Canning

Ahhh, the wonderful turn of the seasons.  The weather is getting cooler.  The veggies are getting ripe in the garden, the leaves are turning, OR, there is this version of autumn:  the flies are on the attack, the spiders are trying to get in, the pollen is so thick it coats every horizontal (and some vertical) surfaces in the house.

But really, I love fall.  I love the cool mornings and warm afternoons.  I love the rainy days.  The combo of jeans and a tshirt. Celebrating SIX birthdays.  The mountains stained gold with aspen leaves, and harvesting the literal fruits of my labor.  I haven't done a garden for a few years.  It was too much for me to take on with either being pregnant or nursing.  However, I thought the kids, this year, might enjoy it.  I did have ulterior motives though.  I was thinking that they (the herd) might actually eat the vegetables that we planted, weeded and watched grow.  We did just a few.  I wanted success with minimal work, in an effort to include everyone and encourage excitement.  We did three different tomatoes, peppers, shallots, watermelon, zucchini, and spaghetti squash.  I am happy to say we had a great harvest!  I have spaghetti squash coming out my ears.  Tomatoes are riping, zucchini's are terrific.  The watermelon...not so much.  And the rabbits really like cherry tomatoes.  But, overall, it was successful.

With all that said, what to do with all this lovely produce?!  So, I decided to can a few things.  Give me a break.  I have four kids, a dog, a cat, three frogs, and a husband.  Oh, and I work for Josh and am starting my own company as well.  And now I'm going to can.  What am I thinking?!  Keep it simple, right?  So, I decided to stick with two kinds of salsa, the traditional tomato and a sweet corn, green beans, peaches, zucchinis, and spaghetti squash.  Go big or go home.  I will spare you the gory details...but HOLY SMOKES.  This is a LOT of work.  I have a whole new respect for our ancestors who had to can to get their families through the winter.  Without the benefit of air conditioning, gas stoves, and running water.  And King Soopers as a back up.

We now have quite of bit of produce stored on the shelves and in the freezer.  I am rather proud of myself and feel some affinity with long gone, prairie women of old.  There is something primal about canning.  Or perhaps I'm just delusional with the heat and work of it all!  Come see me, and enjoy some sweet corn salsa and store bought chips!