Here's a helpful link for newbies on processing jams and jellies. Note it does mention half-pint or pint jars. Like others, I don't can in pints because jams and jellies don't get consumed that quickly. I also can get bored with a jam and like smaller jars so I can have more than one kind open. Depending upon who you're gifting the jam to, 8 oz. may be more than adequate, or a selection of 8 oz. jars. My personal preference is the 12 oz. Those make a very pretty presentation for gifting. I agree that the suggestion of providing a barbecue sauce or baste is a great one. Alternatively you could give a jar of jam and dry mix in a jar for muffins as Ken suggested or for a jam cake. Jam can also be swirled into a frosting. Cream cheese might be especially good because there's the contrast of the tangy and sweet. For those who imbibe, a compatible liqueur could always be added instead of water to thin then the sauce could be gently warmed and served over ice cream or pound cake. Oh, and there's rugelach or other filled cookies. Actually, a stiffer jam can work quite well for those. Carol Here is a link that might be useful: Processing Jams and Jellies

Of course you don’t discipline the child and there’s nothing wrong with participating in major holidays. But I would take a step back from the household duties and party planning. Dad can do his kid’s laundry and cook dinner once in a while. Also, let him handle the party planning for the birthdays. Sorry, but you sound like a cook and maid - do you work? Don’t feel that your taking a step back means you don’t care. What Kroopy and others are trying to warn you against is doing too much. It sounds like you do A LOT and while right now you say you’re okay with that, are you still going to be okay with doing ALL the household chores while dear ole SO sits and watches TV? Think about it, if you weren’t there, he’d have to do it all by himself. What would he do then? Right now you might not see anything wrong with the way things are, but doing all the work around the house, becoming maid, cook and chaffuer for a kid that isn’t even yours is going to get old after a while. You’ll start to feel unappreciated and resentment will start to set in. Remember, if you and SO were to break up, you’d have no legal rights to this child. All this time, energy and emotion you’ve invested in this child can be taken away at any time. So many times I’ve read on forums like these of women who put their heart and soul into caring for their step children, only to have it blow up in their faces. If the two adults break up, the SM has no rights to seeing that child anymore. Or one day the child starts to hate you for the simple fact that you are not his mother even though you've been caring for him for years like a mother. You think he'd never do that, but I've read of it happening. That is what folks are trying to warn you about. I would just let SO know that you feel that you are taking over too much of the parenting duties and you’re going to “let” SO do the lion’s share of the parenting. Say that you are doing this BEFORE resentment starts to build. It’s not that you don’t love SO and care for his child, but you realize that you are doing too much and dad needs to step up and be a dad to his son. Stress that it’s about dad being a dad to his son, not that you don’t want to do anything for his son. And remind him that if you weren’t there, he’d have to do it all on his own anyway. He’d have to figure out a way to pick his son up if you weren’t in the picture. He’d have to do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry himself. Of course, you don't have to go cold turkey, but I'd definately find ways to step back a little.

I am in a similar situation except maybe a bit more complicated, who knows! I understand. Either way, you have to be understanding to all sides of the story, including that she is their mother and may not like you being a part of the children's lives like you want. But, if you and your man are going to make it work, eventually they will have to get to know you. As far as him...I understand that the way he is trying to deal with everything in his head is the right way (which it's not, but to him it is...for now), and you can't make him change. He needs to realize himself...that although it will be hard (more than hard or a bump in the road), that if it's you he wants to be with, he needs to focus on getting himself together as an individual and take a chance in not living with the children and realize he can have both, maybe not exactly how he wants...but it's a compromise. Basically, he has some things to figure out (and so do you). Will you always want to have to deal with his ex and everything that comes with her? Nomatter how much it seems like everything is in place, he is not...none of you are. It does take a toll on the children and I understand he wants to see them everyday and be in the same house and help financially, but where do each of you want to be next year...or say in 5 years? How long can this go on? I hope that it works out and soon. Believe me, I am not judging, just giving you things to think about that I know I have. I am only 23 but I feel I've been through quite a bit for my age. My man and I have been together off and on for 5 years, he is 33. Within those 5 years we have had other partners, he has gotten a divorce, had 3 children, I moved away and came back, and now he lives with his ex-wife...all the while she's known about me and wants me to have nothing to do with the children. Things have come a long way. We plan to get married and have children of our own and even move in soon, but with all the rollercoaster action in our past, we want to make sure everything is right before going to the next step. He is figuring out his life and so am I so we can become a union and bring God in our relationship.

We have quite a few more tonight Jasdip. Just the four of us, with DH supervising when we did the yearlings. Tonight we have around 80 head of cows to vaccinate, and then the same amount of calves to do. I figure we will have a group of about a dozen people. DH and BIL just brought the heifers and their calves in the corral. We will start rounding up the rest in about half an hour. Jeff, where were you when I was a girl guide? My favorite meal as a kid was beans and franks! LOL Sjerin, in about a week, when we ship most of the cattle to community pasture and summer grass, my work is done at home until we gather in the fall. I don't have to work, but if I didn't have a job for the summer, I would go nuts. One can only garden for so long, and then it would mean sitting around getting fat, and at my age, that is WAY to EASY to do. LOL