I love to grow a vegetable garden. There is something wonderful about having to go out at night in the spring and cover up your baby plants so they won't freeze that night. I love watching the rows of vegetables go from little tiny plants to getting so big they cover up the furrow I dug especially for them to get water. I love the whole process. What I hate is taking care of all those wonderful veggies I nurtured all summer. At this moment I have carrots, beets, a few more peas, tomatoes, and a few more green beans that need to be picked and taken care of. Dang it. I noticed a few days ago that my green beans were ready. So I picked them and last night I processed them. Like the word? Me too, I sound so home ec-ish when I say 'processed.' So here is Kelsey helping me snap the green beans yesterday (yes, on the Sabbath). She loved it, thankfully. Here is me today, putting a few jars onto my very needy food storage shelves. I did 20 pints of green beans last night. That is what my pressure cooker I got the Christmas last year will hold. There were still beans left over, they got blanched and thrown in the freezer. For those of you who have never 'processed' before, it is a time consuming ordeal. Last night I started around 10:30. They beans were already snapped and ready to go. I talked Matt into helping me get the beans in the jars. It was pure torture for him, but he still did it. So by the time I got the beans in the pressure cooker, got them to 'blow steam' for 10 minutes, got them up to 13 pounds of pressure for 20 minutes, let them cool off and depressurize enough so I could get them out, it was 2 o'clock in the morning. Can you believe that? I crawled into bed at 2:19 am. 6:00 came pretty soon this morning! So, the next time you see bottled whatever fresh from the garden, know that it took your grandma, aunt, mom, whoever, ALOT of time!! You better savor the taste, because it is the taste of love!
6 comments:
I'm so impressed with your home ec skills! You would never know that this is the same person that used to eat mac-n-cheese, eggs, and noodles all the time.
You never cease to amaze me! When do you sleep????
First of all, LOVE the picture of you holding your canned goods! Look at you. That is one thing I would like to learn, but can't grow a garden to save my life and I have to many reality shows I would have to give up to do the canning in the evening, lol. I am slitghtly jealious of you talents, ok a lot. Good Job!
Hey is it Swiss Days this weekend? You, Brittnay, and I should get our husbands or a sitter for Sat. evening and go. I tried pushing a stroller through the crowds last year and I got some nasty looks like I was crazy!!! Anyway, just a thought.
Yah, when do you sleep Rachey!
I slept for 20 minutes during Kendal's EEG with her. It was a rodeo trying to get her asleep with wires coming out of her head! I was so disappointed when the EEG tech opening the door and came back in. I was just getting comfy!!
Swiss Days - I have lived here for 5 years and never gone. Labor Day Weekend is when Swiss Days ALWAYS is and also our family reunion. I would love to go, and I would love to go with you, dang it. I hope you enjoy it!!
Krista, you forgot chicken nuggets, that was a staple for me too!!
Would you mind having your family work around Swiss Days for Amanda next year. I would appriciate it, Just kidding. Well, if I go I'll take pictures....you'll be missed!
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