Jars, Jarse, Canning?

I've been wondering if the title of my blog makes any sense, or if it really says much about me. I do enjoy canning, and have done a lot of it over the years. With a last name like Mason, it's always been a bit funny to me that my canning is done (primarily) with Mason jars. It occurred to me that if I were to start a business and sell my preserves, then I could call it Mrs. Mason's Jars. Very corny.

This is a picture of some Dill pickles I was getting ready to give away. Dill pickles are my favourite thing to can, but I also enjoy jam, marmelade, peach pie filling, salsa, tomato sauce, and one year I even had fun trying out pumpkin loaf. The pumpkin loaf is baked right inside a wide-mouth jar. It was delicious, but I set my stove on fire in the process, and had an embarrassing visit from our local fire department.

The "JARSE" are my husband and my children. Their first initials are those letters. If I'd been on the ball when we were having Elizabeth, I might have chosen a name that started with "S" so that the kids themselves would be JARS (but we were not thinking about that). We had batted around the idea of Sarah, but our church already had a Sarah Mason in another family, so we went with something else, hence the "E" of JARSE.

As a Christian, I know I am a vessel for God's purpose, and so I chose the verse at the top of my blog to go with my title, but I confess that I will have to wait until my husband gets home before I can attempt to explain it properly. I have a general understanding, but I'm certainly no theologian.

I did make it to the gym today. For some reason, when the alarm went off this morning at 5:00am, I was wide awake. I should have gotten up, but the radio told me that it was about minus 29 (celcius) with the wind chill, and I had absolutely no desire to go out. Of all days. I'm wide awake and it's frigid outside. I had a split shift at the bank, so I went in between shifts instead. I've never gone during the day before, and it was an interesting experience, with sales staff walking around, and less availability of the equipment. Even so, I'm so glad I went! I think I will skip it tomorrow, and go on Friday.

Tomorrow is Rebekah's birthday! She is going to be nine. I can't wait to give her her present!!

Stephen's home. Time for a theology lesson and some gift wrapping.

Mommy