The Adventures of Julie and Bella 2025

Today was one of those busy-but-fulfilling days. I started my morning with a trip to a local farm stand. I’ve been eagerly waiting for their You Pick tomato section to open, and over the weekend it finally did! 🌱🍅

Since my garden gave me some tomatoes this year (but not nearly enough to carry me through winter), I picked up half a bushel at the farm. Let me tell you—these tomatoes were hearty! The only catch? The rain last night left everything a muddy mess, so I came home with both tomatoes and a fair amount of dirt on my shoes. 🥾💦

My goal was simple: fresh garden tomatoes for winter soups. And you might be wondering, “How do you get garden-fresh tomatoes in the middle of a snowy Western New York winter?” Easy—I can them! 🫙❄️

I started with the last of my homegrown tomatoes, which gave me 1 quart and 1 pint (not counting the ones I froze earlier, or the ones I already turned into sauce). Then I worked through that ½ bushel from the farm and ended up with 8 more quarts and 10 pints! 🙌 Just like that, I’m stocked up for the season ahead. Not only will I get to enjoy the taste of summer in the middle of winter, but canning also saves me money in the long run. 💵

While I was there, I also grabbed 6 ears of sweet corn 🌽 to prep for the freezer. I’ll be so glad to have it on hand for soups, casseroles, and side dishes all winter. Little things like that make me feel prepared for cozy crockpot season. 🍲✨

After my farm adventure, I ran errands for my parents. Dad was supposed to have his first out-of-the-house therapy appointment today, but his PT had a family emergency and had to reschedule. So instead of driving him, I did their grocery shopping instead. ❤️

By the afternoon, it was back to the kitchen to finish canning those tomatoes. And once everything was sealed and cooling on the counter, I finally got to sit down with my book. 📖 Tonight’s plan? More reading, and maybe just enjoying that satisfying feeling of having a full pantry and a busy day behind me. 🌙💤

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Thanks for following along on our little adventures—big and small. 🐾🌸