Sometimes we get so involved with our day to day lives that we forget what is important. Since I have been dealing with my medical problems, I find I have sorely neglected to keep up with my food storage plan. There are large empty spaces on my canning shelves. I haven't dehydrated anything in months. There are at least half a dozen recipes for homemade mixes that are still 'in the planning stages.'
If I am to keep it honest, I need to own up to the fact that I have used my medical issues as an excuse to be lazy. I keep telling myself I can not do many of the things I did before becoming ill. Truth is, I can probably do more than I think I can. I just need to figure out how to manage it.
I keep a list of products I like to can and have on the shelves. I keep this list because my memory sometimes takes a vacation and leaves me here all alone and then I will forget something. Last evening I went through the list and compared it to the home canned foods on my shelves. There is a glaring need to restock several items.
Just because I have made the decision to get off my duff and back to my food storage plan doesn't mean I need to pretend I'm Wonder Woman and go nuts with it. Those of us with medical issues, depending on the problem, need to figure out alternate ways of doing things. I figure that if I do not do a canning marathon like I once did and if I stick to foods that I can prep at my kitchen table as opposed to standing over a stove or sink, I should be just fine.
Today my grocery order went in. I ordered 4 lbs. of frozen peas, 6 lbs. of frozen corn kernels and 8 lbs. of raw carrots. The frozen vegetables can stay in the freezer until I have a good day to can them. The carrots can be cleaned and cut up at my kitchen table, along with the filling of the jars. Very little standing time is required.
I know that many are not the least bit interested in coping with chores when dealing with the pesky medical stuff, but I thought that if I could be encouraging to even one person who is struggling with similar problems, then this post is well worth it. I'll let you know how it all works out. :)
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Vicki I know what you mean about canning marathons. I figure if the kitchen is already in upheaval and filled with canning supplies I might just as well go ahead and "get'er done". The problem with that is that my brain says "sure, you can do this" and then once I have reached the point of no return my body says "Honey, you just ain't gonna make it". And my body usually wins! Moderation is not something that I seem to be able to incorporate into my life and so it just seems easier to just not even can anymore. But then the bug bites me again and I am trying to break up my sessions into 2-3 day stints. Clean the jars one day.
ReplyDeleteprepare meat and veggies the next day. Pack and can the 3rd day. Then I can take a day or two to wash the exterior jars, label and put away for the rest of the week. We just need to keep on keeping on.
Sue...I know exactly what you mean. My oldest son brings me produce to can. I couldn't just get two crates of peaches - I had him bring me seven or eight. Another time it was 100 lbs of potatoes. Or 75 lbs. of tomatoes. Those days are long gone.
DeleteBut I think if I work like you do - split things up between a couple of days using smaller amounts, it should work out ok. There are those who would say that I should just buy everything in cans at the store, and for some, that is just fine. And I now have to do that with food like tomatoes, for the blanching and peeling requires more time standing than I am capable of. But the rest I want to can for myself. That is how I was raised. That is what I love to do. And the taste, to me, is so much better.
I get it about the messy kitchen! Cleaning the kitchen ranks right up there with the joy of scrubbing toilets, so if I kept going, my theory was I only had to clean it once when I was finished. :)
"Keep on keeping on." I like that, even if the 'keeping on' is done at a slower pace!
I think most of us are slowly being forced to find "alternate ways," Vicki. It's no fun sometimes, but it beats living life in front of the boob tube.
ReplyDeleteGorges...I think if I were to spend my days in front of the boob tube, I would be completely bat guano crazy in no time! You are right - it surely is no fun sometimes, but we learn to manage somehow, don't we. It just takes some of us (namely me) longer to figure it all out. Like my Dad used to say, 'Too soon old - too late smart.' :)
DeleteI hear you. Its to easy to sit down think about doing something. Next thing you know your side tracked. Its just not canning either, I spent time printing off some paperwork to take 3 tests. Haven't got there yet. Started on Saturday. Maybe plan on doing a little at a time. Clean carrots, and cut them up. Place in jars put in fridge until next day. Fill with water, seal, heat. Do same with other veggies. prep one day, can the next??
ReplyDeleteRob...I think part of it was just getting used to the changes. They will never go away so I need to learn to live with them a bit better than I have. I was a little bit scared when I went from being fairly healthy to finding myself needing help. But now I think I have figured out how to do some of the things I love, like canning, mostly the way you said - a little at a time.
DeleteIt is complicated with me, besides physical limitations, I had chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. I can less. I am thinking about finding someone to do lifting for me, maybe someone who wants to learn to can. I have to go lie down so often because of my back. At any rate, I am not going to give up on canning.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought about dehydrating the frozen peas and corn? All the prep work is done and you do not have to blanche. It takes fewer jars on the shelf to store them. And, you can put them in a jar for soup, just putting in different dehydrated vegetables.
Linda...There are so many variables when it comes to medical issues that each has to decide what they can still do and what they can't. Finding someone willing to help and learn sounds like a good solution for you.
DeleteI don't know if I ever did a post about dehydrating. Maybe I should do one, but not until the weather cools down in the fall, for the dehydrators put out too much heat and moisture for me to use them in the summer. I have dehydrated lots of frozen vegetables - corn, peas, green beans, mixed vegetables, broccoli, hashbrown potatoes - such a good and easy way to build up dehydrated food for my food storage.
Great encouragement to me. Most days I think I'm the queen of '15 minute projects'. I have no 'push' any more and have to figure out ways to manage my new state of low energy.
ReplyDeleteGood for you to figure out what you can do. No sense looking backwards and comparing to days long past, imo. My family doctor was forever telling me not to look at what I could do when I was healthy. Really, there's no up side to that.
My canning sessions last year were 6 pints at a time. The phrase 'slow and steady wins the race' takes on a whole new meaning.
Cheers, SJ
SJ...I'm right there with you, sharing the throne of the queen of 15 minute projects! Difference is, I can go a lot longer if I can work while sitting. I think you do remarkably well considering what you are dealing with. Your doctor is right. Looking backward just emphasizes our weaknesses and we need to concentrate on our strengths. Some days I consider it a good day if I manage to get out of bed and get myself dressed. Other days I can accomplish (for me) great things. The phrase 'Keep calm and carry on' comes to mind, even if the 'carry on' part is at snail's pace. :)
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