Monday, September 23, 2013

Canning Tomatoes and a crazy rooster

No, I didn't can the rooster even though he has come close to the frying pan several times. I did can 25 pints of tomatoes and three quarts of tomato juice under the guidance and expertise of my mother:-)

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My mother starts dreaming about her 40-acre farm garden for the next year before the year's first frost has arrived. Although she loves to grow and put up fresh veggies, she wants to make sure our entire family is well-fed through the winter and will work for weeks -- day and night -- making fresh peach, strawberry and grape jams, sweet and dill pickles, salsa, freezing cream-style corn, and canning peaches, pears, grape juice, applesauce, green beans, pinto beans, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce and anything else she can find. 


She loves her garden and we get a glimpse of that joy when she goes out in the mornings just to look at and enjoy what she has growing. It is, however, very hard work, but -- she was raised "that way" by her parents. She also loves putting it all up as hard as it is, so I not only wanted to help her, I really wanted to learn this process from an expert...or in my book *the* expert:-)


I washed, scalded and peeled my tomatoes, then diced them, packed them in clean, warm jars with 1/2 teaspoon of canning salt. New lids were washed and scalded before topping off the jars and securing with rings, then the jars went into the pressure canner. 


I am so very proud of them! I get a lot of satisfaction knowing where the food I feed my family comes from. Plus, this is an art that has been passed down in my family for generations. 

Now on to this guy. If you remember, we rescued him from "the dinner table" of one of my dad's coworkers thinking he would protect the hens from the wild animals. Well, after losing two hens when we first got him, he has figured out what his job is and is now so mean no one can get near him or walk by. He fights my parent's Norwegian Elkhound puppy, and has chased my neighbor all the way home. 

But he takes good care of this lady:-) Don't tell my mother they ate her blueberries. She is ready to fry him, although she says he would be tough:-)


Country life:-)

Thanks for stopping by...

Anita


I'll be joining:

Inspire Me Tuesday
The Scoop
Knick of Time Tuesday
Homework Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday

10 comments:

  1. Your mother's tomatoes look beautiful as does the produce from it. Mr. Rooster is a beauty but I think I'd steer clear of him. :) Have a great week!

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  2. Anita, They look so gorgeous in those jars... I know they will be so pretty displayed on the new countertop.
    Do you have a gas or electric stove? We just arrived back in Waynesville and want to can some things, but we have a gas range up here and have never used a pressure cooker on gas.

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  3. Oh how I loved your little glimpse into 'country' life! It was pure joy. I have no sun for a garden, but it sure sounds wonderful to have a pantry full of home canned tomatoes. I loved how you described your mother's joy of her garden, and the bounty she preserves for her family.

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  4. I wish I had paid more attention when I was a girl and my mother and especially my grandmother would can and freeze things. I just hated picking and shelling beans and peas back then. And it was always the hottest day when we'd have to pick up potatoes!

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  5. marty (A Stroll Thru Life)September 23, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    The tomatoes look amazing and love the chickens. Thanks so much for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  6. Fairhope Supply Co.September 24, 2013 at 6:49 AM

    Such beautiful colors! I love to look at chickens and roosters - they are beautiful, but I'm a little fearful to get close to them! Peck, peck, peck!

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  7. Pam - @diy Design FanaticSeptember 24, 2013 at 3:52 PM

    So glad you canned some tomatoes. They are a good item to learn how to can on. Very funny about the Rooster. I've heard they don't taste good. He sure is colorful, though.

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  8. Ann from On Sutton PlaceSeptember 24, 2013 at 5:07 PM

    Those tomatoes are amazing and I bet you will be happy this winter to have them!

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  9. I am living overseas right now, but I have already told my mother that I want her to show me how to can when we move back. No matter how much we hate it when we were kids, we kind of go back to our roots when we get older.

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  10. What a bounty and a funny story about the rooster....I know life on the farm is full of funny stories and sweet memories!

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