Today is one of those days that seemed 'mundane, nothing much going on out of the ordinary. Kids get up 5:30 and on the bus by 6:30. Make a latte, drink a latte. Look at the news. Start laundry. Blah blah blah. When I look back at the day though, my day probably is very different from what most people do?
I went out to clean up the garden and discovered TONS of new jalapeno peppers growing. So...I picked peppers, washed peppers and de-seeded peppers (this takes a LONG time) all the while wearing my latex gloves to avoid the burn. I carried up jars from the basement, carried up the canner and lids and rings. I washed jars, made vinegar brine and finally got the canner on with 7 pints of peppers. I put a pork loin roast in the oven this afternoon and then discovered that my peaches were ripe, so I made a peach cobbler. I dug sweet potatoes over the weekend, and made a skillet of fried new potatoes/sweet potatoes and onions. The girls got home from school and gathered eggs. After supper I started the second sock to the one I finished last week, so...another project on my needles.
As I look back on the day, the house is still messy, but it feels good to can again, even though I thought I was done for the year. There's a sense of accomplishment to take food from the garden to the table one more time, and for that I am thankful. The potatoes were delicious, but then everything tastes good from Grandma Lahrmer's skillet.
My canning tally for the summer:
- 21 quarts tomato sauce
- 20 pints tomato sauce
- 14 quarts green beans
- 14 pints jalapeno peppers
I also froze about 5 pints of blackberries from the yard, and 8 or 10 quart bags of corn.
I am beginning to feel like a character from one of my most favorite TV shows--Olivia Walton. This economy/recession makes me mindful of not wasting any of my last vegetables of summer, even when I'm not in the mood to can!