Just Jars

Joyful, jam-packed, jaw-dropping jars

Searching my archives for photos that begin with J, I nearly got stuck on June, July, and jackets — until I found the answer, uncannily awaiting discovery like this jar of moss in the forest. Yes, jars. Versatile, majestic, simple glass jars. They have so many uses. Have you ever found an old jar or bottle nestled in the rich leaf litter, which had become perhaps a raccoon’s terrarium? They are a delight to discover.

More commonly, jars contain delicious things that we want to preserve and savor. The above jars of maple syrup were lined up on a friend’s dining room shelf when my son, parents and I visited for a tour of their farm. We were learning the process of fresh maple syrup making as part of a homeschool field trip.

Due to an overabundance of cucumbers from the garden, my husband and I experimented with refrigerator pickles last year. We had so many, we needed to borrow more jars from my mother. They came out alright, but a bit tangy and spicy for my sensitive stomach. Still, they were fun to sample.

Our cat, Moo Shu, also enjoys goodies from jars. Here she is pictured patiently waiting for us to share our eggnog with her.

In our house, we drink from jars instead of glasses. Most are mason jars, but we also save jars from other things: salsa, jelly, sauerkraut, you name it! We wash them well and keep them in the cabinet for regular use. For the above photo, I had prepared spooky Halloween beverages for my son’s annual spooktober sleepover. I can’t quite remember what was in those syringes, but I suspect cranberry juice.

Some of my favorite jars are the ones that hold small strings of LED lights, which we place around our pergola and gardens. Sometimes we carry them on night walks in the summer, in lieu of flashlights. They lend an enchanting ambience to the moment.

When I am stuck on a letter for the A-Z Photography Challenge, I am exceptionally grateful to those In Living Color writers who provide inspirational photo collections and keep the challenge going! Here are just a few:

From hydrangeas to herons with Barb Dalton —

Carol Labuzzetta takes us on a global adventure —

And L Burton makes us hungry! Thankfully my son is making fries tomorrow evening.

Ready to explore your visual archives and find the best A, M, J, X, or Z photos you have? From beauty to nostalgia, anything goes!

• Please use the tag “Writing Challenge” for these stories. Thanks!

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