Sunday, August 26, 2018

Canning, Preserving and Enjoying The Summer


My first tomato harvest. Much more to come! :)


Sometimes you just have to make Croissants!! :) We were hoping to have tomato sandwiches with these but the tomatoes aren't as ripe as we like...too bad, I guess I'll have to make more when the time comes!


I'm also starting to preserve my herbs for the winter. My dehydrator sounds like it has the flu or something...I hope it holds out!


I am LOVING my new pressure canner! I got 8 jars of Minestrone Soup (minus the pasta) and 3 jars of the broth canned!! 


I woke up to a nice bright yellow flower sitting by the coffee maker this morning...awww... :) ♥


Jack...the canine love of my life! :) The days have been nice and hot and the nights very cool. Alex and I managed to go this very hot summer without any air conditioning! That is a big deal since I do so much cooking and our bedroom is like a sauna at night! Trying to be frugal! :)

Speaking of frugal, we have a big week ahead. We're hitting a farmer's market at some point to see if we can stock up on more fruits and veggies to preserve for the winter months. It's also shopping week so I have meals to plan, dog and cat meals too now (!!) and flyers to ogle! 

35 comments:

  1. Every thing looks wonderful. Have fun at the market :) Our farmer's market has gotten out of control, the prices are outrageous and it is a tourist attraction rather than a nice place to buy fresh produce. What a shame :(
    Glad I grow my own garden now, there were years in the past that I depended on the market.
    Keep Smiling!
    Connie :)
    Thank you for all of your sweet words of encouragement on my posts. Your comments always touch my heart :)

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  2. Thank you Connie :)) One day I'll have my own big garden!! I dream of growing 120 pounds of tomatoes lol...right now I have just about 50 more on the vines. We are hoping that this market we're heading to ISN'T a tourist attraction...we've never been there and it's an hour's drive away. I usually go to a local store/market for my stuff but am just curious about this other one now!

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  3. Gorgeous tomatoes!!! Still green here, on the wee bit of plants we planted.

    Super preserving!!!

    Flower from your Sweetie. Lovely!

    Cutie Jack. See how well he is doing, on your food!!!!

    Shopping... Ugh.... We did a huge amount, this week. Certainly hope it lasts a while. !!!! Of course, we are riding around with toilet paper, tissues, bleach, washing liquid, etc., still in the rear. ,-)))) Fully putting-away, is as bad, as shopping!!!!

    Happy August Full Moon tonight!

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  4. >,-))))

    Just checking my "little witch" Icon. She has grey hair but it doesn't show.

    >,-))))))

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  5. I'm not sure what it says about me in that I am feeling so much anticipation and excitement over your upcoming trip to the farmer's market to see what bootie you can bring home to preserve for winter!

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  6. I was just having a conversation with my husband about our tomatoes. We have so many green ones that should be rippening but we have no sun in the forecast for the next two weeks.

    Your dog is so cute!

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  7. Hi Wisps of Words :) Yes, the little witch icon is there and I love it! :) Can't see her greys though. ;)

    Most of the tomatoes are still green here too. There was just a sudden bunch that seemed to turn red overnight! Oh yes, Jack and the rest of the pack are thriving on the new food! Less poops which means more nutrition! Yipee! :) Oh, by the way, I've been known to drive around with heavy jugs of water in the car when Alex and I are too tired or lazy to bring them inside lol!

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  8. Hi Mama Pea! :) Ha ha ha...I think we are both as equally excited! Though I have to make sure I have the budget for such "splurging"!! :)

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  9. Hi Birdie :) There isn't much sun in this week's forecast here either...but just wait, one sunny day will do it and you'll have so many nice red tomatoes! Oh thank you, Jack is my little angel! :)

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  10. Hi Rain, I have been AWOL for a few months. Hands full down here.
    Love the canning. We do not do that anymore with the two of us. Growing up every shelf was lined even for our mild winters. I always thought the filled glass jars were decorative as a child. Funny how the metal can takes that beauty away. Some of my friends home canned with metal cans and it was not the same.
    Anyway, good to read the post. SWEET!

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  11. Hi Jack :) I've been AWOL too. I've been taking it really easy this summer and enjoying the really short summer season. I have so much more canning planned! You're right that the metal can takes that beauty away!

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  12. Your tomatoes look wonderful!! I admire all your canning! I used to do a lot once upon a time and I hope to do it again. Maybe next year. We are going to seriously try to have a real garden!

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  13. Yes, busy being a mum and doing all I can for my babies. You are busy as well! Preparing for the colder seasons and doing your best for your fur babies. Your tomatoes look terrific, like what'd be sold at a Farmer's Market. We have one around here at the mall's parking lot I heard. I will have to check it out one day.

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  14. All day long it has been bugging me. I spelled ripening wrong. 😂

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  15. Hi Rain - did you really make those awesome looking croissants? You should have a stand at the farmers' market selling those! We were at our local market Sat. looking for fresh farm eggs for a deep dish quiche, sadly only managed to find 1/2 doz. - used to be more sellers but they don't have chickens any longer for some reason. Also bought a few slicing tomatoes - Bob wanted a real sandwich - and some wonderful peaches. Two sweet young ladies were selling the best English muffins - home baked - so we bought a bag of three. . . . . already enjoyed with Elderflower and English marmalade over the weekend!

    Good luck with the canning - I so admire your efforts to store for the Winter.

    Hugs - Mary

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  16. Thanks Linda :) I can't wait to have a big garden myself! Right now it's all containers because we're renting, but I dream of spending my entire days in the garden all summer long! :)

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  17. Yes Christine! I'ts wonderful! :)

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  18. Hi Stefanie :) I can't wait to check out the farmer's market...now is the time! Everything is in season around here, except most root veggies. All the berries are in season too, I hope we find some good prices!

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  19. Ha ha Birdie...I make so many typos because my fingers are slower than my thoughts lol...

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  20. Thanks Mary :) YES!! I made the croissants!! :) I want to try making English muffins one day...and also crumpets. I used to love those as a kid. Just have to find the time! That's too bad about the eggs...you need to get some chickens ;)

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  21. Your tomatoes look amazing! I know you must be thrilled. Actually everything looks amazing. Nothing is more fun than a pantry filled with your own home-preserved foods.

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  22. You're been so busy, Rain! But all that work is paying off. Nothing like home grown tomatoes. They are the best!

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  23. Thanks Leigh, I am VERY thrilled!!! I LOVE the canning! :)

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  24. Hi Martha :)) Yes! I'm busy, but I have to say, HAPPILY busy! :) The tomatoes are awesome!!

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  25. Great job you are doing of canning and dehydrating. And of course I love Jack! Nancy

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  26. Thanks Nancy :) I'm really enjoying the preserving a lot! Mason jars are an investment though. Oh yes, Jack is a cutie! :)

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  27. So glad you are getting your gardening in this year and look at you with the canning! I can't wait to catch up. I knew you were busy with your garden so I didn't really look for you to be blogging. So glad to see you out here though and flourishing! Jack is a sweet heart for sure! I've been trying to stay off the pc a bit so I can get stuff done around here and it's working but then I miss my friends...like you!

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  28. Hi Sam :)) I agree, staying off the pc is a GOOD thing, especially in this summer/fall season where we need to focus on gardening, harvesting and preserving...and fun! :))) But yeah, I missed all of you guys so much the last few months. The canning...oh my gosh, I created a canning monster in me lol...I'm LOVING it! :)

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  29. Good for you Rain! You should be very proud of yourself! Your post makes me happy! Thank you! Big Hugs!

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  30. Thanks Magic Love Crow :)) I'm am pretty proud...I'm building the pantry! :)

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  31. Beautiful tomatoes 🍅🍅🍅 you're the canning goddess...I am freezing everything this year. Faster ... yours looks prettier tho ❤

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  32. Thanks Nik :) I was freezing all I could the last few years but since we are now feeding the 6 pets the home cooked diet, the freezer is full of meat and veggies FOR THEM... lol not much room for our food! But also, since we may/may not be on grid when we buy our home, we want to get away from the freezer as much as possible and rely more on canning. It's a good start this year!

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❤ Thanks for your comment, I love hearing from everyone! ❤ Why not join me and my fellow artists every Thursday for TADD? That's Thursday Art and Dinner Date! It's a lot of fun!
Love,
Rain