Pomegranate Jelly

So I asked someone in the know if she knew of anyone in town that might not be using their pomegranates. (Have I mentioned they grow in abundance here? Tons of trees. It's like a decoration or something) She said yes, but I'd have to fight her for them. I laughed the whole time she told of how she won't even let her (adult) children help because she doesn't want them dictating how much jelly they would get to take home with them, and how she hid her pomegranates and her juicer from them when she had to go out of town briefly. Ha ha. Clearly, I have met a soul sister. I don't know anyone outside my parents and siblings who rave about pomegranate jelly as we do.

She also told me there were two kinds of pomegranates here in St. George: the more abundant yellow with pink splotches is pink inside and used mostly in salads, and the red ones with brilliant red seeds inside are the best for jelly. This is the kind I'm familiar with, the kind we had growing up. I've noticed there are fewer of these trees than the pink ones.

I had been eying one tree for a few weeks and gearing up to have the courage to knock on the door and inquire about the fruit, when on my next time walking the neighborhood I saw they had been picked.

I didn't give our conversation a second thought. I know what it is like to love homemade pomegranate jelly. She gave me some tips where to look in town where she thought some trees (of the red variety) might not be being used. And I thought I'd try again to find some.

But she came back the next morning and said she didn't feel right about not sharing. She brought me the most wonderful gift. The gift of making pomegranate jelly with my children.

They loved the experience and may I say, oh yummy. Oh man, that jelly is so good.

Finished Product

Aside from words like waif and potato sack carelessly tossed around by my husband, I thought the dress was a success. Everyone had a turn helping, and now I'm less intimidated by the idea of making my daughter a dress. I may even buy some real fabric and make her something pink or purple and be loved forever.

One Man's Trash

My sewing adventures have included jammies and a blankie. I had this beautiful idea floating around, however, that I would like to make dresses for my daughter. Someday. Maybe when there is a stellar deal on material, I will buy some and not worry if I ruin it.

And so it happened one day hubby showed me a hole in his pants. In the past, holes of this kind meant pants in the trash. This time I thought, "that's material."
The realization of a dream has begun. How it will turn out is a complete unknown.

It's been a group project so far. Children have each helped with cutting.

Here hubby sews a button for the center of the flower on the pocket.