Garden, Hot Pepper Jelly, & Goodbye to Man's Best Friend

 

My beans are doing very well, for only being in the ground from seed three weeks.   I have several flowers, and soon will have beans……hopefully before it starts getting too cool here in Oklahoma.

We have a couple more Japanese eggplants getting ready for harvest in about a week. 

The peas are a little larger, still no indication of potential blooms. 

There were a few days where we received some good rain, and a slight cold front roll through.  Temperatures at night are now dipping down into the 50’s.

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My husband, Bulldog Man, came home with a bag full of jalapenos from one of his friends at work who had a garden.  I needed to do something with the jalapenos, so they wouldn’t spoil, since they were extremely ripe.  I attempted to make hot pepper jelly.  Hopefully, it will taste good.  Here’s the recipe if you’re interested.

           Hot Pepper Jelly    Recipe by Kraft

2 red peppers seeded, chopped fine

2 green peppers, seeded, chopped fine

10 large jalapenos, seeded, and chopped fine

1 cup cider vinegar

1 package of Sure Jell Fruit Pectin

½ teaspoon butter or margarine

5 cups sugar in separate bowl

 

Directions

Place peppers in pot, add vinegar, and stir in pectin.  Add butter to reduce foaming.  Bring mixture to full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Stir in sugar.  Return to full rolling boil for exactly 1 minute.  Remove from heat.  Skim off any foam with metal spoon.

Place in prepared pint size canning jars, remove air bubbles, clean rims, and put top and ring in place, put jar in water bath and process for 10 minutes.

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Update on one of our animals, Bug.  On September 11, 2013 we had to put down Bug.  Several days before, Bug jumped off of our couch, and pounced hard on her two front paws, causing the impact to be pushed into her spine causing paralysis.  We brought Bug immediately to our veterinarian and she advised this is a common problem with small dogs with long bodies and short legs (watch out for your little dog’s people).  How do you prevent a dog from being a dog?  You don’t……  The Vet placed Bug on steroids, a pain killer, physical therapy, and laser therapy, after doing an exam.  While completing an exam the doctor ran her fingers down Bug’s spine, she yelped, and bit the Vet.  The Vet proceeded on pulling hair in the pads of her back legs, and she moved briefly.   We setup a plan of action to take care of our little girl.  Surgery was not an option, it would be severe, and there would be no guarantee she would be okay; and we were told this could happen again.  We set Bug up for laser therapy every other day.  When we returned for our second laser therapy, the Vet once again checked Bug’s back.  This time she didn’t yelp or feel a thing, a test was done on her back paws, no signs of movement or pain there either.  Another laser treatment was performed; we went home and followed our instructions from the Vet, medications, and physical therapy.  We continued the physical therapy; there was no movement from Bug at all.  The only change now, she refused to eat or drink, and it was obvious even though she was still with us, her spirit was totally gone.  We brought her back to the Vet. After a discussion with the Vet, it was in the best interest to put Bug down.  There was nothing more we could do for our little girl, and we didn’t want to see her suffer. 

She’ll be missed dearly!