If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I could be spending days, yes DAYS, canning I would have laughed at you! Well times are a changing. I am so freakin busy canning it's almost an obsession. Hence why I have been MIA. Not b/c of lack of things to write, oh heavens no, but from lack of time.
I'm in the midst of pitting/stoning plums right now that we found right on our land. WHAT a job. I'll be making plum jam. Better taste like gold!
Then apples are in plenty which we didn't think would be the case this year. I'm not 100% sure if I'll do applesauce or not. I can buy organic applesauce for way less then what I can make it and quite frankly the kids don't know the difference. I also have canned apple pie filling from last year still left over.
I got two crates/lugs of peaches too on Tuesday that are calling my attention.
This past Saturday I did tomato juice and again, not sure if I'll do more or not. My SIL and BIL have like an orchard full of tomato's:) My BIL got a little crazy and planted like 100 plants!! My SIL has been busy canning away and is done now. I can't let tomato's go to waste!! Not to mention we have about 12 plants here that hopefully, some day, will start turning.
So yeah, I'm busy. On top of that C'man is NOT liking school. This week, he goes 2 times, he is not lovin it. I'm not sure what the problem is other then possibly he thinks Miss A and I are having more fun at home without him OR he's not liking the structure. When we're home we do what the spirit leads us to do. If that means going from the chickens to the hot cycles to the kittens then so be it.
Speaking of CHICKENS, yes there is updates. We, kids and I, picked up 10 more yesterday. They are white and laying white eggs already. HOWEVER, they are not very social. Our 'original 10' come running to the fence when they hear our voices. Like to be held, peck my feet (have to wear boots now) and these huddle in the corner all freakin out on me.
BUT we are getting eggs!

So yeah, that's life right now. In the midst of this are meetings and more meetings. Need to run as we need to pick C'man up from school.

How are you all doing?

Canning

Phew....we've been busy over here at our farm house. Besides the constant drama/issues with FIL I've been working on canning and freezing. Here are pics:

BTW as I sit here typing, YES in THE AM!! the kids are playing so nicely beside me. Some of what I'm hearing:

C'man asking Miss A if she's going to play at school with him

C'man telling Miss A 'sorry I just can't play with you right now' (ouch! That must come from hearing me??)

C'man is working on building a test track. That is a result of our trip to DSW. He/WE LOVED that ride.
Miss A must have drawn a picture and she's telling C'man: this is my brother, my daddy, my mommy, etc but now Mr C'man is saying no THIS is Daddy. (I'll have to see this picture)

Miss A is signing: This is my commandment that you love one another.....

C'man just yelled: The bus is here!! (he must be getting excited for school, but he's going to be disappointed b/c he's not old enough to ride the bus)

Obviously C'man is doing all the talking around here, unless Miss A disagrees then she loudly speaks up.

OK they are on to the kitchen now doing god knows what. Back to my original post:

Already to be blanched.










Was able to get 2 pots going. Goes much faster but only if you're doing this with two people.












Soaking in cold water. Next step is cutting if off. I'll have to post pictures of that after my session today:)

End result was 88 ears got me 20 bags. Needless to say, that's NOT enough to get us thru the winter. There is probably over 100 ears sitting outside right now. Will get better pictures today.

I guess I don't have any pictures of the next stages of the process of freezing corn.

More Apples

Ah yes yet another post about apples! This afternoon the kids and myself are going to press apples and make our own apple juice and cider! Remember back a couple weeks ago when the apple thief was at our tree? Well it's her house we're going too. She is no longer a thief but my friend now! Heck she called me and asked me to come over to her house and press apples while her kids watch my kids! Does that sound like a thief relationship to you??
The kids and I went to the neighbors this AM and picked more apples. These apples are HUGE!! I mean like GIGANTIC! I'll take pictures and post later. I had sheet rock buckets and I swear only 20 of them would fit in this 3 gallon bucket!
It was a cold morning tho. My daughter is just like me. We were out there 2 minutes and she was yelling COOOLLLLDDDD. She ended up in the van while I picked apples. I tried to get c'man to help but he was more interested in the work being done on the nearby grain bins. He was NO help.

I did get a call from our Congressman Kings campaign this AM to help pull together a little meet and greet the C'man THIS Tuesday. I'm excited about it. I finally get to do something! I'm waiting for the noon rush to be over with before calling and reserving the restaurant. I'll be posting more details in the days to come.

What's going on in your world folks? Is it Fall weather by you?

BFFE if you are reading this, I don't have your email address!! Please email me and your blog is taking me forever to download b/c of all the pics and videos. So it's been like months since i've read it:(