Ah-choo! Ah-choo! Ahhhh-chooooo!!!

I read the “Little House on the Prairie” books when I was a child.  I always wanted to be like Laura Ingalls Wilder and make jellies and jams and can my own produce.  My grandmother gave me my first taste of homemade apple butter and helped me make a batch of prickly pear jelly.  I knew of no one besides my grandmother who canned food. 

Living on my own meant that I really couldn't take advantage of the really good sale prices on produce.  I didn't have room in my fridge or freezer to store extra food or have the knowledge to preserve it.  And I didn't want to spend the money on all of the items needed and possibly mess up the process.  Living in the city also prevented growing a garden.

And then I moved to Tehachapi.  Kevin told me about his gardens and what was in them and how everything was growing.  My mother-in -law-to-be has books on canning and was more than happy to teach me what she knows.

So now, I have come to love when produce is on sale.   In September, corn was only 16 cents an ear and we bought 72 ears.  In one night, Kevin and I blanched the ears, cut off the kernels, and vacuum sealed it to enjoy later this winter.  The harvest from plum trees in the back yard became plum preserves.  The half bushel of apples from the local orchard didn't just get baked into breads and eaten fresh.  I made apple butter on my own. 

So with winter creeping on us here in the mountains, our gardens had to be put to bed.  Ten pounds of green tomatoes became 10 quarts of pickles.  We also got several bushels of apples so Kevin and Lee can make applejack.  Many of those apples have already become apple butter and on Wednesday, many more will be preserved in those beautiful pint jars. 

But there are foods I don’t care for that can be canned and I canned one of them today.  Jalapenos, yuck!  We had a produce bag of them in the fridge and they were starting to get moldy.  So I pulled out the good ones and sliced them up along with a bunch of carrots.  I boiled some vinegar with water, salt, peppercorns, and a little of honey.  In went the jalapenos and carrots and instantly I started sneezing.  And sneezing.  And sneezing.  I couldn't stop in the middle of the process so I had to pour the veggie and brine mixture while sneezing.  Only after I put the jar into the canner and dumped out the extra brine did I stop sneezing. 

So even though I love canning food, I don’t think I can make pickled jalapenos and carrots again.  Even though Kevin said they tasted good and is sure to ask for more.   Unless someone has a gas mask I can borrow when I make them again? 

I am a Proverbs 31 woman in training

To sum up the purpose of this blog in one sentence: I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman.  Follow me as I show you how God is working in my life, my journey in making a new home, and how I'm letting my inner domestic queen out.

I'd like to leave you with Proverbs 31:10-31 to show you how I wish to model my life.

10 A wife of noble character who can find?

    She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her

    and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

    all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax

    and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

    bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night;

    she provides food for her family

    and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

    and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff

    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;

    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,

    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,

    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.