Peeled 1/2 bushel of baked beetroot this morning, did another double recipe of the pickle juice, and canned 3 quarts and 1 pint of pickled beetroot. I added onion layers into these 4, so am looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Didn't add any more cloves this time, as it was too strong last time, although the recipe did call for 1/4 cup of cloves, I re-checked. Must still pay Jackie for them. Spoke to her yesterday and told her I baked them all in the oven overnight, much easier than boiling them. Yippee for oven timers
Teri came over and stayed a little while, chatting with Herbie and I, always enjoy seeing her, and she felt much better than she did yesterday. Forgot to give her some of my chicken liver pate. Next time. Remind me Teri, please.
Found a pressure canner on CL this morning for $ 35 ! It is a 21 quart one (methinks) and also got jars including some blue and green ones, a hand crank food mill and 2 steamer pots, with the blue canning book thrown in for free, thanks Kim (and Dan). Had to drive down to Kalamazoo to get it, but an now set to can, dehydrate, or freeze everything we produce on the farm. Being my bulk-purchase loving self, I think I still lust after that huge 41 qt canner - maybe one day, and of course after I've made sure that I'll actually do the canning thing successfully.
This morning Herbie actually asked me how I know how to do all the things I do. Like canning ? Wow. That's good, yes ? I've never done lots of these things before. Just look it up on the internet, or a book or magazine, or talk to someone who has done it, or ask my dad and then figure it out as I go. My procrastination has something to do with it as well, methinks. I mull things over in my sub-conscious for a while, pulling various experiences / knowledges and plain old common sense together and then it just sort of comes to me. I thought everyone does this, right ?
Herbie had chocolate covered NY cheesecake this morning, I had some tonight. Yep, it's really rich and yummy. I actually stuck a stick in mine and ate it like cheesecake on a stick at the faire. My chocolate is good and I know it has no chemicals or artificial gunk in it, which, in my book, is everything.
Herbs' eldest daughter, Nanette, is e-mailing with me about buying my car. She needs one, I have one. I'm a little concerned about his youngest daughter who turns 16 in December. Herbie has already given Nanette 2 cars, but we probably can't afford to give even one to Elizabeth. The best solution to me would be to sell this one, and then take 1/3 of the money for a car for Nanette, 1/3 for a car for Elizabeth, with the last 1/3 to cover our Summer taxes / insurance bill / hay. From my thoughts to Gods' ear ??
Something got another guinea today. There are only 2 in the chicken house tonight, and while I was weeding the garden late this afternoon, I heard them chattering out in the back woods. Damn, that fox again. Also found a dead chicken in the chicken house this morning. Need to replace the bottom window pane, seeing as the geese have destroyed the screen Herbie made for it.