Well, this year is my first year for a garden and my first year to can. I was VERY nervous about the whole canning process. I was afraid that I wouldn't do it right and all my food would be ruined. I was afraid that I wouldn't get the canner lid on right and it would explode and I would burn my face with the steam. I was afraid all my jars would break or that they wouldn't seal. Yes - I imagined up every possible scenario!! I had read the books my mom gave me, but I still wasn't feeling very confident, so I asked for her tips. Well, bless her heart, so typed out the whole process - from beginning to end - and emailed it to me. I printed it out and read it several times and most of my worries were put to rest. The next day I went out to my garden and dug up all my carrots and spent the next few hours washing, peeling, and slicing them! And when it came time to can - well, that was the easy part! I was able to get 5 quarts of carrots and they all sealed! Now, I just have to be patient till winter time and pop open a jar and see how they taste!
I am now confident that I can do the rest of the canning. I only got 2 pickings out of my peas and then it got too hot for them - but they were delicious! I put one quart of peas in the freezer. My green beans are doing really well, and we have had them for a few meals. I will have to save a few days worth of pickings to be able to can them. We have cucumbers and LOTS of yellow squash! The okra still has a ways to go - but so far so good. I have one little bell pepper, but several more blooms, so I hope I get a good crop of bells. Joe's jalapeno's have taken off and the plants are full of them - his habanero's haven't really done anything yet, though. And our tomatoes, well, they aren't doing so great. Of the 6 we planted, only one is still alive. The one has lots of blooms and just the other day we found our first little tomato! So I hope all those blooms turn into tomatoes!
This garden has been a learning experience. We don't have a bumper crop or the nicest looking garden - but we are getting some good produce and are learning how to do things different for next year!
Moe and Jess invited us to go with them to Canton Lake in Oklahoma for the July 4th weekend. Jess's family owns a few trailer houses down there and have a few boats, jet ski's, tubes, and kneeboards and make use of them all as often as they can get to the lake! We were very excited to go as we have never been jet skiing, tubing or kneeboarding before! And, well, we miss the ocean and the lake was as close to the ocean as we were gonna get! We were in for a surprise because the lake is HUGE - I wasn't expecting it to be so big! Joe and I both got to ride the jet ski's and the next day we took turns driving them - I think they were my favorite part! Tubing was quite an experience! It was such fun, but my arms were so sore from hanging on for dear life! Joe attempted the kneeboarding and even got up on the board a few times, but didn't make it far. I didn't try that one - maybe next time! I loved being in the water and now have a good tan - a few burnt spots too - but they'll tan nicely!! In the evenings, all the guys set out jug lines for fish and the next morning they went and picked them up. Jess and I had stayed back at the house and when the guys came back Joe was yelling for me to get my camera - they had caught a BIG fish. Big was right! The catfish weighed 20 pounds and was 34 inches long! Those guys were so excited about their catch! It was such a great weekend! A great time getting to know Jess's family. A great time on the water. A great time for fishing. A great time to just get away and have some fun! 
