To Everything A Season

There is typically a somewhat predictable flow of seasons.

I don't just mean seasons on a calendar though they play a significant roll in what happens with the other seasons. 

So what on earth do I mean by that?

Well, "typically" we are finished up with wood burning season about April,

and we begin wood gathering season.

This year has been a little off.

We still had a fire burning into May. 

After our extreme winter which came complete with avalanches,

we were ready for spring.

But we weren't able to go get wood.

They made our road what they termed as "passable" but only to the last occupied house about 3 miles up the road.

Beyond that, the avalanches stayed to thaw as Mother Nature determined.

Mother Nature was apparently in no great hurry.

That meant we had to wait to get wood.  We have about 2/3 of what we need.

We are hoping to get another load soon as it is now fire season,

and they could shut down the forests at any given moment.

The other off bit is last year I was canning peas the end of June.

This year they ran about 3 weeks later.

That doesn't sound like a great deal of time, but if you think about the work load and how much you can do in 3 weeks, it might make a little more sense.

We've also had our first picking of green beans 

so I've been canning those as well.

My M-I-L gave me 9 (yep 9!) boxes of apricots.

I luuuuv dried apricots.

This year, I'm storing them in canning jars 

so they don't need to go in the freezer.

I did have to purchase the jar sealers, but they work pretty quickly,

and are a nifty thing to have and use.

I thought I was on my last round of dehydrators when my mom gave me another box so I'm still at it.

At one point I had 4 dehydrators going to get them all done before they spoiled.

Salmon season didn't really happen this year.

They decided not to open the majority of the rivers in our area

which means no stock pile of fish.

We still have several jars from last year so we'll use those sparingly.

Between Mr. LB and myself, we did draw all six tags, which if we can fill most of them come hunting season will save us quite a bit on beef.

(Tags: bear, deer, elk)

I have yet to get an elk so that's not something to bank on.

I've already heard that we are supposed to have another hard winter.

Our seasons seem to be stumbling over each other rather than pacing themselves so slow-pokes like me can keep up.

(I like to plant a few wax beans to throw in - adds a bit of a jewel to the jars.)

I now have peas done, we'll be picking another batch of green beans in a day or two, and once again think I am finishing up apricots.

Hopefully, I can get these things finished up then move onto corn

which is already on - early.

We've been running from one end of the day to the other, and our kitchen is a flurry of big bowls, canners, and various implements.  

The nice part is that our pantry shelves are beginning 

to look a little less anemic and at night, I almost literally fall into bed.
Aside from our seasons tumbling down upon us,
we are well.
And thankful mind you, that we have the provisions, skills, and ability
to do as we are doing.
We don't take that for granted.

                                                      

Beyond the Pantry Shelves

How often have you given or received a gift in a jar?

There's just something special about it no matter which end you're on.

Here and here are a couple of examples.

As wonderful as that all is, imagine something that's even better.

Here, let me show you.

You see as a home-canner, we seldom think much past the immediate:

wash the jars, heat the water, how long, what pressure, how much produce?

Of course, we know we are nourishing our family, 

securing food for winter, and usually saving money.

We tend to get stuck in those niches without giving it much more thought.

But there's more~

something deeper that we can't see.

Recently, my mother-in-law asked if I wanted some canning supplies.

They aren't doing that any more.

Of course, I said, "Sure."

They live in a small town not too far off, and Mr. LB and I work in two different towns each of the three about an hour's drive from the other. (Crazy I know.)

My M-I-L called one evening and asked 

if Mr. LB could drive the pick up the next day. 

They would be in town and would bring the canning things.

She didn't think it would fit in the car.

I laughed and asked if she was sure - note: never laugh at M-I-L.

She said, "Well, I think there are 16 boxes, 1 tote and a water canner."

I think I was still laughing not thinking she was serious -

note: quit laughing at M-I-L - she's serious!

It gets better. . .

Mr. LB drove the pickup to work and brought home the bounty.

When I saw it all and remarked that I couldn't believe how much was there, not even blinking, he said that they had already give 21 boxes to a grand daughter!

He is the youngest of five.

I can't imagine how much food was prepared for each meal.

His response to my shock was a casual, "Yea, Mom used to can a lot."

It was the weekend before I was ready to tackle the pile of boxes.

Within one of the boxes were these beautiful old blue jars~

the good ones with air bubbles in the glass.

Even some of the clear glass jars were old and had bubbles.
I think it was during the second load in the dish-washer 

that I called to thank her.

That's when she asked, "I think there were some blue jars in one of the boxes."

"Yeeeesss," I answered slowly as I looked at them drying on the counter.

They were the first ones washed.

She continued, "Could I have just one of them back?"

They were actually her grandma's (Mr. LB's great-grandma's.)

She didn't need it, and I would get it back some day, but she would like one.

"Certainly."

(Actually, I think I laughingly said I would think about it just 'cause I'm ornery."

But THAT'S what it is - whatever 'that' is.

That invisible thread that ties generations together

just by being and doing, by feeding the family, 

and by sharing the "pay" of your labor.

There's something so special in that.

Since then, I've rearranged, moved, and reevaluated things in the pantry.

I've decided the blue jars will be for herbs.

The herbs will be protected from the light, and

 it will be a "gentle" use of the jars.

And there is still one sitting on the counter - waiting:)

Below is a recipe for a meal in a jar~

a special gift,   from me . . . to you.

(In this one, I put the pasta in a plastic bag and then in the jar.) 

Chicken Noodle Soup (in a jar)

1/3 c. dried carrots

1/3 c. dried celery

1/4 c. dried onion

1/4 tsp. ground thyme

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/8 tsp. celery seeds

1/8 garlic powder

1 bay leaf

2/3 c. pasta

1 pint jar 

Layer ingredients in jar.  If you lay the bay leaf on the top of the dried items, the pasta will stay on top better - depending on what pasta you use.

Instructions:

In crock pot add jar ingredients to: 
8 c chicken broth or water
 and 3 c. chopped chicken.

Cook all day on low.
PS~ Sometimes I'll add dried peas or peppers or rice instead of pasta.
If you've been around a while, you know I have recipe issues.
If you're new to the site, 
you should know I consider a recipe as a general guideline.

                                                                                                         

Cautionary Heads Up for Home Canners

Just thought I would pass this on and hopefullly

save some angst for a few folks.

I have a friend who has been canning for many years.

This year, she has had several jars that did not seal.

She had bought some new jars and used the new

lids and rims that came with them.

New jars used to come with the lids inverted.

They now come with the seal side down

just as they are to be used.

In packaging them this way then sending them through

the heat and cold of shipping,

the lids actually seal.

So when you buy new jars/lids/rims,

the lids are actually in used condition.

There was no problem with her old jars

when using lids from a box of new lids.

Just thought I would pass on that little 'heads up.'

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches