Garden Picnic: Rhubarb Conserve

I've been spending the weekends working.  Which I don't relish, but it's a necessary evil.  Thatboy has been more than understanding in filling the role of both parents and keeping Thatkid entertained.  On Sunday however, I decided to take a break from the grind and grab a meal with my boys - all of them.

With the beautiful weather, I thought we could go on a picnic, and eating outside means Thatdog can come with us.  As far as venue, Thatkid had spent the week studying gardens, so I thought taking a trip to a place with a bunch of gardens would be a fun way to end his studies.  We headed to Balboa Park where the rose garden is conveniently right beside the cactus garden.

We found a nice shady bench and settled down to eat our lunches. 

Thatkid requested a special lunch - cinnamon toast with cream cheese, peanut butter, and jelly sandwich.  Yeah, he wanted something super stacked.  As for the jelly, it should come as no surprise that we went with something homemade.  Spring has sprung, so in addition to flowers, it is rhubarb season!  And rhubarb conserve is the perfect spring jam.

Rhubarb Conserve

2 lbs rhubarb

2 1/2 lbs sugar

1/2 lb raisins

grated rind and juice of 1 orange

grated rind and juice of 1/2 lemon

1. Cut the rhubarb into 1-inch pieces.  Place all ingredients in a pot.  Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
2. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes.  
3. Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal.

After lunch, we went and explored the roses in the rose garden.  It was the perfect time, because the buds, they were a bloomin'

Thatkid wanted to smell every different variety of rose.

A young man came up and asked me to take his photo in front of the flowers.  "Why did he want his picture?" Thatkid asked me.  I told him it was because the flowers were pretty and he wanted to remember them.  And so then Thatkid asked me to take his picture in front of the flowers too.

The boys also spent quite a bit of time just running around being boys.  Which Thatdog could join in on.

After we dragged Thatkid from the rose garden, we headed to the cactus garden.  Pro tip - want to keep your 3 year old out of the cacti?  Put him up somewhere high.

While not as classically beautiful as the roses, cacti have their own special kind of unique beauty.

I may not be able to see my boys much lately, but we do make the most of the time we have!