Kind of a Lazy Day

After the pumpkin yesterday I slept in until 8.  I sat for an hour or so and watched a little TV and then up to remove the rings from the jars of pumpkin, washed the rings and washed each jar.  They are still sitting in the kitchen and will put my share away tomorrow and Renee will come and get hers tomorrow.  After washing the jars I took my camera and a fan and went out to the shed to sort through the old canning jars.  I got pictures of all the different styles of jars and will compare them to some books I have so I can date them.   I then came in and cleaned up for supper; Ron took me out to eat at Red Lobsters for my b'day, I am 61 years young today.

A few of the jars in my shed.

Canning Pumpkin, 93 Pints of Pumpkin

Part of the 93 pts of pumpkin canned today.

It has been aver 30 years since I canned pumpkin.  Then you were able to mash it and now you can it in chunks.  Renee and I picked up 15 medium size pumpkin, the kind that Libby's uses last week.  I gather everything we would need to get them ready and sat up outside so the mess was out there and not in the kitchen.   I started about 8, first washing them, peeling them, removing the seeds and insides and cutting them in cubes.  Renee got here a little after 9 and it took us until 1:30 to get them done.  I had no idea that the 15 pumpkins would result in so much.  Renee brought her caner and with the 2 of them I thought we would get one caner full for each.  Renee had to go home at 2:30 to get the kids off the bus so it was me until Ron came home and helped.  I got 93 pints of beautiful pumpkin.  I can't believe we got so much from the 15 pumpkins.  93 pints to split between us, we will have pumpkin to last a while.  Every other Monday Renee bakes pumpkin muffins for Brandon, he just loves them.  The pumpkin will not go to waste and will be used.  93 pints of pure pumpkin free.  I still can't believe we got 93 pints.

The 15 pumpkins yielded two 18 qt pans.





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Not Apricots but Small White Cling Stone Peaches

Whet to the library tonight and went by the trees that we thought were apricots and they are not apricots but small white flesh cling stone peaches.  It looks like I am finished with canning fruit for the season except for the pears I have that should be ripe by the weekend.  I also stopped and got a closer look at some apple trees I saw earlier today.  I thought about getting some more but am sticking by my earlier decision not to do any more apples, pears and peaches.  I have enough fruit and need to do some veggies if I find some.  I would love to find some more potatoes and beets to do.  The potatoes I canned earlier this season are so good and very handy.  We had some for supper that I added some butter and parsley to when I was heating them up.  We also have them when we have eggs for supper and I add them to the crock pot when cooking a roast.  I add them about 2 hours before the roast is done and they turn out so nice and a pint is the perfect amount for the 3 of us.  I only did 6 pints of beets and 2 are already gone.  I like to serve them when we are having a get-together because almost everyone likes them and they are so good for you.  Next year I will for sure plant some, they are easy to grow.

Errand Running Day

I had several things that I needed to do today so I was up and out on the road early.  I went to the Drivers License Facility and got my license plate sticker and renewed my license.  I was there for 45 minutes.  They are very nice people and it is a small county BUT 45 minutes was way too long.  I waited with no one in front of me for 20 minutes to get my license sticker.  After waiting at that counter for about 15 minutes someone finally said I'll be with you in a few minutes.  After that I sat and waited for my turn to renew my drivers license.  Speedy people they aren't.
Then to a couple of stores to pick up some water filters and air conditioners filters.  They don't give that stuff away.  Last place I went was to a grocery store in another town to get some meat that was on sale.  I only buy meat when it is on sale and then I stock up the freezer.  I got the following for $96:
12 meals of pork roast
9 meals of pork steak
5 meals of pork ribs
15 meals of ground chuck
Total of 41 meals for an average of $2.35 a meal, which is excellent.  Now I need to find some beef roast and some chicken breasts on sale and we will be good until the first of the year.  

The Apples are Done

I finished the apples today, I am glad.  I canned 21 quarts of cinnamon applesauce.  I was determined to get it done today so I could get the kitchen floor mopped.  Canning sure does a number on the floor and stove.  No mater how hard I try I always seem to make a mess.  I started this morning at 8:30 and did not get done until 7:00pm.  When Ron got home from work at 3:30 he helped me.  I did 2 roasters and both were overflowing with apples.   I am not canning anything tomorrow.  I need to make a trip into town to get my license sticker and also need to renew my drivers license that expires Friday.  I also want to go and get several whole pork butts that is on sale until Saturday for 97 cents a pound.  I will get a couple whole ones and several pks sliced into pork steaks.
Right now my neck and back are killing me, going to bed and sleeping in tomorrow.

1st roaster full of apples.

Making applesauce, I drape a towel over the kitchen-aid so if I spill something  it stays  clean.   Love that  kitchen-aid.

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Apple/Pear Sauce

Ron and I made 8 quarts and a small bowl of apple/pear sauce this morning.  Washed the fruit in vinegar water and then cut it up and removed any bad spots and threw them in the roaster that I had put 2 cups of water in.  We filled the roaster with the apples and pears, simmered until the fruit was soft.  We then put it through the food mill that goes on my kitchen-aid.  Out the front the peelings and seeds came and the sauce out the bottom.  So easy and this way there is no waste of any eatable fruit.  Added some cinnamon, no need for any sugar and heated the sauce and packed in hot jars and then processed in water bath for 20 minutes.  I have about 2 bushels of apples that need done and Renee and I will need to do them this week.  Only have a couple dozen of pears left and hopefully they will be ready this week.   Renee is going to check on the apricots to see how they are coming along and unless something else comes along that will be it for fruit for the season.
When Ronnie and Blossem were here yesterday Ronnie told me that he asked Blossem's grandpa about gleaning his garden when he was finished for the year and he said I was more than welcome to do it.  I guess he has several gardens in the little community he lives in.  He loves to garden and always shares his bounty with family and friends.  Renee wants more tomatoes to make more salsa, Tony has just about eaten all she has canned so far this year.  When the kids were here yesterday they helped me out and took some zucchini, peppers and tomatoes.  Reagan loves to pick the garden so she was the official picker.   My peppers have done wonderful this year.  I have a lot dried for use this winter so I am more than glad to share with others so nothing goes to waste.
I mentioned that Blossem brought her famous cheese potatoes yesterday and there was still a little left today.  She uses hash brown potatoes for the dish so for supper I scrambled a few fresh laid today eggs, browned a little bacon along with some onions and peppers and mixed all together and it is in the oven for supper.  I hate to waste anything, smells mighty fine.  We will have it along with some peaches and pears that I canned. Perfect meal.

Family Get-Together

Everyone was over today for lunch and a visit.  I made a brisket and a rack of ribs on the grill and they were both mighty good.  Blossem brought her famous cheese potatoes, Renee brought a pasta salad and Gina brought some fresh fruit and cupcakes.  Almost everything got ate up but there is a little bit of those delicious potatoes left that I am going to eat in a little while.  We ate indoors and then went out and visited while the kids played.  Reagan (11) loves the chickens and always wants to dig worms to feed them.  First I helped her then Ron helped her find some.  She gets in the chicken run with the chickens and feeds them and holds them.  Derek (5) also got in and was holding one of the chickens under his arm walking around and talking to them.  They had fun pulling each other in the wagon and Derek even tried to pull Gina (41).  He is such a character, he is so active and very even tempered and gets along with everyone.  Of course I forgot to take my camera out with me today and got "zero" pictures.  The weather held out and it made for a nice day.  Nice breeze, in the low 80's and the sun was in and out.
Later, take care and have a wonderful Labor Day tomorrow.