Curtain-Rod Potracks

Having a very small kitchen leads to having to come up with innovative ways to store all ones stuff. There was room above the three doorways in the kitchen, so …

Simple black curtain rods bought at Wal-Mart with heavier-duty black brackets bought at Lowes. This rod was originally bowing / sagging under the weight of everything I had hanging on it, so I added two extra brackets (for a total of 5) and put wooden dowel rods on the inside of the rod as reinforcement.

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The copper corner brackets were added later as reinforcements. They also were bought at Lowes and will eventually be painted black. The S-hooks are shower-curtain hooks from Wal-Mart, and again, will eventually get painted black.

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Cinnamon Blueberry Jam

2 1/2 cups crushed blueberries
3 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
scant 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 pouch (3 ounces) liquid fruit pectin

Add spices, sugar, blueberries and lemon juice to an 8 – 10 quart, heavy-bottomed kettle.  

Bring to a full, roiling boil, over high heat, stirring constantly.  Add pectin and return to a roiling boil.  

Boil one minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and skim any foam (if desired; I don’t bother).

Process according to USDA recommendations for jams and jellies for a shelf-stable product:

Submitted by Jim Wilson

Son of James and Lola Wilson