Too Many Tomatoes!

 

I really don't have time right now to be picking gallons of tomatoes, much less canning those gallons of tomatoes.  (I know what you are thinking:  "Well then why did you plant such a big garden"?   Believe me, I've been asking myself the same question.)

 

And this afternoon I also picked about 50 jalepenos and green chile.  I'm not even going to mention the green beans, cucumbers, squash and okra that need attention. 

 

Today was the day for tomatoes.  I picked them all and got started out on the porch with my awesome outdoor canning set-up.   Threw those tomatoes in the boiling water til their skin wrinkled up and then I started peeling them. 

 

I cut up some jalepeno, green chile, onion and cilantro.  (The peppers were hot I know, because hours later my hands are still burning!)

 

 

Six pints of salsa all ready for winter!

 

 

I also just diced some tomatoes, quartered others and canned those too.

 

 

I've been thinking about my Mom lately and missing her a whole lot.  She always has shelves and shelves of her beautiful canned goods in her kitchen.  She has one whole corner of huge open shelves that have been there since I was a little girl..  You could say she had open shelving in her kitchen way before it was cool!  So as I've been canning and setting aside for our winter, I think of her. 

 

 

Another reason (just another of many) that my mom is on my mind so much is because of this wonderful enamelware that I own.  I use it every single day for one thing or another; but it is fabulous for using in vegetable and fruit prep for canning.   My mother gave me some of these and the rest I've purchased through the years. 

 

 

Guess who was watching me while I was canning on the porch?  Yep, those crazy, inquisitive cows!  (Oh, and the outdoor canning set-up?  Still totally amazing.  I cannot wait to expand on it and really make it awesome next summer.)

 

Lastly, I promise to have a house update this week.   Eldon is multi-tasking many, many things and I am trying to dig deep for some patience as I sand, stain, varnish, sand and varnish again on all the interior doors.  Its a job....  but thankfully the house is small and doesn't have too many doors.  I told Eldon that if we ever have to build another house (please no) there won't be any doors.  (Or walls, or flooring, or trim.  Just beautiful kitchen cabinets.  Are you getting a little curious about those kitchen cabinets?  They are DONE and so amazing.  Can't wait to show you more - but there is a refrigerator sitting in the way of my picture taking right now!) 

 

Have a wonderful week!