Personal Glimpses

Harvest Time Means Canning Time! By Pam Crooks

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I would never say I have a green thumb, but boy, my garden was prolific this year. I had more tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, snap peas, jalapeno peppers, and onions than we could eat. And then we picked apples from a nearby orchard. I had drawn the line at growing zucchini again, and my daughters were more than happy to give me some of theirs. I still had green peppers in the freezer from last year. Even with these adjustments, I had more produce than I could handle.

It’s a good thing I love canning.

While I never tried my hand at pressure canning (necessary for low acid foods like meats, seafood, soups and stews, and some vegetables and fruits), I’ve been water bath canning since a young bride. When the babies started coming, I stepped back from it, but then the urge to garden returned, especially when we retired. I love that two of my daughters have followed in my footsteps on a much smaller scale, and for the two that don’t can, I’m very happy to share my jarred bounty.  (Here are pics of most of what I’ve canned since I’d already given some away.)

 

With the passing of my mother, and later my aunt, I inherited lots of jars. I discovered the economy of ordering flats in bulk on ebay during Covid. I’ve canned for so long, I have my system down pat.

Up until the mid-1800’s, folks didn’t understand how poorly canned food and improperly sealed jars increased the chances of botulism, e-coli, and listeria. In 1858, John Landis Mason invented a resealable glass jar, modifying his design and the accompanying lids numerous times until his patent expired in 1879. Other manufacturers helped themselves to his work, and sadly, he never profited from his beloved Mason jars. He was forced into living a frugal life until his death in 1902.

In 1884, the Ball brothers, five in all, took up the glass jar manufacturing sensation, ultimately producing 245,000 jars per day in the early 1900s. Today, Ball is credited with producing 545,000 jars a day. That’s a lot of jars!

Canning jars have evolved from wire bailers and glass dome lids used with re-usable rubber rings to the flats and rings we’re familiar with today.

Canning jars are used many more ways than just preserving food. Drinking glasses, crafts, wedding table decorations, pack-n-go containers (like salads), and gifts–remember those cake and cookie ingredients in a jar? Soups and cocoa, too? Fun!–the possibilities are endless.

If you’re drowning in zucchini, here’s a jam recipe that calls for 6 CUPS. Since most recipes call for one or two cups, maybe three, but never six, this recipe caught my eye. It’s good! Even better, it’s easy.

 

Pina Colada Jam

6 cups sugar
6 cups shredded peeled zucchini
1 8oz can crushed pineapple, undrained
1/4 cup lime juice
2 – 3 oz pkgs pineapple Jello
1 tsp rum extract

  1. Combine sugar, zucchini, pineapple, and lime juice in Dutch oven. Bring to a boil.
  2. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
  3. Remove from heat. Stir in Jello and extract until gelatin is dissolved.
  4. Pour into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
  5. Cool completely before covering with lids. Refrigerate for up to three weeks or freeze up to one year.

Note: I did water bath these. The jam will be a bit runny but will thicken when it’s refrigerated. And yes, there’s specks of zucchini peel because my husband was grating too fast for me to hurry up and peel. Ha!

It doesn’t taste like the cocktail (there’s no alcohol in it) but it’s still good. Try with coconut shrimp or even as a cake filling. Delicious on toast!

Have you canned food before? Do you love to garden? What’s your favorite canned food?

Leo the MGM Lion’s Incredible Story of Survival

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Two weeks ago, my husband and I spent a week in Payson, Arizona. Mostly, we went to rest and recreate and get out of the scorching heat of Phoenix. But we did spend a few afternoons doing a little sightseeing. I’ve lived in Arizona most of my life and visited Payson many times. But I learned some new things on this trip that surprised me, and I think might surprise you, too.

We thought the small and quaint Payson Museum would be just a little stop on our afternoon outing. Instead, we spent almost two hours there, soaking up the local history. On one wall hung a series of pictures that I almost missed and would have if my husband didn’t call me over. After reading this truly amazing story, I can’t believe someone hasn’t made it into a movie!

I tried to take the best pictures I could. I hope you can read the account in full and make out the old black and white pictures. But here’s what happened in a nutshell:

Jackie, a lion cub born in the wild, went on to become the second Leo the Lion, the trademark logo for MGM Films (he was the first lion to roar). He also appeared in numerous films. In 1927, MGM planned a publicity stunt and hired a pilot to fly Leo from California to New York. Leo and his 400 pound cage were loaded into a small plane. Over the Mogollom Rim, in the area outside Payson, Arizona around Hell’s Gate, the pilot experienced trouble and was forced to crash land the plane. By some miracle, both the pilot and Leo survived with only minor injuries.

 

 

Having no choice, the pilot left Leo in his cage with a supply of water and hiked for three days before reaching help. When rescuers at last reached Leo, he was in bad shape but revived with fresh water and a butchered calf that had been dragged to the site. Leo  was eventually retired to live out his life at the Philadelphia Zoo.

 

Now, I’ve been to Hell’s Gate, and there’s a reason for the name. It’s some pretty rugged country, and the steep slopes leading down to the creek are almost straight up and down. I can’t imagine crashing a small plane there among the tall pines and craggily boulders and then having to hike out for three days with no food or fresh water. Not an easy feat. Both the pilot and Leo surely had the will to survive – and an amazing story to tell later!

 

A “Heart” Horse Influences Melinda Curtis’s Writing

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Hello, I’m Melinda Curtis and I write lighthearted sweet romance and romcoms. Today, I’m talking about my “heart” horse (a horse you love more than you might need) and how she influenced how I include horses in my western romances.

When I was a teenager, I owned a seven-year-old, red roan, appaloosa mare. Misty was gentle as a kitten when I was in the stall with her, in the pasture with her, grooming her, washing her, or saddling her up. But something happened when I got in the saddle. Misty wanted to run. And once Misty started to run, she didn’t want to stop.

The cowboys in the neighborhood told me I had soft hands and good legs—which meant I had a light touch on the reins and knew how to control a horse with my heels. They very politely never said anything about my seat—which refers to how much air goes between your booty and the western saddle when horses go faster than a walk. My seat wasn’t good (I got a lot of air).

So Misty and I tried compromise. I worked on my “seat” and exercised her more. We galloped up hills and in circles around the corral. I got a little better, but she never lost her need to run. Then one day, after she should have been winded from racing up a vineyard hill, she took the bit in her mouth and tossed her head. Her neck hit my nose. Blood spattered everywhere. She shook her head once and realized as I did (in horror!) that she’d broken the chin strap. The chin strap is what holds the bit in place. No chin strap means no bit pressure which means Misty could ignore the reins.

She whinnied. It was a happy sound. A carefree sound. If you were a horse, that is. To me, it sounded more like brouhahahaha! Misty spun and headed back downhill between the shiny green grapevines at a full gallop. I knew she was headed back home. But I also knew there was a barbed wire fence at the bottom of the hill and we’d have to make a hard left.

Now, my teenage brain was calculating the odds of me falling on that rusted barbed wire fence. They weren’t good odds. I’m not a daredevil. I don’t bungee jump. I don’t even cannonball into swimming pools. But that day, I leapt out of my saddle and tumbled about twenty feet in clay soil to the bottom of the hill. Took me a couple of minutes to catch my breath, wipe my bloody nose and my tears, and get to my feet.

And Misty? She was waiting for me back at the door to her stall, ears perked up and ready to be brushed and loved and cooed over by her adoring girl. Do goldfishes really have the shortest memories? That day, it seemed like horses did.

Have you ever had an animal that taught you a lot about life and/or yourself? I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment to let me know. One lucky commenter will win a digital copy of the first book in the series — A Cowgirl Never Forgets. The drawing from the commenters will be Sunday.

Fast forward to me writing cowboy romances/romcoms. I love drawing on my experiences with Misty when creating the perfect foil for my hero or heroine. My characters’ lives aren’t perfect and neither are their mounts. But they learn to deal with it and laugh along the way to their happily ever after.

Here’s a little about A Cowgirl Never Forgets:

Rodeo cowgirl Maggie Blackwell doesn’t need her estranged family. She’s got Clem Coogan—her best friend, rodeo buddy and absolute rock. But when a rodeo accident leaves Clem with a terrible concussion, he’s convinced they’re a romantic item…and proposes to her. Now until his memory comes back, Maggie’s playing along. But can she keep this headache from turning into heartache for both of them?

 

You can meet my latest western couple—Griff and Bess—in The Rodeo Star’s Reunion. In this second chance romance, Bess had a sweet spot for reckless cowboy Griff—until he ghosted her on prom night. No explanation was ever given, and Bess was too proud to ask for one. Now, years later, he’s suddenly offering to help with her ranch and with the high school rodeo team that she coaches, which rekindles a spark from long ago. But will their resurfacing feelings survive when Bess discovers the real secret that Griff’s been holding on to for all these years?

The Rodeo Star’s Reunion is Book 5 in the Cowboy Academy series. Each book features a hero that spent time as a foster child at the Done Roamin’ Ranch, a rodeo stock distributor and teen foster home. The books are all connected but all stand alone. You can grab your copy of The Rodeo Star’s Reunion on Harlequin HERE or Amazon HERE.

 

BIO:

USA Today Bestselling Author Melinda Curtis writes lighthearted sweet romances and romcoms, both independently and for Harlequin. Half her titles every year are western/cowboy romances. You can learn more about Melinda’s books, shop for deals and autographed print editions, or listen to her audio books for free at the following sites:

Website  /  Direct Store  / YouTube Channel

Winter Warmth

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Our winter wood arrived a couple weeks ago, and we’re set for the next two years. The fun thing about this wood delivery was I discovered that I was the logger’s aunt’s junior high science teacher over thirty years ago in a completely different state. How’s that for small world?

My husband likes to take it nice and slow, and cuts three logs a day into rounds. After he cuts for the day, I chuck the rounds away from the log pile so that he can roll down new logs and cut again the next day.

After we get a goodly stack of rounds, we pull out the splitter and split, then stack. After that we haul loads to our basement wood room, which holds over a cord. We replenish often during the winter months.

I really enjoy doing the wood, but I’m cautious about chainsaws. Growing up in logging country, one couldn’t help but respect the machines and all they could do as well as the injuries they can cause. I prefer the splitter, but in today’s post I’m addressing the history of the chainsaw.

The original chainsaw was invented in the 1780s by John Aitken and James Jaffrey, Scottish doctors who used it to aid in childbirth. The machine was used to cut away excess cartilage and bone if the baby got stuck in the birth canal.  In 1830 a German Bernard Heine invented a chainsaw which he called the osteotome (bone cutter).  this was used to remove diseased bone and joints. Eventually, however, the chainsaw was used to cut materials rather than the human body.

In 1883  patents were granted for a Chain Sawing Machine, for cutting boards; and an Endless Chain Saw for cutting redwood trees.

The first portable chainsaw was patented by James Shand, a Canadian.  Then along came Andrea Stihl who patented the first electric portable chainsaw in 1926 and a gas-powered model in 1929.  This is a very abbreviated history, but I thought it was fascinating that one of the most useful tools in the timber industry came from the medical field after almost a 150 years.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go chuck some rounds. 🙂

 

A Small Town Parade – by Pam Crooks

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I love me a parade. Always have, always will. From when I was a little girl, to the years when my daughters were small, and now more recently, attending with my granddarlings, I’m entranced with the marching bands, floats, noisy go-carts with overgrown men stuffed in the driver’s seat, the tossed candy . . . The whole thing is just full of good, old-fashioned fun.

Parades have been around for centuries. Perhaps the earliest depiction is one found from drawings in a Spanish cave, evidently celebrating a successful hunt. George Washington threw numerous parades to boost morale during the Revolutionary War. Imagine the euphoria from the impromptu parades all over the country in 1945–to celebrate the end of World War 2!

With the advent of television and time, the parades got bigger and more elaborate. Who hasn’t heard of the Mardi Gras Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the Rose Bowl Parade, 4th of July Parades, and on and on?

I’m not alone in my love for parades.

Recently, we attended the annual parade in the small town near our cabin at the lake. No need to arrive 60-90 minutes early to save a spot, but we did mark our claim with chairs about a half hour beforehand. Parking isn’t a problem at all. Shade, a bit more so. The parade is over before we can barely think of it – only 45 minutes long.

The granddarlings bring a blanket and games and wait excitedly for that first police car escort to appear, signaling the parade is going to begin. Of course, each of the kids bring sacks to keep their candy haul. The treats have been upgraded lately–popsicles, water bottles, t-shirts, swag, and of course, more candy than a kid could (or should!) eat.

Here’s a few pictures to show what I mean:

Remember those overgrown men stuffed into little go-carts?  They were having a ball doing figure-eights in the street.

Who doesn’t love getting their picture taken with a couple of parade clowns?

 

A colorful (and patriotic!) train locomotive.

Best-laid plans sometimes go awry.  This old-time trolley broke down and needed a little manpower to get it off the parade route.

He’s ready to make his move for the next round of candy-tossing.  Note the loot already in his bag! 🙂

Afterward, we played bingo at the local park, had some free watermelon, came out to the cabin to roast hot dogs and s’mores, and then headed home.

It was a lovely day, one that fills my heart with happy memories.

Do you love a parade as much as I do?

Have you watched a parade recently from the comfort of your lawn chair?

Or do you prefer to watch on TV?

Let’s chat – and you can win a bag of parade candy!

My Favorite Thing – Our Cabin at the Lake!

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Living in a land-locked state like Nebraska, big bodies of water are scarce.  We do have rivers and smaller lakes, though, so as you can imagine, water-front property is a high commodity.  There is very little turn-over since families hang onto their land for generations.  If someone does want to sell, the properties are snatched up so fast by word-of-mouth, a realtor isn’t even needed.

Hence, my dream of finding a cabin on a lake was no easy venture.  I looked for 15 years before I found one that I wanted to buy.  Either the property was too far away, too expensive, too junky-looking, on a river (which I didn’t want – too prone to flooding and fast current), or was a permanent home (which I also didn’t want because I, well, already had a permanent home.)

Then, one day, on Craigslist, I found a listing with an affordable price only 45 minutes from our home.  It had a few decorating issues, but when my husband (who tends to be a nay-sayer) checked the construction and muttered the place “had good bones,” I knew we’d found the cabin I’d long wanted.

As coincidence would have it, we were retiring in a matter of weeks.  The timing couldn’t have been better.  My husband had all the time he needed to do some remodeling, and I had a blast decorating.  It wasn’t long until our little cabin and beach became firmly entrenched in our hearts.

Our family treasure.

Here are a few pictures:

The wildlife is fun to see, most of which, of course, I don’t get photos of.

But here’s a couple of big fish right off our dock.

And the granddarlings fishing with their Grandpa:

                                                               

Of course, the fun in the water:

Four grandsons canoeing in their great-grandfather’s canoe.

And doing flips off the dock.

The paddleboard is a kid favorite.  They have more balance than I do, let me tell you!

Afterward, supper set out on long tables under the trees.

With bellies full, my son-in-law and our Golden Retriever lounging after supper.

Good times and precious memories, for sure!

Do you have a special place that your family holds dear in their hearts? 

What does your family do – or where do they go – to make fun memories together?

Jeannie Watt has a Give Away!

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Hey everyone! I’m traveling today. This will be my seventh time crossing the Mississippi, but who’s counting? My son and his wife live in Virginia and I’m very excited to visit them in their new home. Since I will be traveling and answering comments will be tricky, I’ve decided to do a giveaway! All you need to do to be eligible for one of two $10 Amazon gift certificates, is to tell me where you would like to visit. What is your dream destination? I can’t wait to hear! (The winner will be announced Sunday afternoon.)

Best wishes,

Jeannie

Misty M. Beller – Storytelling vs. Historical Authenticity

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It’s such an honor to sit around the campfire with ya’ll again! The Petticoats and Pistols family is one of my favorite places to hang out.

I’ve been a fan of historical fiction for as long as I can remember, all the way back to the Mandie books by Lois Gladys Leppard and the Sadie Rose books by Hilda Stahl. Does anyone remember those series?

When I started thinking about my first novel, there was no doubt it would be a Christian Historical Romance set in the west. By my second book in, I had narrowed my focus to frontier life in the Rockies. My happy place!

It can be challenging to write about a time I haven’t experienced and cultures that don’t exist in the same form anymore. I love reading first-hand accounts to help me bring a particular time period to life. I often visit historic forts and talk with those who have studied the time period and setting in greater depth.

(Misty and her son in Badlands National Park)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three years ago, my family and I set out on a 28-day epic road trip to tour many of the state and national parks across the country. We spent about half of our time in Wyoming and Montana, exploring Yellowstone and Glacier, and touring historic and ghost towns. We spent more than one night tent camping without bathrooms and showers!

These experiences definitely make it easier for me to slip into that world as I write. The characters come alive in my mind, and I see the story like a movie in my head. Writing Earning the Mountain Man’s Trust was especially fun to write, as we return to the Coulter Ranch. I fell in love with not just Naomi and Eric, but also sweet little Mary Ellen, their one-year-old daughter whom Eric meets for the first time in this book.

Purchase Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C7NCSTTX?tag=pettpist-20

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/earning-the-mountain-man-s-trust

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id6450163846

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/earning-the-mountain-mans-trust-misty-m-beller/1143638415?ean=2940167186491

https://books2read.com/u/3ydLWL

Back Cover Blurb:

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Naomi Wyatt has finally given up on the man who once promised to love her for the rest of his life—then disappeared after a business trip, never responding to her letters. She’s now alone with a beautiful baby to provide for, a daughter whose red hair reminds her daily of the man she gave her heart to. She has to move on, though, and she did, going west with her sister. When Jonah Coulter asks for her hand in marriage, she knows she would be hard-pressed to find a better father for her sweet child. He’s a Coulter, after all, and he’s proven to be a good friend during her darkest hours.

Eric LaGrange thought he’d lost Naomi forever. But when he finally gets word that she’s in the Montana Territory, he drops everything to go after her…and their daughter? How could Naomi have kept their beautiful child from him? And how could she move on so quickly that she’s already engaged to another man? He loves Naomi so much that he’ll accept whatever choice is best for her, but is that him…or this settled rancher who clearly cares for them. No matter what, he’s determined to know his daughter and become the father he always wanted to be.

With Eric’s sudden appearance, Naomi’s heart is shredded once again. She barely has time to catch her breath before a new threat appears on the horizon. This time she has far more at stake than her heart, and only a Divine hand can turn this disaster for their good.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with a second chance romance, love triangle, hidden treasure, and faith that heals wounded hearts.

I pray the story comes to life for readers as much as it has for me!

I’m excited to give away a signed copy of the first three books in the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series to one winner.

To be entered, I’d love to know your thoughts on whether you prefer to read historical romance with a lot historical details, or whether you’d rather have the focus be on the story and characters. Leave a comment below to share.

 

 

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

 

Author Links:

https://mistymbeller.com/

https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller?tag=pettpist-20

https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/mistymbeller/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller

https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller

Meet Mandi Blake, and Hear Her Amazing Journey!

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Hi! I’m Mandi Blake, and I’ve been invited to be a guest author on the blog today.

A little about me…

I write Christian cowboy and small town romance. I live in Alabama where I grew up on a cattle farm. If I’m not reading or writing, I love to travel with my family and explore new places all over the world.

I started writing about six years ago, and I published my first book five years ago. Time is flying on this amazing journey, and I am excited to see what new and wonderful surprises are coming next.

I started off writing small-town romance set in Georgia. It was close to home, and I’m a small town girl through and through.

But once that series was over, I decided to shake things up a bit and write a cowboy series set in Wyoming.

Don’t ask me why. I have no idea why I chose Wyoming. I’d never been there, and I had no plans to go there. Sounds like a challenge, but I was ready to research and see what I could learn. I knew a little about raising cattle. I’d been around it my whole life. I wouldn’t trade growing up on a farm for anything because I had the best childhood.

I wanted that love of the land and hard work to shine through in my stories. The weather isn’t always cooperative in Wyoming, so I assumed an already difficult job had to be ten times harder in the harsh climate.

That was the beginning of the Blackwater Ranch series. Each book followed one of the tough-as-nails Harding brothers, and the last book was about their cousin who also lived on the ranch.

The Blackwater Ranch series was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. I grew so much writing those books. I loved right along with the characters and readers. I met so many people who just happened to pick up the books and like them. Readers became some of my dearest friends.

When the series was over, I wasn’t ready to let go of Blackwater. I immediately started a spin-off series about a dude ranch in the same town, and Wolf Creek Ranch took everything that Blackwater Ranch did for me and quadrupled it. These contemporary Western romances were the stories of my heart, and as they say, the rest is history.

When the Wolf Creek Ranch series came to an end, guess who still wasn’t ready to leave this fictional town of Blackwater. Me!

Through the last twelve books set in this little town, I’d introduced tons of side characters, so I decided to make my next series, the Love in Blackwater series, about some of them.

Since these new books are still so close to the ranches, I get to include my older characters in the newer books!

Y’all, I’m having too much fun.

Have you ever gotten so drawn into a book that you think about the characters when it’s over? My aunt, who is an avid reader, always told me she would envision what the characters might be doing once their story was over.

I get to show readers pieces of the ongoing lives of the characters they’ve known and loved. They sometimes play a big part in other stories, and their “lives” continue long after “The End.”

The first book in the Blackwater Ranch series is Remembering the Cowboy. Noah and Camille’s love story started it all, but even after their happily ever after, we got to see Camille fighting for justice in a courtroom in Better Together, the fourth book in the Wolf Creek Ranch series. We get to see how she juggles a family and a successful career all while being a rock for her friends when they need a hand.

One of my favorite scenes in the book I’m writing now is a wedding where all of the people in town are gathered together. Some of the Hardings have kids! Their fictional lives are being lived in new stories, and I’m so excited for these possibilities.

As something special for you, I’ve put the Blackwater Ranch series on sale. For April 5-6 only, you can get both of the three ebook box sets for this series for 99 cents each (in the US and UK only). You can read the whole series for two dollars or borrow them and read for free in Kindle Unlimited.

I also have a giveaway!

In the comments, tell me about the first book you read that sparked your love of all things Western. One winner will receive a signed paperback copy of the first book in my Blackwater Ranch series, Remembering the Cowboy. I’ll also throw in a matching bookmark and some other little goodies. A winner will be chosen on Sunday, April 7th. This giveaway is open to US residents only.

Thank you so much for having me on the blog today. I hope to “meet” you again sometime.

Introducing Our Fillies Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before!

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Howdy, everyone! Cathy McDavid here with an exciting announcement.

Lately, there have been a few changes in the corral here at Petticoats & Pistols. To celebrate our newest members and reacquaint you with familiar faces, we’ve put together a short video featuring all of the fillies. Take a peek at some of their awesome books and learn a little bit about them. Just click on the link below, and you’ll be taken to the video.

Click to view “Meet the P&P Fillies” Video

We hope you enjoy the video and will even share this post to help us spread the word. We really appreciate all our friends here at Petticoats and Pistols and love starting our days with you.