Often described as red hot (definitely with temperatures this year as high as 97!) July is sun-drenched, sun-soaked, and is absolutely the heart of summer. Filled from beginning to end, it’s a month for spectacular fireworks, backyard picnics, and hometown parades. For me, those parades are one of the best things about July…who can resist tapping their toes as the band passes by? Then it’s time for fancy floats, riders on horseback, baton twirlers, and antique tractors. Maybe the best part? Little ones pulling red wagons or riding bedazzled bikes…usually with a tail-wagging dog close at hand!
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Love all your Mason jar ideas Mary! July can definitely be a doozy of a hot month here in Ohio. We’ve just spent a week at the Jersey shore in hot temps. It is so nice to come home to the high 70s though today is to warm up again.
I so enjoy your blog and always look forward to reading what you are up to.
I used the layered mix idea for my daughter’s wedding shower. I thought it would be nice for her to have some simple things ro cook starting out.
I use them for layered salads for lunches and gifting cookie or brownies pre mixed with the recipe written on a small card.
I love your candle ideas! Especially the chicken waterer since I have all those things handy. Also some blue jars I have picked up here and there. Do you have any of the old jars with the wire bale closure? A friend gifted me lots of those when she moved. I use them for decoration. Never have tried to can with them.
I hope the rest of you July is fabulous.
Cheers,
Denise
Good morning Denise, hasn’t this month been a scorcher? I know some gals just love the heat, but not me! Wow, the layered mixes are a great idea for a shower gift-how perfect for a new bride. If everyone brought several, her pantry shelves would be full! Let me know if you make the light-it’s really so simple. Yes I have some of the jars with wires, they’re so nostalgic, and I love jars with zinc lids, too. I fill them with all sorts of things, but wouldn’t preserve food in them – the guidelines for safety have changed so much. Enjoy the rest of your Jujy – and keep cool!
What beautiful scenery! I have a touch of mason jar madness as well 🙂 I use them for storing my buttons in my sewing room. I have herbs and spices in them in the cupboard. Fresh flowers, pencils and pens, and I also use them for ice cold drinks such as tea and lemonade. I also use them for canning and pass out Christmas treats in them. Most of mine are the “new” jars. I need to start keeping a look out for some nice old ones to make some candles and lights! I love those – thank you for sharing your creations.
Wow Heather- you have oodles of ideas! New ones are great – I saw some with stars for the 250 celebration and I “had” to have them. I’m sure you’ll find some… check yard sales and flea markets for the best prices. Thanks for stopping by!
July is a hot one. As a displaced New Englander and now a Kansan, I laugh at myself when the weather is going to be in the 90s – oh not too hot, I can handle that inside with the ac running – lol! Your farm scenery is so beautiful and calming. The blog about Mason jars was so interesting and informative – great ideas. I just loved the blue Mason jars because of the color-blue is my favorite. So interesting to read the history behind the color. I have some jars with the metal fasteners and now it is time to get them out and use some of your decorative ideas. Thanks for taking the time sharing your great ideas and pictures with us.
You couldn’t be more right Pamela – this summer’s heat has been unbelievable…we’re supposed to be at 95 for the rest of the week! So glad you liked my bit of Mason jar madness this month – and blue is my favorite color, too! Let me know how you use your jars – there’s so many ideas we can share. Keep cool in Kansas!
Thank you so much for the mason jar ideas! I have a lot of caning jars plus the sauce jars that I can’t toss. So fun! Love the magazine and your blogs! Although I am about five miles from the city line, we live on two acres that have a rural feel. My gardens, all eight of them, are full of pollinaters of every kind right now, plus birds and critters. I just found four swallowtail eggs on the fennel and a bakers dozen pipevine caterpillars on the Dutchmans Pipe plants. We are a designated Monarch Waystation through the University of Kansas. I have been raising monarchs, tagging and releasing them for migration to Mexico for several years. I am truly blessed to be able to give back.
Thanks for your kind words Terri – so glad you stopped by. 8 gardens, birds, and critters – my kind of spot! Being a Monarch Waystation is so inspiring – I’ll have to read more. What an amazing way to spend the summer months – thanks for all you do for those lovely butterflies!
Hi Mary, Oh! How I love your photos. Everything looks so warm and cozy! I LOVE your red tractor. We have a parade in town, too, but ours is at Labor Day. I also am crazy for mason jars! We have used them for drinking glasses my whole life. They are the best! I love all of your ideas, and never knew that fact about blue jars! I will certainly look at the couple I have in a new light! Enjoy the summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)
Oh Nicole, I WISH that tractor was mine!! It was at the end of a driveway not far from us – I’m pea green with envy! You’re absolutely right – those jars have so many uses and just say “homegrown” to me. Even the new ones are fun – I saw some with honeybees and others with stars – such fun! Enjoy your summer and all those gorgeous flowers!
Can a gal have too many jars? I love using them to store staples in our newly created pantry. They are wonderful for keeping watermelon and pineapple chunks in the fridge. I use the top of a Califia almond milk bottle in the bottom, so that the fruit doesn’t sit in the liquid and the fruit seems to stay fresher longer.
The sky photos are stunning, as always!
I enjoy watermelon lemonade using honey as my sweetener. SO refreshing!
Thank you for this bright light in my day!
The answer Daisy is no – a gal needs all the jars she can get her hands on! You’re so right – keeping fresh fruit in a jar in the fridge is great (I think the glass keeps fruit colder and tastier) – and that’s a great cap tip! Awww that’s so nice of you to say-it’s a joy to see you here, thanks for taking the time to comment. I know your days are busy!
Hello dear Mary… Somehow I missed this post and, so, apologize for my late visit. As always, beautiful photos and inspirational ideas. Such clever ideas for the use of Mason jars. The bug repellant idea caught my fancy. I may just have to give that concoction a whirl. (Thankfully, though, we have few bugs – other than the Japanese beetles and other pests that feast on my plants – so I’m bless-fully spared the need.) Your description of the idyllic, patriotic, parade brings to mind such simpler, more wholesome, times. While I’ve not been to a parade since my son was young (several decades ago), the last few I hae been to sort of lost their charm. No sweet wagons with children or dogs, no baton twirlers, etc. Though the towns have remained small (ish), they – and things like parades, county fairs, etc. – have lost their small-town charm. (Or is that just me getting old and cranky(ier)????
Good morning Robin – thanks for taking the time to come by! Oh, those Japanese beetles one word: yuck. But wait, I guess I’ll take them over the creepy crawlies that seem to find my tomato plants! I agree – somehow the parades have changed. But then I wonder if it’s because I’m not looking at them through my children’s eyes as I did when they were young… squeals of excitement and flag waving, I still enjoy them, just differently now. I’m looking at that 1949 Farmall Cub and wondering if I can fix one up and make it mine, Then watching the riders on horses and thinking: I have stalls in the barn, why not?! I remember hearing: Enjoy the season you are in. Hmmm, I have a feeling that’s not only the seasons of the year, but also the seasons of life. Much for me to learn!
Mary, I loved this post today. July is one of my favorite months… so much beauty. We’ve had a ton of rain here in TN this summer and everything has remained the most gorgeous shade of green!!!
I loved all your Mason jar ideas. I use them in my pantry for just about everything too! And my pantry has a screen door, so everything is visible and the jars keep it looking (mostly) tidy! Ha!
Farmgirl summer hugs to you!
Dori
A pantry with a screen door would be fabulous – you know the saying: pea green with envy! The Mason jars would be perfect – a terrific vintage look! And you’re right, they’re perfect for hiding little things to keep it all looking tidy. Glad you’re green and enjoying the summer days! It’s been a scorcher here and I am ready for cooler weather, but as I said to Robin above, I was given good advice: enjoy the season you are in. Garden tomatoes and sweet corn: the best things of summer to me! Take care, Dori!
Mary, enlighten me on coloring ( blue) on old fruit jars. I am 92, grew up on a southern MO farm -& have not known story on color. I now live in AR and it has been a100 plus day for several weeks. Do hope we can get nice enjoyable Fall. Also, so glad I am able to receive MaryJane’s magazine still. Love all the pictures You send us gals, too!
Hi Martha, so good to hear from you! Oh my, I know you could enlighten ME. I’d love to know more of your farm days in Missouri. And goodness…100 degrees is just too much for me, I am definitely a fall and winter gal!
Thanks for asking, I did more homework and it’s an interesting story. From what I’ve read, Old Mason jars are blue because of the natural minerals, like iron oxide, found in the specific sand used to make the glass. All these things combined naturally turned the melted glass into an aqua or blue-green shade.
But the Hoosier Slide sand dune in Michigan City, Indiana used to make blue-green jars, ran out in the 1920s…13.5 million tons of sand was removed in 30 years and glassmakers couldn’t copy that natural formula to create the aqua color, so they began simply making clear jars.
To me, it’s a sad story really…all that remains are the photos from the time.
I love the old jars, and it’s a joy to find them