On Gardening and Canning

Or "Why I wish it would frost."

In the summer months (and sometimes into the fall), we spend a significant amount of time gardening and canning. For the record, this was something that I did not  grow up doing. I married into it.

Concord grapes from my DH's aunt. 

Let me explain.

My lovely DH grew up gardening and canning with his parents. His dad would garden for half of their 1 acre plot. My MIL would can or freeze (or cook for the family) most of what they grew. And more. You see, my FIL has a great relationship with local gardeners. Some people that they know from living in this community for 35 years and some from listening to a local radio program, Tradio on the Radio (yes, that is the real name of the program).

This was another gift from my MIL, an antique jelly bag, sieve and stand.

This year, I tried to keep a record of where my FIL goes for this type of produce and that. And we even went on a few car trips with him. It was fun to tag along with him and talk with the other gardeners.

We also grew a sizable garden this year. DH tried a few new things like growing potato in recycled dog food bags so we didn't have to dig them when they were ready. The eggplant and purple cauliflower didn't grow well at all this year. We try to keep some records of what we grow and where it grows but usually by this time of the year it isn't updated, the weeds have outgrown many of the plants and quite honestly, I just wish it would freeze.

DH planted 38 tomato plants. Yes, 38. I think this yielded about 5 bushels of tomatoes or more. I have canned barbecue sauce, catsup, spaghetti sauce, vegetable juice, salsa, enchilada sauce and tomato soup.

If you are going to do anything but can around here in the summer, you must do it next to the produce.

One family tradition is making sauerkraut. My in laws own an antique slaw board from my MIL's grandparents. So we all make sauerkraut every year. Basically, we just slice the cabbage on the board into a galvanized tub and add salt and stuff it in quart jars. The jars sit in the basement for 6 weeks. Then it is ready to eat. So cheap and so good. But best of all, it is a fabulous family tradition (even if it a stinky one).

Throughout this season I have been reflecting on why I do all this canning. There is plenty of time to think when chopping, cooking, stirring, turning the sieve, and waiting for the canner to boil. Why do I spend so much time doing this? The quality of the products are so good. We have a great stock in case the economy tanks. I can win some money at the county fair.

But most of all, it is a family tradition.

Foghorn provides beautiful background music when picking tomatoes.

I have bonded so much with my MIL and FIL. Since we don't have the same views on religion, this gives us something to talk about. We share each other's frustrations when a "go" doesn't turn out. Or when it seems like the tomato season isn't ending. Or when all the lids buckle when canning peaches (this happened to us this year, I bailed and went to bed and DH stayed up and re-canned them). We sit and talk while snipping beans and delight in each other's rows of jars freshly canned. Best of all, we share in enjoying our preserved food all year and especially during the holidays; seven day pickles at Christmas time, sauerkraut on New Year's Day, spaghetti sauce in March for my MIL's birthday, and tomato soup on a lazy Sunday. I tend to forget the frustration, hard work, cut fingers, dirty kitchen floor, and anxiety over the proper method when I am enjoying my preserved food with loved ones. It really is so worth it. Even when I wish it would freeze.

I often think that if Mary lived today, she would can and preserve food for her family.

3-2-1

3 Things I am Thankful For…
1. My in-laws. Always willing to babysit. Tonight DH and I get to go out and have an un-interrupted conversation.
2. Sleep. A few times a week I wake up at 3 AM and can't go back to sleep. But not last night. 9 hours!
3. My (husband's) garden. It provides tons of tomatoes for canning. Just canned tomato juice this AM. Yum!

2 Places I Would Love to Visit…
1. Rome
2. Florida in the winter

1 Place I Love to Go…
1. The Adoration chapel.

7 Quick Takes: Its About Time for an Update

In no particular order.

1. We spent 4 days on the NJ Shore with family and I got suckered into riding this ride with E and her cousin B. They had a great time and I get to be in this incriminating picture. We are not really beach people for many reasons but the best part was riding our bikes on the boardwalk and around town. E hated the ocean and just liked to play in the sand. It was a good trip, though! 

2. When there is lots of canning to do, the 3 year must help and turns out to be very good at cranking.

3. DH won a few blue ribbons at the county fair for his garden goods. He was excited and I was happy for him.

4. But for the record I won 1 more blue ribbon than he did. But, we won the same amount of money at the fair. Good times, though. My MIL won more than 10 ribbons and really did great! It was lots of fun to support the fair.

5. We spent a day at the National Zoo and E loved riding the carousel the best. She picked the crocodile all by herself to ride on, great fun!

6. DH finished his chicken coop for our 6 chickens. The project probably took a little longer than it should have but the results are worth it. He can wheel it around the yard and the chickens are happy. DH even designed it himself.  

7. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the end of June with a private TLM in a historic chapel in our little town. We had a renewal of vows and Little E even said "I do," too. It was cute and a beautiful celebration. We are richly blessed.

Bonus: Little E fell this week and sliced open her forehead and has 4 stitches but she is getting them out tomorrow morning. She was a real trooper. It was traumatic for both of us but she is healing great.

Summer Daybook

Outside my window...
A thunderstorm is brewing and a half created chicken coop on my front porch to house the 5 chicks we have in a box in our basement that are getting bigger everyday.

I am thankful for...

Miss E's third birthday and well, just her. She is a complete joy. She had the time of her life this weekend playing with her cousin, visiting with family and enjoying a backyard birthday cookout.

I am thinking about...

Our upcoming 10th anniversary mass and dinner with close friends. I am joyful for our marriage, it hasn't been easy but we are working on it!

In the Schoolroom...

We don't really have one yet. I decided no preschool next school year for Miss E. She knows her letters, numbers to 10, colors, shapes and can almost write her name. She gets plenty of social activity and quite honestly, I want to spend as much time as I can with her.

From the kitchen...

Just eating leftovers from the party.

I am creating...
A menu for our dinner on Friday.

I am working on...
Just keeping the house picked up.

I am reading...

A Holy Life. The story and letters of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. It is excellent and very inspirational. A great reminder that that Lord reveals himself to the most humble

I am praying...

For my great Aunt who is dying of cancer and a holy death for my grandmother. And a complete conversion of my father. And my friends who are suffering.

I am hearing...
The rumbling thunder.

Clicking around...

Just catching up on blogs.

Around the house...

Putting away birthday gifts and party items.

One of my favorite things...
Lacto-fermented lemonade. So yummy.

A few plans for next week...

Getting ready for our anniversary celebration and dinner, TLM mass on Saturday, family get together with friends on Sunday. And then enjoying having DH off for 4 days.

A Picture...

Easter Recap and Decisions

Easter was a joyous occasion for us this year. We spent time with family and friends and just enjoyed the season. This was the first year we attended all the Holy Week services at our TLM parish. Wow. I'm not sure I can find words to really describe how it felt to be taken through all the events of Holy Week. At the Holy Thursday mass the part that stood out to me was when the alter boys used a wooden clapper instead of the bells during the consecration. The last of bells and the sudden abruptness of the wood just penetrated my soul. The Good Friday service was so somber. The chant, the reverence, the bare alter, and the veneration of the Cross was all just so sorrowful and brought me to a place of really feeling the Sacrifice. And the Easter Sunday mass was just so joyful! I just felt so lifted and joyful to know what waits for me if I can stay the course.



Us is our new Easter clothes. The timer wasn't too bad!




A kind daily mass goer gave us this beautiful dress for E.




E loves egg hunts. She was so excited to do every egg hunt and continues to hide them for herself and us!




We had a great time making some Easter chocolate and chocolate bunnies for gifts. We spent most of the day on Holy Saturday preparing for our Easter Feast(s).

 Currently I am deciding whether or not to sign up Miss E for preschool She will be three in June and just soaks up any new learning environment. We are thinking about homeschooling her in the long run, but I have this little tug on my heart that preschool will be good for her. But honestly I go back and forth everyday on what to do. We do go to the library almost every week, have our "Little Saints" program at church every other week and we do a variety of "schoolish" things at home. She really likes to play with other children but could use more opportunities for socialization. On the other hand, I'm not sure I am ready for her to be gone from me for 4.5 hours a week. Ugh, I just don't know.

We have also put in our application at a local adoption agency and are getting ready to do our home study. Next, is the online training and reading a couple books as well as a training class at the office. We are just trying to be open any way possible to allow the Lord to expand our family. Please offer a little prayer for us.

Fruitful So Far

Our Lent has gotten off to a good start. Although, I have had some serious detox from blogger, pintrest and most Internet perusing, it has been good. Naptime hasn't been as productive as I thought it would be, but I have been having more conversations with my IRL friends. And, I redid my mantel!

The corncobs in the big jar are from our yard. The fields around our home are all corn and were cut down recently. We have a plethora of corn cobs and husks in our yard. So I thought, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" LOL!

I have also been reading the Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur. It is so good. Her humility and faith are very inspiring. Basically, she was married to a atheist and she chose just to live her faith in charity. She offered up her emotional, spiritual and physical sufferings for the conversion of her husband. After she died, he converted and became a priest. Powerful. I have many family members that are either not Catholic nor practicing their faith and Elisabeth's message and approach are very inspiring to me. She aspires to devote herself to her duties in life with her eyes on heaven. My days would be so different if I was like her!

On a more practical and day to day note, we have had some more time for art. I borrowed some books from the library on preschool art and am learning the important of it for young minds. Most recently, we created a collage. It was fun and stopped Little E's incessant chattering for a little while. She really enjoys doing any art. And, has to show everyone that comes over her art! So fun.

Without incessantly checking my google reader and pintrest, I have had some time for reflection. I use the computer as a distraction from the pain and sorrow in my life. At times I want to forget our infertility and just concentrate on another activity to do with Little E or whatever. But the Lord has allowed this great sorrow and suffering for me and I need to let it sanctify me. Its hard, but I have a lot of work to do to get to heaven. So, I am going to take some lessons from Servant of God, Elisabeth Leseur and devote myself to my duties with charity and love.

Lent 2013

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. DH and I have spent the last couple weeks discussing and deciding what we are doing for Lent. Our hearts need to grow closer to Him, so we have tried to pick some things that will bring us there.

Morning Prayer: We plan to get up early (since we tend to sleep in...) everyday around 6:15 AM and pray a Morning Office, probably the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Morning Prayer from Shorter Christian Prayer. At different times during the day and week, DH and I will say prayers, but we feel we need to be more united in daily prayer together.

Breakfast: Each morning we tend to make eggs and/or bacon during the week. DH needs lots of protein so we have gotten into a habit of having a warm and yummy breakfast. So we are going to have something cold for breakfast, probably cold soaked oatmeal or hard boiled eggs or cold cereal. Also, DH would like to say the Litany of the Sacred Heart before breakfast (he said it was short, but I'm not sure about that) but nonetheless, it is a good devotion for our little family.

Daytime Screen Time: This one is for me. I can spend Little E's entire nap on the couch reading blogs, pintrest, and/or FB for hours. I need to give it up. Its not healthy and I can spend that time doing better things like the Office of Readings, daily spiritual reading, organizing the house, and any number of craft projects I have been putting off. I am hoping this fast will help me not distract myself with online time and become more engaged in my home life.

Acts of Service: Little E and I will donate items to one charity a week. I have a list of local charities and we will pick up the goods and deliver them together, probably on Thursdays. I am hoping this habit will catch on for us and will show her how we are grateful for all the gifts from the Lord and that we need to share them with  others.

I wish you all a Holy Lenten Season. (If you would like to contact me, please email me!)