Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Ready

Home canned food sorted and properly shelved - check.

List of needed Farmer's Market produce completed and Oldest Son approved (He is the one who has to go get it all and huff it up the stairs.) - check

List of the amounts and sizes of canning jars needed for processing produce completed and Oldest Son approved for the same reason (He says he feels like a pack mule sometimes.  I don't know why.  :) - check.

Dehydrator trays and liners all scrubbed and ready to use - check.

Shelves in living room rearranged to make space for more food in jars - check.

OK Summer.  Bring it on.
I am ready.

14 comments:

  1. Take it easy and enjoy the summer.

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    1. BW...I don't know about taking it easy because for me, summer is food preservation season. Things are so nuts here in the States that slowing down doesn't seem to be a good idea. But even so, it is easy to enjoy a season that doesn't involve snow. :)

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  2. Summer is certainly here. 99% humidity outside, and supposed to hit the high eighties. I think there's a cold front coming later in the week though.

    I worked outside on the retaining walls for about an hour, and that finished me off.

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    1. Harry...Our summer hasn't fully arrived as yet. Temps in the 60's and 70's with fairly low humidity. Like you, it is the humidity that will do me in. So far that has been fairly low. I don't know how you and your wife do it. Your climate would kill me off for sure. Guess it is all in what a body is used to.

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  3. I was wondering what you were up to. Ha! Nice job organizing.
    I picked my first batch of radishes last night. I'll be making a very small batch of refrigerator 'pickles' out of them. And eating them fresh of course.
    The weather has turned as predicted. Woke up to very fresh air and a sprinkling of showers. Can hardly call this rain.
    Have to run some errands this morning, walk the dog and then get to some canning. Bring it on, like you said. Cheers,SJ

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    1. Turns out the small batch was even smaller then I had planned for. Turns out my beautiful radishes had some wormies in them. So it goes. Still had enough though to make one pint. I know, small quantities. Good thing it's only me and the dog! SJ

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    2. SJ...The organizing pretty much had to be done, especially after I realized just how much produce I wanted to get at the Market this year. Thing is, as I'm sure you well know, health issues rarely improve as we get older. Another year goes by and chances are I might not be able to physically do the amount of canning I need to do, so I'm hitting it hard this summer. You have seen how insane life in the US is becoming and I really need to be more prepared than I am at the moment.

      I have never heard of pickled radishes - sounds good. I had never heard of jalapeno stuffed olives either, which was what one of my grands was munching on yesterday. :)

      Glad to hear you are having nice weather. So are we. Hope it stays this way for a while.

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    3. SJ...Oh no! A pox on the worms. Glad you had enough for a taste, anyway. Sometimes I think we go ahead and plan and then God says, "Oh, really? I don't think so."

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  4. You're so organized! Something I need to work on. Yaay for summer!

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    1. Jenn, if I were truly organized I wouldn't need to spend time organizing. :) But alas, I get in a hurry and don't always put stuff where it belongs to begin with.

      Summer - I'm looking forward to it, but hope we have a cool one considering how much of my time will be spent in the kitchen. The air condition is good, but doesn't always keep with the stove when I am canning.

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  5. Hi Vicki,
    So glad you had a very productive weekend. You are so right about the importance of being ready for any difficulties ahead. We cannot afford to let up now. There are days when I seem to wear myself out with the gardening and canning, however I know it must be done. Today I made the 60 mile round trip to stock up...more food, canning jars, plants for the garden, and miscellaneous household items. When I returned home, I spent a few hours weeding and putting in some seeds and plants. Tomorrow, it will be a day of canning 10 lbs. Of beef roast with potatoes and carrots. Once that's done I'll head out to the garden to finish planting the vegetables as we have rain moving into our area by Thursday.
    Take care and carry on with the plan...sounds like a great one. CW from Iowa

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  6. CW...Sounds to me like you are as gung ho as I am in preparations, except I lack the garden. I have found that many are slacking off since the presidential election but the mood of the country tells me to keep at it. Never in my nearly 71 years have I seen such widespread hatred here at home, to say nothing of the threats from outside our boundaries. I am glad to see that many of those who stop by here are of a mind to keep on preparing.

    You really have been busy, haven't you. It does get wearisome, but well worth it in the long run. I had thought to cut back on the Farmer's Market produce this year, but as it turns out I will be canning and dehydrating more than I reckoned on. As you say, we can't afford to let up now.

    You mentioned canning beef roast, carrots and potatoes. Do you can all three in the same jar or separately? I have jars of beef and jars of potatoes and carrots combined, but it would be handy to have them all together, if that is possible.

    Always good to hear from you. I'll tell you what you told me - Take care and carry on. :)

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    1. Vicki, I sometimes do the meat, potatoes, and carrots separately so that I am able to use them with other things or for serving more than two people. When I want to be able to serve a really quick and delicious meal for two, I love to combine the three ingredients in the same quart jar. It makes just the right amount...

      They seem to be backing off on the rain that had been predicted for the next few days. I guess I will be watering my new seedlings and plantings in the garden.

      I really enjoy your postings. You always have words of wisdom, a sprinkle of humor, and wonderful old fashioned common sense.

      CW from Iowa

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    2. CW...Thanks for getting back to me about the canning. That is a wonderful idea to have the meat and veggies for a roast beef dinner all in one jar. The next time I have beef to can I will definitely do a few jars that way. I am all about quick, easy meals. :)

      We have a couple of stormy days predicted for Friday and Saturday, but lots of sunshine otherwise. I may have to get out and soak up some of those lovely rays.

      Thank you for your kind words. I am always happy when someone keeps coming back and especially when they leave a comment. I truly enjoy 'chatting' with those who stop by.

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