Beware of Men With Gardens

I hope you look closely and see the steam rising from the hot water canner.  This simple looking scene was far from simple.  If you have canned, and I'm not sure if I should wish that on you or not, then you will appreciate the hours that happen before you can get to this point in the process.

I don't ever remember my parents telling me to beware of men with gardens.  I do remember my father having a little garden in the country with a friend.   They were both from farming backgrounds and loved to till the soil and bring home the vegetables.  I remember both Mother and Dad getting into the whole canning scene.  I thought it was nice, but looked like work to me.  I knew our eating through the winter wasn't going to depend on what they canned, which perhaps made it more enjoyable to them.  

I have to admit that I had a giant bout of guilt when I thought about all the apples on Mr.'s apple trees that were going to waste.  Sin!!!   I decided to do what I can about that and have canned four pints of apples and five pints of applesauce.  The applesauce was today's adventure.  As I sit here writing, I heard the last of the lids pop, so know they have all sealed.  Yea!

I will own up to the fact that I let Mr. know from the very onset of his canning suggestions that I was NOT going to be pressured into the kitchen.  I had no intention then or now of spending my days chained to the stove.  No, not me.   I realize it sounds like a protest, but I've got to stand my ground for my own sanity.   

I will admit that it is nice to look at the finished product and envision having a nice bit of applesauce one of the days.   It might also make the applesauce from the grocery store more enticing.  I can look at the price and think how long it took me to make mine.  I'll be able to figure out what I made per hour in canning these five, only five, pints.   

I'm a little concerned that Mr. has planted more green beans.  He announced that they should be ready in a couple of weeks.  Oh, dear.  I know what that means.  I do love eating those nice fresh beans, but haven't tried canning them yet.   So far, I've not been able to pressure cook anything as Mr. can't seem to remember to look for that little jiggly thing that goes on the top.   He said he would look for it.  I don't know if I should hope he finds it or not.   All I know is that I sure wish someone had warned me about men with gardens!  

Tired of the Choo Choo

Everyday lately I think about posting.  I know it has been awhile, and I've felt guilty once in awhile.  I really have.  Writing every day and having something to say is difficult.  So far, I've managed to break every single rule of blogging.  Perhaps saying 'every' rule is a bit of an overstatement, but I've managed to break the really big one about posting on a regular schedule.

I'm sure I've been busy.  I know I've spent a few days working in the yard.  I'm surprised someone hasn't sent a picture of my yard to the makeover show.  Without a doubt, I should be in the running for a makeover.  My yard was beyond desperate.  I had a pile of bricks by the back retaining wall that has graced the yard for over a year.  It was debris from one of the home repair items, and it was a mess.  I guess no one knew what to do with it.   Mr. took it away a couple of weeks ago.   Bless Mr.!  I was delighted, and it seemed to give me incentive to actually go out there in the yard and do something... anything.

I decided to set a goal.  It had to be reasonable and doable.  I opted for filling one yard bag a day.  Anymore than that was optional.  Just 1.  I found myself filling more, but felt free to quit at any moment and come inside.   By the end of the week, I'd collected twelve yard bags of weeds, stray vines, and shrubbery clippings.  It was a sight to see.... the bags standing in a nice little row by the curb.  I wondered if the City would take them away with the trash or leave me a pointed little note about my collection.  Thankfully, they disappeared on trash pick-up day.

I decided to apply that same idea of goal setting to work I need to do inside the house.   I've been working on cleaning.  I do clean regularly,  but had been involved in things that were more fun than cleaning.  I kept telling myself that dust on the furniture was helping to preserve it.  I knew better.  Really.

I received a nice little e-mail the other day from friend Juju.  She mentioned the blog.  She came right out and said it.  Yes, she did.   She said, 'I'm a little tired of the Choo Choo.  I think you should post something different.'   Well, there you have it.  I have to say that I understood and I imagine if you have stopped by at all that you are also tired, perhaps sick and tired, of the choo choo.

Happy weekend.