This week has been crazy, obviously, right? Lack of posts, and slightly off schedule as well… *sigh* I blame the Yule cookery/canning/candy-making faerie that visited!

I’ve lost count how many jars of pincherry, mixed berry, chokecherry, wild plum and strawberry jellies I’ve made. Not jam, jellies. These are clear, beautiful reds and purples. *sigh* It’s worth the stress! I’ve also made some chokecherry and mixed berry syrups, for toppings on ice cream, pancakes, waffles, etc.

I won’t post a recipe for the syrups, because it’s so simple – mix 4 cups of juice* with 3 cups of sugar, boil for fifteen minutes and pour into hot sealer jars. No need to water bath or process, these should keep up to two years without that.

* The juice is made by boiling the fruit with water to cover, then straining the lot through a jelly bag. Hard work sometimes, but so worth it in the end!

I’m crunched for time today, but after a misunderstanding on my facebook wall over what I truly meant as a step forward for my girls and I (on our ever-trundling path to independence) I want to say that no disrespect was meant to any other paths followed, or any other holidays celebrated at this time of year. I meant simply that the girls and I would like to be able to celebrate as we see fit, either Yule or Christmas, without pressure to conform to other family and friends plans. Sometimes, we’d like to be able to make those decisions rather than being told to be somewhere, or don’t bother with the holidays.

They’re our holidays, too.

So, for now, until after our Sabbat tonight and Christmas on Wednesday, I leave you with this ecard. I’m unsure who to credit exactly, but if anyone knows – I’ll be happy to add one later!