Summer Wrap-Up

Hi, friends! Summer is wrapping up in northern MN; there was frost in our area last night, but it didn’t go below 39 degrees here at the House on the Hill. Whew!

The apple trees produced like mad after last year’s drought and late spring frost. Even the Linden tree didn’t bloom last year. And not. one. apple. Luckily my sister Jacqueline lent me her Mehu Liisa steam juicer. Holy hell does that make crab apple harvest suck a LOT less! It’s been 3 years since I could make my Candied Crabapple jelly, and I’m so grateful. (I add a few Red Hots to the crabapple juice, and it’s my favorite jelly ever!)

Two days’ picking led to 6 five-gallon buckets of crabapples!!

Rhubarb had an excellent, long season due to cooler summer temps, too. My last harvest yielded 16 cups of chopped rhubarb, and was so huge I couldn’t carry it all in my arms. Almost all of it will be processed into Rhubarb Raspberry and Rhubarb Strawberry jam for farmers’ market. I did notice this week that I could sell jam on Etsy!! I’m not sure if I will, but it may be worth a try. If the jam lasts through the last few weeks at market, that is!

Speaking of farmers’ market, I had a fun year there, too. There were several new vendors this year, but my booth kept me too busy to shop 😦 🙂 Sisters Jacqueline and Martha urged me to try sewing crossbody bags, and I think I have that shit down now, and you can find them on Pajari Girl’s Etsy shop. $25 and they include an adjustable 60 inch strap. There are two pockets inside for a debit card and a phone, and they hold a 20oz beverage, too.

Please note the super-cool leather tags with my logo!!

I got to spend lots of time with His Majesty, AKA The God of Thunder and Lightning this summer, too, and he loves to help harvest between aventures in the woods around our house.

I have a few craft shows lined up for fall and winter and am looking forward to weather not being a factor in my displays. Wind and rain can wreak havoc in no time, and we were all grateful to have great weather almost every Saturday.

First up is the Nashwauk Boo-tique on October 7 and 8. I’ve never been to this show, but a Halloween-themed craft show? Hell yes. I plan to read tarot cards there, too. Should I dress up? I have so many pointy hats to choose from…

Then there is the Up North Shop on November 12 in Cook at the community center. Deer season brings a lot of people up from the cities, and there are a lot of spouses out there ready to do some revenge shopping. Bought a new gun? That’s nice. Now your spouse can buy jam and bags and other goodies guilt-free.

I haven’t been doing much photography this summer– summer is short and there is so much to do! My favorite thing is to put mini gnomes on mushrooms. They make cute greeting cards 🙂

Gnome from Northern Gnomology, my friend Sue Thomas.

I did have a show at the Northwoods Friends of the Arts Gallery with photographer Connie Stone this summer, and it was so fun. And scary. But mostly fun. I sold lots of jewelry that month!