It has been humid the last couple of days. Add all the pots of boiling water in the kitchen from canning and this last batch of Romas in the dehydrator are taking longer than usual to dry. I don’t have any real canning projects to do today, so the humidity in the kitchen should drop significantly. Maybe then the last tray of tomatoes will finally dry.

I made two batches of plum jam and a batch of grape jelly yesterday. I also made my sourdough loaves and put them in the fridge to rise overnight. I’ll bake them first thing this morning and get the oven off before the heat of the day. I’ve now broken my official record for number of jars canned. I’ve done around 110, if you count what I’ve already given away. Everything is still sitting on the kitchen table. I have plenty of jars left, but I’m running low on lids. I have four boxes of wide mouth lids, but only regular mouth jars, so that doesn’t help me. Maybe I can find someone who would like to trade some with me.

The former Mrs. FixIt came out last night and we sat on the deck, chatting about canning and great recipes. A friend of hers told her about eating fried cucumbers. I’ve never heard of such a thing, and neither had she. But she tried them and said they were great! She also mentioned a recipe she learned from an old Amish woman where she used to work. It’s called “Freezer Slaw” and she says it’s delicious. If I get the recipe and try it, I’ll let you know.

I have a head of cabbage I was going to make another jar of sauerkraut from, but then I used the jars for dill pickles. Now I think I’ll make what my mom called “piccalilly”. I’ve also heard it called “Chow Chow” or “End-of-the-Garden Relish”. It’s usually made before the first frost so your green tomatoes don’t go to waste. It is essentially shredded and chopped veggies like red and green bell peppers, onions, green tomatoes, and cabbage with mustard seed, bay leaf, black peppercorns and turmeric mixed with sugar and vinegar. My mom would sit at grandma’s table and eat a whole jar of it with a spoon…it was that good. 

That will have to wait till next week. After the bread comes out of the oven this morning, we need to load up the utility trailer again and head to the farm to mow before the weekend rains. Saturday is our high school class picnic. We are being extra careful with Covid now, but we can socially distance and visit a little while. 

Mr. FixIt and I both had our flu shots last week, and he had his second pneumonia vaccine…Prevnar. I’ve already had both of mine. I think it is very important to be as healthy as we can be as we ride out the next few months in this pandemic. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been so busy canning and preserving food for the pantry. Good healthy nutrition, social distancing/masks/hygiene, vitamins, plenty of fluids and whatever supplements we feel we may need to maintain good health will be our way of getting through the winter. I’m making a list of indoor projects I’d like to accomplish and I have plenty of sock yarn to work with. I think I’ll get some cotton “Sugar ‘n Cream” yarn to knit dishcloths with as well. 

We have one trip planned to our condo at the beach. Weather will have the final word whether we go, as well as the Covid infection rate locally. We think since it’s in the middle of October, we’ll be much safer than during peak tourist season. We’ll see how we feel when we get closer to the date.

Speaking of dates…it’s been nineteen years since the towers came down. I will never, ever forget that day…what I was doing, who I was with, how it felt. Our country pulled together for the greater good in the aftermath of 9/11. I pray we can find that common ground today.

If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that God laughs at our attempts to make plans. So, I’ve discovered my new word for the year…even this late in the game.

Flexibility.

❤️

“I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything. It was good of you to help me when I was having such a hard time.”

Philippians 4:12-14 CEV