Strawberries Plant City FL & Making Preserves

 

Strawberry Palace on US 60 Plant City, FL. Pick your Own!!  4/10/10

 

Gene picking them - it was easy the plants were loaded 

That is 1 flat = 12 baskets

.

 

This was an unusual growing season because it got to below freezing several times. In order to preserve the plants and fruit the growers watered 24 /7.  The result is huge, flavorful berries.  

Gotta wash them.

 

Cut 'em up

 

Mash 'em

 

Add the sugar and cook them

  

Ladle the preserves into the jars using the canning funnel.   

Finished product.  That full flat made over 12 pints of preserves / sauce. 

So many parties, so many Rubber Duck Gifts.

 

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Duck - May 5th

Super Woman for Mother's Day May 9, 2010

Memorial Day BBQ's and 4th of July

 Graduations from Kindergarten, Middle School, High School and College (all levels!)

 And for all the babies created in the fall after all those June weddings. (Both are actually the same size, the photos are different sizes only.

Check out our eBay store for these and many, many other rubber ducks (70+) that are great party favors, gift ties or hostess gifts.

http://stores.ebay.com/Herbs-Crafts-Gifts

Carvel Ice Cream - A blast from childhood in NY

 

When I grew up on Long Island, New York CARVEL was always the best treat. After we moved to New Mexico and went back to visit,  it was one of the things we had to have at least once, even if it was the middle of winter.  There are no Carvel stores in Colorado where we live now,  so when we visit Florida we have to get our ice cream fix

 

This is my favorite swirl of vanilla and chocolate on a cone covered with chocolate sprinkles.  

  

Gene likes his ice cream in a cup, also the soft serve swirl.  They do have regular hard ice cream in several flavors but we get this so rarely, we don't want to miss the chance to have the best and creamist of all soft serve ice creams.  

The flying saucers ice cream sandwiches are another treat that are available in the grocery stores now too, but alas not in Colorado.

Great Blue Heron & Egret, Saddle Creek Lake, FL

Great Blue Heron, Saddle Creek Lake, Florida  3/31/10

Egret, Saddle Creek Lake, Florida 3/31/10

Egret sees fish, Saddle Creek Lake, Florida 3/31/10

Egret with breeding plummage, Saddle Creek Lake, Florida 3/31/10

Egret closeup of green around eye, Saddle Creek Lake, Florida 3/31/10

Egret in hunting pose, Saddle Creek Lake, Florida 3/31/10