DAY 13 Gratitude

Sundays spent with my family

Gratitudes Days 1-12


1. My sons-all 4 of them have brought me immeasurable joy and keep my challenged and young on a daily basis.

2.My husband and my marriage-

3. My sister Angel, so glad we have our friendship at this point in our lives.

4.  Mom-I've very much enjoyed having her around the last 2 summers

5. Harry-without him Mom would not have stayed in NY.  But beyond that I like him as a person and he doesn't mind talking about gardening or sausage making or all the other things we have in common that make the other people in my life yaaaawwwwnnn :)

6.  My Kitchen Aid-good lord I would be lost without it!

7.  My job-as long and hard as the days are-I know in this day in age it is a blessing to have a job, and with our circumstances of needing flexibility, I am very grateful that I have this

8.  Coffee...I couldn't get through the day without it

9.  this laptop :)

10: Knitting-it is therapy that is unrivalved

11.  My fireplace-I love the warmth it provides me and my family

12.  After 2 days with the boys being home with me...I am grateful I get to go out today by myself !

Blowing the dust off of this old blog and giving it another go around. 

Going to try and post gratitudes for each day of November to help myself remember all that I am so very grateful for.  Yeah yeah..I know...12 days in already...

I imagine there will be lots of posts about food and cleaning and kids and gardening....am right now I'm saying I am not an authority on any of those!

So, here we go again :)

Thank You Ma Fletcher

My sister, Angel, gave me several boxes of canning jars this summer.  Today I was making some Hot Pickled Mix and got out some of those jars.  This was one of them.  The labels says FROM THE KITCHEN OF Ma Fletcher CONTENTS Sweet Pickled Peppers DATE 9/84.  This gesture from the past made my heart sing.

I love canning and I love it for many reasons.  One of them is because of the long history of generation after generation of women preparing food for their loved ones.  The time it takes in the preparation, the gathering of supplies, the hot sudsy water as you wash the jars.  Jars that if you are lucky are passed from woman to woman, family to family.  The love and care and yes, the science that goes into preparing foods that will stay good and will nurish your loved ones.  I love canning in a quiet house, my kitchen sounds, the running of water, the fire of the gas heating the pots on the stove, my footsteps going back and forth to the sink, island, stove.  These are the sounds my kitchen and I make preparing foods with love for those I love.  I also love canning when my family is home, the gazillion tv's, the laughter of the boys, even the squabbling.  My kitchen noises are drowned out by the sounds of the family I love living life.  Their footsteps racing through the house drown out mine...but mine are still there..following in the footsteps of all those who have gone before me.

I was lucky enough to know 2 of my grandmothers, Mamaw Cheek and Grandma Doan.  Both women shaped my life and who I am today.  Most of my happy memories revolve around the time I spent with them.  I took their quiet lessons with me and they live within me.  I didn't get to know my Grandma White, but my Uncle Bruce told me some about her..and I know I would have loved her.  We are so similar and I am proud to be their granddaughter and to carry on the traditions that I know they loved.

So, thank you Ma Fletcher for your jar.  I will happily fill it will love over and over.  And Ma Fletcher...if by some chance you have moved on...could you please tell my 3 Grandmas hello..thank you for the life lessons and I love and miss you.
Tina

Farmers' Market Guilt...and Glee :)

So...rainy day...get to Farmers' Mkt and there is ONE 1 ONE  vendor Out In The Open..so I MUST buy from him...because well he hung IN and all... and isn't in the Covered Area..so... well...I Have To, Right??  So, I did...2 beautiful cabbages.  And then I went inside..and bought lots of peppers, and broccolli and cauliflower and did I mention I bought more peppers??  So...Hot Pickle Mix, and Peppers...all to be canned is on my immediate horizion and I made..YUMMMMM...broccolli cheese soup :)
Peace,
Tina

At Least My House Smells Great!

Made up 1/2 bushel of Spy Apples into Apple Butter this morning.  The yield is :
Pints=12
1/2 pint=21
4 oz jars 10.

I still have 2 1/2 bushels left!  I am going to do the rest in applesauce and sliced up and frozen for apple pies/crisps.  Clearly I was clueless to the amount of apples I was getting!

Banana Peppers
When I went to the farmer's market last time I picked up a 12 qt basket of banana peppers.  There was a mixture of red, green and yellow.  I canned them up with some vinagar and sugar and salt.  They have to sit another week before the guys can dig in.  Super easy and I think they are so pretty!  Next year's garden will definitely include banana peppers.
Tina