Guest Post: Pam Gunn

 
C934F840-378E-4DA9-818A-76F56B5E137F
 
 
Hello, My name is Pam, I am 74 and have never “canned” anything.
My mom did the canning but not me. Whenever I wanted something "canned",
I would ask her and she would do it I loved her canning.
 
My mom passed 10 years ago.
 
My brother who is 69 and a widower
lost his job of 50 years last March due to Covid.
 
My Brother thought we should make our mom's canned corn relish
he asked me if I have my mom’s recipe. Yes, I said.
We canned 14 pints of corn relish.
Looking for the corn relish recipe lead me to my mom’s chili sauce recipe.
My husband and I canned 6 pints of chili sauce.
Using tomatoes from our little garden.
  
335AED10-C0AA-4125-8782-0D7BDF65FA91
 
 
Then my brother said do you have mom’s tomato preserve recipe?  
No, I didn't. Could not find it anywhere.
BUT I did find a tomato jam recipe online.
We agree it was better than mom’s (lol) and we loved it.
We have each made it three times actually
three double batches because we had that many tomatoes.
The recipe is for a single batch that I doubled three times.
Turned out great but from what I have read
it is not recommended to double a recipe when canning.
Though it worked out for us and is OMG-delicious. 

 
 
5782272C-DB47-4F1A-91A3-79F14ED5F21E
 
 
 
Canned Spiced Tomato Jam
 
3 cups prepared tomatoes (about 2 1/4) lbs
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
4 1/2 cups white cane sugar
1 3/4 ounces dry pectin (I used Sure-Jell) yellow box
 
Prepare tomatoes wash, scald, peel, chop. Place chopped tomatoes in saucepan and heat slowly to a simmer. Stir constantly to prevent sticking and burning. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Measure 3 cups of cooked tomatoes into a large saucepan. Add lemon rind, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves.
 
To make the Jam, Sterilize canning jars. Add lemon juice to the prepared tomatoes in a saucepan. Measure sugar and set aside. Stir powdered pectin into prepared tomatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. At once stir in sugar. Stir and bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Then boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
 
Remove from heat. Skim off foam. Pour hot jam into hot jars. Leave 1/4” headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel. Add two-piece metal lids and rings. Jars should seal within 12 hours.
 
This makes 5 half-pints it is so good you will want to make more
yummy on fresh bread or toast.
 
 
 
45C28D50-A857-405C-BF74-F1015D12C10E
 
 
I hope my mom in heaven is smiling down as she has watched my brother and I can some goodies
we had fun doing it and remember the good times we had as young folks
that was the best part,
now I have fun memories of canning with my brother and husband.
 
 
 
B351A83D-7470-4416-86E0-176570530346
 
 
 
My mom’s recipe used cinnamon sticks and sliced lemon
my brother was disappointed that the new recipe did not use cinnamon sticks
as he liked licking the cinnamon stick when a new jar was opened
I told him to add a cinnamon stick to his jars would not hurt a thing
then he could lick to his heart's content so he did just that.
When his grandson Justin (Rooster) came over he gave him some jam to taste,
Rooster saw the cinnamon stick yup he wanted them too
he licked the jam off. Rooster is nine years old too funny.
 
 
816C2FB2-FC8F-4FC7-BE8C-6424A892D4BE
 
 
 
My brother was just here to pick up some empty fruit jars.
My husband and I made Carmel apple jam with Haralson Apples.
It turned out as good as the Tomato Jam.
Apples, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg or and a little lemon juice.
My brother stopped over yesterday and tasted it
now he is in the apple jam business at his house,
could not find any jars so took the last of my jars.
I had so much fun since he retired he loves to cook. 
Now I think our next brother-sister project will be fruit cake for Christmas
using of course my mom’s recipe soaks in a quart of brandy for 6 weeks after it is baked,
very good, have a slice of fruit cake,
a couple of rum balls and you'll get tipsy before the wines with dinner.
Love having my brother home and not working warms my heart
to see such a simple thing passed down. 
 
 
 
BA92C611-6438-46DA-90B1-129A6C14A45B
 
 
 
In 2004 I had a friend Jeannie who was taking a rug hooking class.
I had no idea what rug hooking was
I sewed clothes and made quilts mostly.
Well to make a long story short Jeannie talked me into taking the class
that was 3 hours a night one night a week for 4 weeks
at the end of the 4 weeks, I was sold hook, line, and sinker
on rug hooking and have been hooking ever since.
Jeannie, not so much she hated it.
She liked the end product
but hooking was not for her so I made her a few hooked things
and then a few years ago she lost her life to bladder cancer.
 
 
 
 
As I hooked over these past 17 years I have developed my own style.
I like doing what is called primitive rug hooking
and usually use strips of wool 8. – 8.5 and occasionally 9. the number reflects
the width of the wool strip a size 8 is equal to 1/4 inch.
 
 
 
5ECA7403-5E68-44E7-B1AC-90B8D1593BAF
 
 
 
If you see a rug hooked with lots of detail those folks are doing fine rug hooking
not for me I love finding antique rugs and trying to hook my rug to look old.
I am told I have a great sense of color and take that has a huge compliment.
I do know whatever I hook I have to like it.
I can’t hook things that are of no interest to me and if I don’t like the color
color planning is a huge part of the process and one I really enjoy.
I will never live long enough to hook all the wool in my studio.
I am definitely addicted.
 
 
Pam's garden

61EEDF4C-DE62-4AF8-9561-306795A11521
 
 
A79AB381-588B-4A00-9CAA-2AB4C561F80F
When I said I had nothing to write about Corey encouraged me to write about my cooking, hook rugs, and my gardens and flowers.
1CC31B24-A564-443D-9362-91E656CFC2A5
 
I love flowers all flowers however I only can have shade-loving flowers in my yard
as we have too much shade due to the trees.
When we purchased our home 43 years ago we had nothing but grass no trees
and so we planted trees
my dad said they were to close to each other
I said oh no – lots of room
and there was when the trees were little
well, trees grow.
 
 
1EAAA553-1D89-4FFA-8CCB-A304FDF86EA8
 
227964F0-0A97-4E97-A2F7-BD965E9DB428
Now we have a wonderful shaded yard like living in the forest sort of
but so hard to grow grass so much shade.
We kept planting ground cover, hostas, and shade-loving annuals.
We put our time energy and money into our yard and home.
We have finally found what works well
for colorful annuals and stick with.
 
 
Pam chicken cart
 
 
 I know my mom is up in heaven smiling at me and shaking her head
when I was young and at home, I wanted nothing to do with gardening
but once I got my own home it was the opposite.
 
 
484545E3-B9F2-4FA6-8079-739222BC7018
We had 45 rose bushes the first years we were here but then the sun went away,
as those trees grew now no roses bushes but we have over 300 hostas
many varieties and lush shade.
 
 
E37E209B-C8CE-4589-A73F-5C15CB9E4C8F
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sidenote: Pam has many more beautiful photos but for some unknown
reason I have not been able to post them today. So if I can I will add them later.
 


Comments

18 responses to “Guest Post: Pam Gunn”

  1. Pam! I loved reading your guest post. Great story-telling about Mom, your brother and canning. It made me smile.. The rugs are great and the gardens amazingly peaceful and calming. Thanks so much for sharing .

  2. Oh my goodness! Your rugs and your shade garden are beautiful. Your antiquey rugs are just the kind I love. And do you live somewhere with a lot of rain? Your hostas are so lush!

  3. Pam I enjoyed your posting very much as I have all the other guest bloggers.
    Thank you Corey for introducing us to so many lovely people.
    Blessings to you all
    Jeanne

  4. Ok…first, your garden looks like it’s a spread from Better Homes and Gardens, the photos are gorgeous and I am jealous of all the green! I love the look of your rugs! My favourites are the one with the little mouse -adorable!, and the cat! So cute! Thank you for sharing the recipe for the jam, I was going to ask for it and was so happy when it showed up!

  5. REBECCANYC

    You had me at the first photos of your (omg gorgeous) garden, and then you started talking about tomato jam. WHAT IS TOMATO JAM? I need to try this!! THEN you talk about hooked rugs. and I don’t want you to stop talking. I want to hear about everything! Thank you so much for writing your story, even though you thought you had nothing to say. LOVE IT ALL!

  6. You need to open a shop on Etsy. I’ll be your first customer:) The rugs are amazing, I want to try the tomato jam and the garden is divine.

  7. An absolutely charming post!

  8. your gardens are beautiful and so are your rugs. I am also a hooker with a stash of wool that is bigger than I can ever use. Do you dye your wool? I love to do it but am not doing it as often as I used to. Lucky you to be able to spend so much time with your brother and to share memories of your mother through her recipes.

  9. You make me feel a bit guilty. I have a case of Ball jars sitting out on the porch. They’ve been there for four years. They do make good ice tea glasses I’ve heard.

  10. Pam…I am digging out my Mom’s fruitcake recipe today…my Mom and Dad would make it together in an old enameled baby bathtub.
    Thank you for reminding me of a very happy memory-

  11. Pam, your rugs are fabulous! I’d love to learn one day. I met some “hookers” on a trip to Cape Breton Island in NS. The winters are long there and that is a long held traditional art there. I came home vowing to learn how. My daughter even gave me a beautiful hook for Christmas. I’m a procrastinator but you have given me new inspiration. I can also see your love of color in your beautiful gardens. So lovely. And all you canning sounds wonderful. Happy you are able to share these times with your brother.

  12. Virginia Dabney

    Pam, you’ve made my day with your story and photos of your beautiful rugs and backyard paradise. I love that purple clematis, it must have somehow found some sun!
    Thank you, and thank you to Corey for sharing her friends with us. Marvelous!

  13. Love your garden! The colors are wonderful, wish it was spring you’ve really inspired to do more on my shady side. I only see my my brother on holidays and love cooking with him too. I’ve been helping him to bake bread from our Dads recipes this past year.

  14. Pam, your gardens are simply gorgeous! and all done in a shady place makes them even more exceptional. I saved your post and titled it, “Plant like this!” for my 2021 garden. It looks like you and I have the same type of backyard too. Your rugs are so whimsical with delightful colors too. Thank you and I look forward to cataloging your plants and buying them next spring.

  15. Thanks Pam, I loved your stories. I canned corn once, when opened had to throw it out. That was the first and last time I can canned
    anything.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Ali

  16. Wonderful post,I love your canning experiences with your brother. And the photos of your garden! So lovely.
    The rugs are truly works of heart.
    Thanks for sharing all of it with us!

  17. Pam – your yard is stunning! We are all shade, too. Tell me about the blue climbing flower. Is this a variety of Clematis?

  18. The canning and hooked rugs, plus a gorgeous garden. Love it all.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.