Sunday, November 8, 2009

I'm In The Throes Of My Yearly Canning Project.... During The Best Golf Week Of The Year

As anyone who reads this blog already knows, I usually have a garden every year, from which I *can* (even though it's a jar) various items to give as Christmas presents. However, since the fox family was just so adorable this last summer, as many of you know, I canceled planting this year in lieu of enjoying the fox pups grow and play. I can honestly say that it was worth it. I see Felicia occasionally now sitting in a warm spot on the cinder block fence, hidden by the overgrown trumpet vine. She seems serene by herself but also lonely in a way.

So, I wasn't even counting on doing much canning this year aside from the hot sauce I made and entered in the Austin Hot Sauce Festival at the end of August. Frankly, I'm growing weary of it after 26 years, even though I have always loved doing it. You can imagine my horror delight when I opened the front door last weekend to find a huge bag of green tomatoes.

Hmmmm.... It was obviously left by a fan of my Chow-Chow, right? So, I spent a couple of days going around to farmers markets buying the other veggies I needed for Chow-Chow and finally got down to business on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I realized that I'd forgotten to buy sugar, so back to the store I went. Thankfully, I remembered that I needed more jars while I was there. Before I made it to the check out I remembered that I also need more canning salt. At this point I was thinking that my brain is functioning just fine, thank you very much.

I then decided that if I was going to be making the Chow-Chow anyway, I might as well make more hot sauce so that all of our Christmas gift recipients can have one of each, so off I went in search of the rest of the items I would need for that undertaking. Good. I was done, so I proceeded to the checkout, paid my money, and headed home.

I knew it was a full moon by the way people were driving... You know. Like they were in a dream or on the FREAKING CELL PHONE. Okay, they were on cell phones, most of them. One was just a complete moron who probably shouldn't even have a drivers license. It took forever for me to get home because everyone was acting like we were in a slow motion movie or a time warp. It was truly weird. They just passed a new law here that states you cannot talk on cell phones while in school zones. I saw countless people on their cell phones in school zones. What good is a law if it isn't enforced, right?

Just as I pull in the driveway I remember that I'd also needed to get more cilantro for the hot sauce and by this time I was getting annoyed as Hell with myself. I promptly turned around, cursing under my breath and headed once again to the store. I went in, got the damn cilantro and headed back home, which proved to be amazingly uneventful.

Needless to say, I got off to a rather slow start, considering my failing *gathering skills*, but picked up steam later on. I've now gotten several cases of Chow-Chow finished as well as two more cases of hot sauce, with only one more case of each to go. I'm hoping to get that finished up Monday. Then I can slap the labels I made on the jars and be done with it.

So, I'm a bit absent during this. However, I am still posting once per day, as promised. Is November almost over yet?

9 comments:

T said...

Felicia is probably worn out and enjoying some "me" time till the next litter!
How wonderful that you were able to capture that picture of her!
Also - I'll gladly take a couple of jars of that chow-chow off your hands! lol....looks delish.

I Am Woody said...

Must be some damn good Chow-chow for people to start leaving bags of veggies at your door! And I have gathering skills very similar to yours:/

Staci said...

Whoa, that stuff looks good! The only canning I have ever done is some strawberry-cranberry jelly. And actually, my sister did most of it. I think I stirred it a couple of times and maybe put the lids on the jars. :) It was a hit, though; now all my friends think I should make it every year. They're even kind enough to bring the jars back to me for the refill.

Heather Kerrigan said...

I'm seriously impressed! I think I'm going to rename your blog-o-marathon to, "Make Heather Feel Inadequate Month." lol

Your Chow-Chow looks yummy, but the greens would be calling me (and I'm not talking tomatoes).

Mental P Mama said...

Ummm. Have you thought about making a list? I usually write out a great list. And leave it on the kitchen counter. gah

Daryl said...

Rent 'Memento' (or the earlier version by the same person called 'Follow') ... how is it with my awesome shopping talents no one leaves me bushels of money outside my door so I can shop more!!!!!!

imom said...

We have "those" drivers around here to! I love seeing that picture of Felicia! She's such a beauty.

I remember my grandma canning a lot, my mom tried once and applesauce exploded all other the kitchen, I've never tried.

Diane said...

Honey...
What is Chow Chow? I asked last year but you never told me!

Snooty Primadona said...

Chow-Chow is a sweet/hot relish made from a variety of green tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, bell peppers, cabbage, artichoke hearts, cauliflower, and probably the the kitchen sink. It is dynamite served on crackers, poured over a block of cream cheese & served on crackers, it makes a great marinade, and goes great with any kind of meat or poultry.

 

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