June's Challenge is Berries,  since we are having an extended cool, wet spring I was starting to worry that they wouldn't be up in time, but finally, late last week, the berry stands opened.  I stopped and bought a flat of fresh local strawberries.  I washed and hulled them, and divided them into several bags for different uses - two cups for a strawberry - rhubarb pie (with some of the rhubarb sent to me by the fabulous Belladonna - thanks again), and several measurements for a canning session with two dear friends (one whose lovely daughter is coming along) on Saturday.  Finally, with the last of them, I did a straight up, fresh from the farm, yummy strawberry jam.

From the Ball Blue Book:

2 quarts (8 cups) strawberries
1 package powdered pectin
¼ cup lemon juice
7 cups sugar
Wash strawberries, drain and hull. Crush strawberries one layer at a time. Combine strawberries, pectin, and lemon juice in large saucepot. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Return to a roiling boil, boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam. Ladle hot jam into jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Adjust two piece caps. Process 10 minutes in water bath canner.

Makes 8 half-pints

They turned out absolutely wonderful!
I will host a drawing for a jar - leave a comment if you want to win, and I'll randomly choose a winner on Sunday, June 27.

Section III Questions (also inspired by, and cribbed in part from this page)


1) Were you surprised by the revelation of who Pip’s benefactor was? What do you think of the character of the benefactor, and their backstory as revealed in the next few chapters?

2) Who does Pip think Molly to be, based upon what?

3) What did you think of Miss Havisham and Pip’s interaction, and the information she gave him about Estella. What do you think of their relationship in the aftermath of the fire?

4) What good deeds does Pip perform?

5) What did you think of Pip’s capture and rescue?

6) How is Pip’s opinion of Magwitch changed after the scene on the water? How does he repay him prior to Magwitch’s escape?

7) How is Pip affected by his illness, and by Miss Havisham’s generosity? How does this change him at the end of the novel?

8) Describe Pip’s return to the village, and his decision in love.

9) There are two endings to this novel – which ending do you prefer, and why?


10) What did you think of the novel overall?