, premium sound system, 6-disc CD changer, flower vase, outside temperature gauge, 6 airbags (very attractive after an accident), fog lights (very attractive after my particular accident), telescopic steering wheel, 4 wheel anti-lock brakes and 4 wheel disc brakes. It is so much fun to drive and ride in – if anyone wants a ride just let me know!

Why you should always wear your seat belt

It was a foggy morning in Northern Colorado and visibility was very low. I was driving east into the town I work in, listening to my most favorite song on my Mp3 player and going 50mph on this highway where the speed limit is 65mph (it was foggy so I decided to drive slower). I found some clear jelly shoes at Target on Sunday and I was excited to be wearing them since it was supposed to be a nice day today. Then, out of nowhere, this pickup truck begins to pull onto the highway right in front of me. I slam on my brakes hit the horn and swerve but he was too close. The front end of my car slammed into his front passenger side wheel well - my airbags deployed and my car spun around and I don't remember much until I realized what had happened and noticed that my car was rolling backwards, the back end now facing south. I put the car in park and turned off the engine. I was in shock. What had just happened? The driver of the truck I hit came running out to see if I was ok. Adrenaline was pumping through my body and I didn't really feel anything. I immediately looked around for my cell phone; I found it and called Dave. Within seconds of talking to him I began to cry. What had happened finally hit me and I was scared. A police officer was driving two cars behind me and I saw him pulled over on the side of the road on his cell phone so I knew the police would be on their way. I called work then my daddy just to let them know what happened.




The firemen checked me over. I was bruised, but seemed to be ok. An ambulance was really far away so they suggested that Dave take me to the ER just to be fully checked out. I filled out paperwork for the state patrol and towing company, cleaned out my car and then watched as they towed it away. The officer told me that the accident wasn't my fault and that I just needed to call my insurance company to report the accident and get the ball rolling on my claim. Everything was settled with me so Dave and I drove off to the Fort Collins hospital. A thorough examination and a chest x-ray say I have no broken bones, no punctured lungs and no internal bleeding; I'm just sore, bruised and scraped, mostly from where the seatbelt held me to the seat and the airbag hit me in the face and hand. I would rather have these injuries than have flown through the windshield had I not been wearing my seatbelt.






I'm just lucky to have no serious injuries, that the other driver wasn't hurt, that the other driver's car wasn't damaged, that the accident wasn't my fault, that there were no cars directly behind me, that my husband was able to come and get me, that I have car insurance, that I have medical insurance and that I had nobody else in the car with me.

Our Getaway

Every once in a while you just need to get away with your spouse. Sure you see each other every day and eat dinner together most nights and sleep in same bed (unless someone has homework...) but to change up the routine you just need to get away. Is doesn't have to be far away-just not at home.

So on Friday Dave and I took the day off of work and went skiing. We skied all day and I even did my first mogul run (accidentally)! After 10 minutes standing at the top of the run, looking down at the "bumpy" run, Dave finally coaxed me into making my first turn down the run. I ended up following him down (thank you, Dave) and I am proud to say that I didn't fall once! However, I did watch some guy blaze by me, catch his ski in a mogul and fly head over heel down the hill while both of his feet ejected from his skis...

After skiing we drove to downtown where we had hotel reservations. We cleaned ourselves up and walked to have dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory. Dave had never been there before and I hadn't been there in 6+ years. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, spumoni ice cream and a balloon guy even came to our table and made me a flower.

After dinner we walked through downtown back to our hotel and enjoyed a drink in the bar on the 27th floor of the hotel. The drinks were expensive, but the view was fantastic.


The next morning we slept in, walked to a little cafe, ate breakfast and headed to my parent's house to begin the Easter weekend festivities. After dying eggs with my sisters and their friends we enjoyed an Easter/Birthday dinner with Dave's grandmother, mother, uncle, aunt and cousin. On Sunday we hunted for Easter eggs with my sisters, went to church and then went to my aunt and uncle's house for Easter dinner. All of my in-town extended family was there and I always love seeing everyone and catching up.


All in all it was a great weekend and even though it was just for one night, I was happy to have a night away with my husband!

Tests

I believe that God tests us to make the right decisions all of the time. From little, every day types of decisions to big, life-changing decisions, we're challenged to truly think about what we're doing, how it will affect us, how it will affect the ones we love and how it stands testament to who we are as people and as followers of God.

Today I was faced with a big decision; the decision wasn't hard at all, but the situation is a tough one. I know that I made the right decision for me, my family and for God, but I know my decision will impact and potentially hurt one of my closest friends. I'm still not changing my decision and I am praying that my friend will be understanding and forgiving, but it certainly doesn't make things any easier right now...

What do you do when your choice is easy but the consequences of your choice will be hard to live with?