Sorry, I'm just seeing this. Yes, I'd wait, leave them cold in the refrigerator or even pop them into the freezer. You don't want to be making jams while hopping around on one foot distracted. They can even wait in your freezer until you have your tractor under control, mowing done, foot rested. I am rarely making jam or jelly from anything but frozen berries....I'm too busy picking, sorting, washing berries during berry season to make jelly ;-)

The friend who shares her eggs with me has a Rottweiler, left behind by a former boyfriend. I don't know why that dog has decided those chickens are her wards, they are loose in the garden and yard much of the time and she protects them like puppies. I have to have a cookie in my hand to stay in her good graces, and the chickens can walk all over her while she naps on the grass.

Thanks, morz8. I didn't post until sort of late anyway. I think they will go into the freezer as will the other fruit I have prepped. I'm going to check the tractor out tomorrow and if I can determine it is a hose, I'll take a picture of it and head up to the JD place about four towns north of me to get a replacement. I know that and fixing the tractor will take a big chunk out of my day. I had planned on taking a lot of preserves and baked goods to a flea market to sell this weekend, but that can wait for another two weeks.

Wish my GSD was like your friend's Rottweiler and would feel he needed to protect those chickens. Unfortunately, he just looks at them as prey. I wish I could free range the chicks, but besides my Sig, I have hungry coyotes, raccoons, weasels and hawks to contend with. And I have to get their run put together and fortified to protect my girls. Since I pulled out of the doldrums created by my husband passing in February and my brother passing the 2nd of this month, I've had so many problems pop up that I'm now laughing at them when another happens. Its better than crying.

Madonna

Or, you could do a little of both (laugh and cry) to release the tension. A doctor on a talk show was saying the other day there is a stress related chemical found in tears shed, like crying it out releases it physically. And of course we know laughter is healthy ;-)

It sounds like you're doing great, you're certainly busy for someone who has had as much to deal with as you have...please keep inspiring us.

Your jam will be great, do it when its fun for you - you choose the time...

Well, the strawberries went into the freezer as will the other fruit and the John Deere dealership is picking up the tractor tomorrow morning. They'll repair it, sharpen the blades and bring it back to me, but it may take two weeks. That's okay, I have plenty to keep me busy.

I was a slug for a couple of months after my husband passed, but now I am doing more than I have in years. My sister-in-law is not really able to function so I'm taking care of all of her problems since my brother died. I feel sorry for her. When I went to pick her up to make arrangements a couple of weeks ago, my car slid on wet pavement and I rear ended another car. Not a mark on either car and we were fine with it. On Monday as I was taking my brother's ashes to my sister-in-law, another woman rear ended me. No one injured, but a good bit of damage to her van and less to my car. My poor little 23 year old Corolla that runs like a dream hit twice in a couple of weeks. I am blessed so I'm taking it all in stride. At least her insurance company has to pay for all the damage. Gee, I wonder if I'll still get my good driver quarterly check from my insurance company. Happy preserving!

Madonna

I started making this jam last year, and find the resulting jam fabulous...once you get the hang of the cooking process. This year, I began making a batch but found that my work schedule was going to prevent me from finishing the jam within the usual 3 days time. I simply kept the berries mixed with the sugar in the refrigerator for an extra day, then proceeded with the usual instructions of simmering, refrigerating, draining, etc. It turned out fine.