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‘tiny happy’ was a journal of my handmade life from 2006-2025.

sticky

Jam 2

Jam 3 

Jam 1 

I'm half-way through this amazing book of short stories by Alice Munro, and in one of the stories, a character called Irene is boiling up a large sticky pot of strawberry jam. The next morning she writes labels and ties circles of red gingham around the lids of each jar. I made a batch of strawberry jam because it's summer, and it seemed right. And made some covers for the jars this morning, inspired by my reading. Is there anything nicer than a row of jam jars on the windowsill, shining like jewels? Well, perhaps eating the leftovers at the bottom of the pot, with melting butter underneath.

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31 responses to “sticky”

  1. Shin Ae Avatar
    Shin Ae

    Mmmm. Missing warm weather right now. May have to simulate by turning up the heat and having a similar snack.

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  2. jeanamarie Avatar
    jeanamarie

    oh yum, that sound good, and looks wonderful!

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  3. Miss Smith Avatar
    Miss Smith

    I’ll tell you what’s NOT nicer than a row of strawberry jam jars, and that’s the row of jars of the last batch of strawberry jam that I made. It was burned on the bottom and so it had black flecks through it, and it didn’t set properly, the strawberry detritus all floated on the top while the jammy bit settled on the bottom, and it was a funny colour. Perhaps there is a tragicomic short story in that somewhere?

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  4. Kim Tillyer Avatar
    Kim Tillyer

    mmmm,made me feel all warm and summery, despite the blizzard outside! Do we live on the same planet?!x

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  5. sew funky Avatar
    sew funky

    Nothing better than homemade jam! I made raspberry last month – DELISH!

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  6. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    I have never attempted to make jam, but I suspect mine would turn out as Miss Smith’s – so I think really there is something nicer than a row of jam jars with pretty covers: that, and made my somebody other than me! (but then consumed by me, exactly as you describe, which just goes to show one should not read about such foodstuffs on an empty stomach.)

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  7. B Avatar
    B

    Strawberry Jam at this time of the year, I guess u have summer while we freeze. Enjoy it and happy new year to you.
    We are still finishig up our stash from last summer and waiting for warm days

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  8. martha Avatar
    martha

    my favorite part of strawberry jam is opening a jar in mid-winter and having the taste of summer on my toast.

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  9. Lovely World Avatar
    Lovely World

    It is snowy here, but just today I took a bag of our strawberries from last summer out of the freezer and made a crisp. A delightful taste of summer on a winter’s night.

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  10. Marty Avatar
    Marty

    Nothing like strawberry jam. I usually take out what frozen strawberries are left from last year, when the new ones are coming on, and make up batches of freezer jam. And, Miss Smith, there’s no danger of scorching it, since it isn’t cooked. But oh so fresh and delicious!

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  11. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm drool! i made lots of jars for christmas pressies this year 🙂

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  12. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    the only thing better for me would be homemade raspberry jam
    i am happy you are ready such a famous canadian author
    i would love if you could recommend a new zealander that I might enjoy reading
    I have a feeling we have similar taste in books and music

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  13. denise @ chez danisse Avatar
    denise @ chez danisse

    I’ve had that book on my list for a while. My list of books, it’s such a long list and it just keeps on growing. I suppose I’ll have to live forever so I can read all of the books I’d like to read. I love that the story inspired your jam making and presentation.

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  14. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    Oh, how I love home made strawberry jam. My grandmother made the best. Summer in a jar!

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  15. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    ha! that’s a good idea… 🙂

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  16. Valerie Avatar
    Valerie

    just finished Runaway myself.

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  17. annri Avatar
    annri

    I like it when a book speaks to me even when I’m not reading the words, when it follows me around in my mind…

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  18. Victoria Avatar
    Victoria

    You can’t just post about those wonderful strawberries while we are up to our waist in snow and freezing temperatures 😉 ! I have been craving strawberries and blueberries for some weeks now and have had to make some smoothies out of frozen berries….not the same as the real thing though.
    I love the color of homemade strawberry jam, it is so intense.

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  19. Sarah S Avatar
    Sarah S

    We went raspberry picking with the kids at our local berry farm yesterday. I noticed they had jam raspberries for sale, and your post has got me thinking about home made raspberry jam…makes the house smell SO good!

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  20. nath Avatar
    nath

    oh yes. strawberries are some way off for us. but, oh joy! blood oranges were in my little wholefood store yesterday, and sevilles will follow! and then marmalade!

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  21. Binnie Avatar
    Binnie

    Wait’ll you get your mitts on Mumro’s latest collection, “Too Much Happiness”…

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  22. A Thrifty Mrs Avatar
    A Thrifty Mrs

    Yum!

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  23. charis Avatar
    charis

    They look so yummy… its very much NOT summer here right now…. there’s a few foot of snow outside x

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  24. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    oh you are making me ache for my strawberry fields to bloom and grow
    i might as well just pull out some of my freezer jam and pretend it’s summer now

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  25. heather Avatar
    heather

    How amazing to think it is summer where you are…when its so cold and snowy here!
    Strawberry jam sounds so delicious, especially on a toasted english muffin!

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  26. fleur Avatar
    fleur

    Hello! Wish you a very happy new year, and to all your family,
    Fleur

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  27. Joni Avatar
    Joni

    There is nothing that spells hope, like knowing someone is enjoying warm weather (Its 5 O’Clock somewhere….!)when the wind chill is below zero and its dark at 4:30!

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  28. arcticmum.blogspot.com Avatar
    arcticmum.blogspot.com

    I love Runaway, one of my favourites. Alice Munro is simply fantastic.

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  29. nathalie Avatar
    nathalie

    oh- yum! strawberries seem so far away right now in the middle of all this snow and frost. 🙂
    and i do love alice munro, her novels are delightful.
    x

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  30. Oshun Avatar
    Oshun

    Warm weather around here too and I also had to make strawberry jam this weekend. Only I got simply one an a half jar, and one going for immediate consumption, so I skipped the lovely fabric jar cover step, shame on me…

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  31. Julia Freund Avatar
    Julia Freund

    I can hardly believe how summer-y your posts feel. Everything is snow-white around here. But it’s good to be reminded that summer is an existing season that will come back eventually.

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