The Last Apple 2011. |
The light hasn’t shifted into that special autumn yellow, but there’s a crispness in the air at night that tells me summer’s close to being over. And that’s all right. I love summer with it’s sandal-toed freedom and long days, but the harvesting of fruits and vegetables and the closing down of the garden is a ritual I enjoy. It brings me back to the days when my grandmother was here and we’d put bright, freshly picked cucumbers into the brine, or she’d pull up the stool so I could stir the apples into sauce.
Applesauce and Dilly Green Beans 2011 |
I still can’t bring myself to part with those canning jars, even when most of my friends shake their heads as my kitchen counter fills with pints of applesauce, dilled green beans, and jalepeno jam–all ready to squirrel away for the winter when the apple trees are bare and the green bean and pepper plants are only in the warm memories of July.
I get comments like, “We have grocery stores that are open in December, you know.” My answer: “They don’t have my grandma’s pickles on their shelves. And none of my friends turn down an offer of a jar of anything I put up.
So just as I warned in an earlier post I’m heading into my Harvest Series Mode when food has to come together with my love of the written word–especially Grandma’s recipes where her precise hand has set down the ingredients and the process that she learned at her grandmother’s harvest time.
Melodie says
Oh, love the canning photo! I usually can pumpkin and make raspberry jelly/syrup, which always goes over well at Christmas- right now wishing I could preserve lettuce. It is coming out of my ears.
Kate says
Home made pickles are definately the best.
Saying 'hello' to a fellow campaigner π
Angie Cothran says
Canning is a lost art! I love that you take the time to keep it alive π
Samantha says
That is so cool! My grandparents have a great garden and they send me tomatoes π
Samantha
Writing Through College
meredithmansfield says
Hi. Another campaigner, here.
I usually have a vegetable garden, too. Not so much this year. Too many things got in the way. I need to spend some time this winter clearing out the potager for spring.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Your comments only reaffirm my belief that grandparents are such important people. Loved your stories about sharing the harvest season with your grandmothers.
rebeccaenzor says
What a lovely post π Most of my memories of gardening with grandma were during the spring or summer – strawberries and raspberries and wondering what the heck a rhubarb was.
I'm stopping by from the Campaign, and I'll sure be back if you're going to be talking food for the rest of fall!
Carrie Butler says
I have nothing but respect for those who can their own homegrown foods. π
Shelley Koon says
I remember sitting in the kitchen with my grandmother as she cooked up strawberry perseveres and apple butter. She had an old pressure cooker she would set the jars down into to complete the canning process and I loved the way the little weighted thermometer would bob around in its seat on the lid as the steam escapade from underneath it. Good stuff!
Thank you for taking me back to that memory Lee! My grandmothers house was my favorite place on earth π
Kurt Hartwig says
Brilliant. I bought pounds of tomatoes yesterday for salsa. We've already put up several quarts of chicken and beef stock.
Bish Denham says
There is nothing like home canned food. You know what's in it. I have fond memories of my grandmother's jam and jellies. When I use one of her recipes I am connected to her through time. I am sitting on a kitchen stool pealing genips or carefully stirring the pot.
MG Higgins says
You not only have a garden, but you do your own canning? You are amazing! There was a definite autumn bite in the air this morning. I love Fall.
Kelly says
That is so wonderful that you can and pack away fresh fruits and veggies for a long winters day.
I've never done it myself, but I appreciate my family members that do and share with me ! π