Peach Preserves

I decided that I would like to make some peach preserves. I don't have a recipe, so if you have a good one, send it along in your comment. I haven't made preserves or jelly of any kind in approximately 15 years, maybe longer.

My son's MIL has a tree, and my DIL said we'd go down and pick them since her mother was gone on vacation and they'd probably go to waste. We went, but there was not a peach on the tree. We don't know if she picked all of them prior to leaving, or if someone else helped themselves. We thought it strange that every peach was gone. There weren't even any lying on the ground. No free peaches.

I began to think I had missed the crop. Usually there'll be someone sitting on the side of the road selling watermelons, cantelopes, tomatoes and usually peaches when they are ready.

I stopped at the Farmer's market on the campus where I work, and was told there would be peaches on Saturday. They didn't know how much they would cost, but they had two different places bringing them in.

There's also a small place on my way to work that has fresh fruits and vegetables. It was open this morning when I was coming in to work so I stopped to see if he had or would have any. Yes, this afternoon after about 4, he would have peaches. How much I asked. He gave me a price per lb. I want a half bushel. He quoted me a price of $17 for a half bushel. These preserves may get too expensive for me. A dozen jelly jars with lids and rings was 6, the sugar and sur-gel was 2, and now the peaches are 17. That will make my peach preserves cost about $25. I'm not sure how many jars or half pints I will be able to get from a half bushel, but something tells me I could have bought a lot of jelly for $25, and a lot less work.

Anybody know where I can get some free peaches? I don't mean to sound cheap, but money's tight right now.

Hope you have a great Friday. Do something silly. Make someone laugh.