Amanda Lee Scott

Making Photography Newborn Props, Mommy – to – be

Amanda — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:42:08 +0000

I’ve purchased some photo props for our baby coming along, and decided that I can make some of my own! Here are some of the ones I’ve made so far!

I can’t wait to have the first photoshoot with her, not long now! I’m due in days!

The growing garden from behind the lens

Amanda — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:10:33 +0000

I’ve been waiting for the weather to cool off so I can take more shots of my blooming flowers. I almost missed my lilies this year! It has been so hot, and tonight provided the first night I could venture out to get some shots. I’m about 9.5 months pregnant with two weeks to go. Today marked my last day of vacation/work day, and tomorrow I start the two week wait for maternity EI. I’m getting more and more excited about meeting our we little girl.
Here are the shots from this evenings garden venture.

Making Cooked Strawberry Jam, Mommy-to-be

Amanda — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:04:40 +0000

I noticed on Facebook a lot of my friends were making cooked jam this time of year including one of my dearest, the inspiring Cat Can Cook. She made some with her daughter and documented the whole process. So, I knew I had a person to ask if I ran into ‘trouble’. I’m not sure if it is part of the ‘nesting’ phase i’m going through right now, or if I just really wanted to try making Jam.
The local flyer for Canadian Tire had all of their Jam supplies and bottles on sale, so I picked up 1 dozen bernardin 250ml jars and lids and some BERNARDIN® liquid pectin. I went to the website for the directions, as I really had no clue to the process.

BERNARDIN® website states “using Liquid Pectin allows you to make the freshest cooked jam possible, retaining more flavour and nutrition than with any other type of commercial pectin.” So we’ll see how this all works out!

I printed out the directions, and started to wash and cut up the strawberries, then crushed them all. Using a potato masher works best, do not use a blender.

After I was done mashing the strawberries, I placed all the jars in a bigger pot. I didn’t have a boiler, but the size of the jars fit perfectly with 1 inch above the jar’s for boiling. Leaving the jars in the hot water until ready to be filled.
Also at the same time, placing the lids in hot water (not boiling) until time to put them on the filled jars.

I then added all the ingredients into a separate large pot:

4 cups of crushed strawberries
4 tbsp (60ml) Lemon Juice
1 pouch of Bernardin Liquid Pectin
7 cups of granulated sugar

I stirred this vigourously and brought it to a rolling boil, at which time I added 1/2 tsp of real butter to stop the foaming, then adding the liquid pectin. I made sure the mixture boiled for just over a minute then removed from the heat and set aside.

I then removed all the jars from the hot water, placed them on the warm stove, and ladled the jam mixture into each jar, leaving 1/4 inch for headspace. This proved to be very messy.

Then cleaning up the glass around the top, and placing the warmed lids on snuggly, I placed them into the water right away. Once all filled an into the pot, I boiled solid for 10 minutes. This apparently would be different time depending on where you live in the world.

After which I removed the filled jars and let sit on the counter for 24 hours, voila I got some really awesomely sweet strawberry jam!

And of course I couldn’t resist being all Martha Stewart and decorating my jars for gifts!

As the Garden Grows

Amanda — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:20:21 +0000

My garden is growing, even after me not being able to properly tend to it.

Here are some lovely shots of my flowers so far.

Support before and after pregnancy, Mommy-to-be

Amanda — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:39:18 +0000

I’m very fortunate to have such a loving and caring husband and family. As my husband has taken on a permanent night shift, and continues to work as a professional photographer for his business, the best support for me as of lately has been my mother.
She takes the late night phone calls of my pregnancy questions, answers my emails on various pregnancy and breastfeeding issues, gives me advice and eases the worries about my pregnancy fears. She also has been a great support getting ready for the new arrival of our baby girl. Living two hours away, she gives up her weekends and comes down to help me clean up the house, get some shopping done.
This weekend instead of visiting her cottage on their island, she came down here sunday and monday to just support me.
Jason and I decided (before we knew we were pregnant) to renovate the floors in our whole house, update some painting colors, re-organize the basement, and have new windows installed. The list of the ‘yet to get done’ is still a long one, but with help from my father and mother (and once my brother) this has grown shorter.
This weekend we tackled going through the basement, sorting out our belongings for a yard sale (we’re having coming up next weekend). She helped me organize my kitchen cabinets, get caught up on some deep cleaning and organizing my bathroom cupboards. Today she tackled the front garden bed, picking me the lovely bouquet of lilac’s and forget-me-nots. Just because she’s my mom and wants to help us out.

My husband and I are so very fortunate to have such an amazing support system all ready in place, and ready to go at the slightest whisper of “i need you”.
A model we’re adopting for our own parenting style; support, sacrifice and selfless love.

I’ve included some shots of the bouquet my mother picked for me.