I Know How a Jam Jar Feels

In Bread and Jam for Frances (1964), the eponymous badger sings:

Jam for snacks and jam for meals
I know how a jam jar feels—
FULL… OF… JAM!

Inspired by Frances (and all the beautiful berries of summer), my family has started… jamming!

Close-up view of ripe, red strawberries, sliced and tossed with sugar.

Stirring strawberries in a saucepan with a wooden spoon.

Close-up of bubbling hot strawberry jam in a saucepan.

Stacked rows of sealed glass jars, full of deep red strawberry jam.

Our first batch was strawberry jam. (Raspberry is next.)

We should now have enough jam to last these kids a few… months, maybe?

While the end result is delicious, the important part is the warm family time, working together on a yummy and beautiful creative project. Each child gets to take responsibility for one part of the process. (I monitor closely for food safety purposes!)

Knowing they each had a hand in it, and that we all did it together, makes the final product taste so much sweeter.

Whatever you do with your family today, I hope that everyone gets to play a part, and that you can create something beautiful together. (Jam or otherwise!)

Sleep well,
Nora

P.S. If you haven’t read Bread and Jam for Frances yet, you’re in for a treat!

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