This weekend I experienced the joy of peach canning. I absolutely love the sunny, golden color and juiciness of ripe peaches. Canning them is a completely sensual experience.

Peach juice runs down my arms as I cut the pits from the flesh of the fruit. Every now and then, I pause and savor a delicious slice of one beautiful peach, letting the flavor burst on my tongue.

My friend, Heidi was canning with me and captured this picture of the peaches in the sunshine, and I love it so much because I often think of canned peaches as bottled sunshine. I always open a jar on the winter solstice to welcome back the sun. They offer a taste of the height of summer on this shortest day of the year.

Sometimes it is these simple acts of kitchen magic that bring me into sensual communion with this beautiful world, helping me remember that I am indeed walking on the Trail of Beauty.

What are some of your favorite sensual summer experiences? Do you love to put up any food from the abundant summer harvest? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!