More than one person has asked me if it isn't a lot of trouble, doing all this gardening and canning. Actually, it's been a joy this year. I hadn't done any real gardening for three or four years, and it brought back a lot of memories. I learned so much about gardening and canning from my mother, and it's put me in touch with her again.
That is, until yesterday and today.
I'm not sure what it was yesterday that made me so tired. Oh, I went and got all the ingredients for our dinner (noon meal) from the garden and then cooked it all. I heated up the syrup for the cucumber curls and poured it back over them. I got some peaches off the tree for our cereal. I mowed the front yard. I milked the cow yesterday morning, but that only takes ten minutes... I timed it. Looking back, it just doesn't seem like so much. Oh yes, and I went out and got some things from the garden and the peach tree to send my sister.
Today was the straw that broke this camel's back. I picked my Kentucky Wonder green beans and got enough for our dinner, and dug some potatoes to put with them, then decided to have fried okra, and cooked some Savoy cabbage. I picked tomatoes, enough to can seven quarts. And today was the day to put the Cucumber Curls into jars. Sticky juice everywhere, but when it's time, it's time. The funny thing is, I used to be able to do twice this much and tend two babies.
ENOUGH!
No more pickles, except for the batch of fourteen-day pickles I have already started.
We may take a road trip, which will get me away from the peaches. I told Cliff's sister to feel free to freeze them, because they'll probably be done after this weekend.
Honestly, the garden itself is great, and I'm loving it. Canning the tomatoes is no big deal, and I love having meals that are totally home-grown.
But when the pickles come due at the same time as the peaches and tomatoes, I'm a little overwhelmed. I refuse to have my life dictated by vegetables. I admit, though, that nobody put pressure on me to do all this except little old me.
Now that I've vented, I feel much better.
Note to my daughter: I know you are expecting company this weekend. There are some peaches in the garage refrigerator that you are welcome to take home to make cobbler or something out of. I think they aren't even wormy peaches! Help yourselves to tomatoes, too. There are some in a bucket in the kitchen, already picked. Grab a jar of cucumber curls if you like. Feel free to dig some taters. You'll find the onions dug and put in the back of Cliff's shop.
Dang, too bad I don't live closer; I'd like to call you Mom for a day or 2. ;o)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about being overwhelmed. It's fine when you can pace yourself and work on garden stuff a little every day or so. It's when it all starts piling up and needs dealing with all at once that it starts getting to you.
I have cucumbers, squash and bell peppers that need dealing with, but with Emmy here for 8 hours+ every day, by the time she leaves I just can't face pickling cucumbers or chopping bell peppers to freeze. It's all I can do to put a semi-hot meal on the table for supper on those days.
I just ate the pickle I made couple of weeks ago. it's well worth the trouble.
ReplyDelete" The funny thing is, I used to be able to do twice this much and tend two........" There were babies plus clients, bosses, dead lines, and an understanding wife it took me all winter to make up the busy times for.
ReplyDeleteWhere did our youth go?
Was I having to much youthful fun to have noticed?
And where are the golden years I've heard so much about? Have they started and I missed them?
Thankfully I've my memories.
I used to love gardening and canning -- my friend and I learned from our mothers, like you. But when W moved far away, it seemed my joy in gardening and canning went too.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day, my daughter will want to learn. Until then, I'm stayin' out of the kitchen on hot days, although I have to admit, reading about you digging up the potatos made me sort of wish I had a garden this year.
I'm enjoying my pitiful garden as well. Since I have been reduced (or elevated depending on your outlook) to slow deliberate movement, I find I am enjoying more of the simple ways of doing things.
ReplyDelete