A Chain of Love: A Little Background Info and The Harvest

      Most people are perturbed when they first learn that I live in Notasulga and even more so when they learn that I am not from Notasulga. They cannot understand why I choose to live in a podunk town. The truth is I never would have thought I'd live in Notasulga either. Not that it's a bad place to live; it's just that there's nothing in Notasulga.
      When I was hired to teach in the Auburn City school district, I immediately started looking for places in Auburn. I lived there in college, and I really liked the convenience of living in a city. I knew that I would not be able to afford much more than a one or two bedroom apartment with my starting teacher salary. I was fine with it. The only reservation I had was living beside, above, or below college students. College students, and I can say this because I completely fit this description when I was a student, are loud and keep all hours of the night. "Professional Jamie" does not. I like my privacy; I like my solitude; and I like my sleep. Lots of sleep.
     A friend of mine from Liberty City (part of Notasulga) suggested I get a house in Notasulga. I balked and asked why I would want to live in Notasulga when I'd be working in Auburn. He said he could find me a house with a yard for about the same or less than I'd be paying for a 1-bdrm apt in Auburn. Of course, this sparked my interest. Fully expecting him to fail, I told him that if he could find such a house then I'd consider moving to his hometown. Meanwhile, I continued to tour apartments in Au.
     After looking at several homes in Notasulga and not being very pleased, my friend told me there was a house that was for sale, not for rent, that he would drive me by. While I have never experienced love at first sight with another person, I have DEFINITELY experienced it with objects. And me and my home? It was love at first sight. I thought it was the cutest little thing ever! I loved that it was small and brown. I loved that it had a nice front yard. I could picture a yard full of flowers (check), rocking chairs on the porch (check), and the American flag proudly flying in the wind (check). We pulled in the driveway and I went around to see the backyard. And that was it. After seeing the back yard, I knew this was MY home. The selling point? The fruit trees. The yard contained plum, crab apple, granny smith apple, and pear trees. Anyone who knows me well knows that I adore fruit trees. This little home had a deck on the back with apple trees hanging over. Done deal. I had to have it.
     So skip over a few months of pretty much begging the owner of the home to rent it to me and we get to the part when it was mine--at least for a year at a time. I was so pleased with my perfect starter home. I have more space than I would in an apartment, Skunk has room to play, and I'm less than 20 minutes from work. Not to mention my friend made good on the promise about rent pricing. Score!
     Okay so there's all the background information. Here's the actual point of this post: After two years of the pear tree not producing any pears, I am proud to say I HAVE PEARS THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And not just any pears--the sweetest, crispest, most delicious pears ever tasted!! (No, I am not exaggerating.) I have harvested, peeled, cut, chopped, and cooked the pears. I am currently 4 hours in and still not finished. Tonight I have made apple pear jam, apple pear cake (hope coworkers are reading this and getting excited because it's coming to work with me tomorrow), and am currently working on preserves. So exciting! I still have an entire basketful of pears to do something with tomorrow, but I think I've put a nice little dent in them. Can't wait to make some biscuits and get to eatin'!
    My sweet grandparents gave me a book about canning for Christmas 2008. That has been the best book! Here are a few pics.

A few delicious pears