What would you do with 100 pounds of cherries?

Sunday, DH and I were blessed with a trip to my sister's to pick cherries. Not sure about where ya'll live - but here they can be very expensive, and sometimes hard to find. So.......off we trek early in the morning. There was probably 10 trees all loaded. It's a beautiful place, too - the cherries were in excellent condition. Even though it was 99 outside - we were picking in the shade. Plus we got the added pleasure of my sis and her hubby. After all the picking (and eating - yum), we headed to a local Mexican food restaurant and it was very good! At home, he weighed the cherries - over 115 pounds - take out the ice and the cooler - 100+. Guess what I have been doing the last 2 days? I have been cleaning them, pitting the ones with no blemishes, and juicing the others. Oh my!!!! I even soaked in a tub last night to relieve my back from bending over the sink all day - think I 'll do it again! Ha!
Here's my old juicer - I love this thing. It frees up my hands to pit the other cherries. DS ran into town to a 'kitchen' store and found me a 4 pitter - oh it was so nice, and so much faster. Here they are getting steamed. I keep a tall stool by the stove with a pan to catch the juice. It makes the house smell pretty good.

This was my last batch of juice - 18 cups to make jelly; I have about 4 times this in the freezer. I froze 6 bags with over 12 cups each for pies, and smaller individual bags for pies (5-6 cups each).

We have some good friends in Texas who are celebrating - Paula went home to Jesus. Please keep them in your prayers - it's a good thing but it's a hard thing to let go. I think they were married over 55 years - he's gonna have a hard time getting used to being alone. God's grace is sufficient - she was not in pain at all, and stayed awake right up to the end. Praise you Jesus. One thing she told her husband a few days ago, "I'm ready to go see Joshy boy!" I know they are celebrating in Heaven too!