Canning

So, it's been long enough since my last entry that I was hesitant to even start up again. But, why not? There are many, many reasons that my energy has been completely tapped out, and most evenings you can find me snoozing on the couch five minutes after I've put Timothy to bed. And that's early. But, we've been busy putting up goodies from the garden. Today was dill pickle day (note the fresh dill heads from the garden too!). And dinner's vegetables consisted of beets, cucumbers and freshly dug potatoes.

I love that. I love how much we've been able to put up this year and I have so enjoyed the picking and freezing and canning that has, at times, given me a sore back. I sit and pore over the Bell Canning book and think what else I could make with the fruits and veggies at our disposal and just hope we remember to pull out the pickled beets or beans often enough throughout the winter so that I can start over again next summer. It also makes me think of all the things I need to plant in the future (mostly thinking of fruit trees).

Of course, canning isn't the easiest thing to do with a toddler in tow who wants to participate in everything I'm doing. I absolutely love this and am so happy to have him involved in the daily chores already. But, dealing with boiling water and super hot ingredients can be a little more complicated with my little guy. So, I try to do a lot of this stuff while he's napping. Easier said than done with my difficult sleeper and I ended up doing the majority of this batch with my little helper. I bet they'll taste better as a result.