Freezing Tomatoes

I am still afraid of pressure canning, though we do cook an awful lot with a pressure cooker. It is a marvelous invention to cut bean cooking time to about 15 minutes, but I am still wary of the sterility and proper seal issues of home canning. So, I am still in the freezing stage of preserving food for the winter.

Yesterday, I put up 4 pounds of tomatoes in the freezer. From these, I have 32 ounces of tomato juice in the fridge that we will have to use somehow. I am considering freezing some of this as well. I love to add tomato elements to many winter dishes, and tomato juice would take me a stretch closer to a good vegetable broth when needed.

I consulted two online articles to make sure I knew what I was doing. You can find them HERE and HERE. I like Pick Your Own . org. I just found it when looking for preserving tutorials, and it has a wealth of information and a ton of links.

Here is what the articles fail to mention. It is M E S S Y to prepare tomatoes for freezing. It takes a lot of stuff (relatively), and there will be tomato juice and seeds dotting all the counters and countertop items. Your hands will look like prunes and they will feel very dry. The inside of your stainless steel cookware will look like you left it sitting outside for a year.

I used 4 stainless steel bowls. One for holding the blanched tomatoes. One for holding the colander with peeled, processed, cut tomatoes. Both of these worked double duty and caught plenty of juice. One for holding raw tomatoes. One for holding the blanched tomatoes when the other one had become full. I used one stock pot, 2 slotted spoons, 2 knives, 1 32 oz. jar to hold the juice, 3 freezer bags, and my seal-a-meal from 1900 that does not vaccuum seal (it just heat seals). I had to suck the air out of the bags with a straw before I sealed them.

All in all, though, it was a worthwhile endeavor. I have frozen food to show for it, and I am doing my part to attempt a "slow year". Or at least a slow 1/2 year. Our goal is to put away enough food that we do not have to purchase any at the grocery store all winter. Unless we choose to purchase fresh dairy items. If I had milking goats, even that wouldn't be necessary!

Wish me luck. Tomorrow I will be putting up 25 ears of corn for the freezer.
Have a happy week!

Silent Sunday - Sea Finds

Projects in Progress

In addition to my sock monkey for Craft Hope's project #4, I mentioned I was making hats, scarves, and unmaking a sweater. I am happy to say I have finished hat #2, and am ready to begin decreasing hat #3.Hat #3 actually began on size 9, 16" bamboo circular needles as a cowl of 100 stitches. (I am in need of longer circulars, but have not the funds at this moment to invest yet in a kit of interchangeables...they are on my Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary list.) Mr. Nature likes it, and wants it for a hat. I think it will be a little loose as a hat once he wears it in a little, but it seems to fit okay right now. So, I have not yet decreased from 100 stitches and have to work out the math. Can you save me from miscalculation? If so, leave a comment with suggestions.Upon unraveling the sweater (which is a hand knit sweater), I found that it was not truly knitted in one piece. The upper portion was knitted as a single piece in a yoke design, and then the arms and torso were pieced onto it. So, I decided to keep the yoke portion intact as a capelet. I actually really like the way it looks, and Amilia loved it enough to parade it around herself the other night. With the cold weather coming, I will be able to wear it soon enough. In fact, I am wearing it now as I sit here with my coffee at my 50 degree computer. Mornings are chilly already!!

And, I have begun a skinnyish scarf to give as a gift this Christmas. I am already well on the way with Christmas plans because I am giving 98% handmade this year. The 2% is reserved for Amilia's list of requests, and my set of (KA Switch, bamboo) circular knitting needles (Mr. Nature, do you hear?).Wishing you all a beautiful, restful, and serene Saturday.

Feeling Beachy

We had a lovely day at the ocean, and I would love to tell you something profound about how I am transformed as a person by virtue of the coastal beauty, but I am really too tired to wax poetic. After this 14 hour day, I am lucky to still be coherent. The almost 3 hour drive (each direction) was very heavy on "when are we going to be there?" whining. Once we did get there, we were constantly on the move, and had a very enjoyable time. I have always lived within a 2-3 hour car ride from the ocean, and now is no exception. However, I had never visited the Oregon coast until today. I used to wonder, if I could choose to live anywhere, was I was really a coast person or a forest person? Over the last year or so, living between mountainsides covered with pine trees, I had decided. And I was right. I am a forest person. I still love visiting the ocean, but I am happy enough to leave when it is time to go.There is too much constant wind, blowing sand, and wet air. But I do love to visit and get my dose now and then. I love the smell of the air, the sound of the waves, and the sheer vastness of this marvelous specimen of nature. The driftwood that washes up is beautiful, and appears in so many odd shapes. The driftwood huts created by beachgoers are always a treat, and feel like little secret caves.
Amilia had a wonderful time. She had not been to the beach in over 1 1/2 years. Which meant she did not really remember it very well. I promised her that we will not wait another 1 1/2 years to go again. She spent the day making sand castles, sand angels (like in snow, but transfer to sand), collecting rocks, and just running up and down the beach. Mr. Nature and I spent most of our time watching Amilia and foraging for our own treasures. I think for Silent Sunday, I will share some of my sea glass, rock, and shell finds.This little critter was playing it up so he could get some freebies. We watched him eat peanuts from the man's hand and then be impatient for more when the handful was gone.

As always from the beach, we arrived home with sand everywhere. In ears, in hair, in clothes, in crevices, and in the car. The mess can wait.

Have a marvelous Friday.

Eco-friendly blue print lunch bag by WhoaItsMe on Etsy

I am off to the seaside today. While I am gone taking lovely photos to share, hop on over to ThisNext and see this eco-friendly and sophisticated cotton lunch bag. Feel good about carrying your lunch! (via WhoaItsMe)

Change The World Wednesday (CTWW)

It's that time again...changing the world, one Wednesday at a time. This week, we are doing it with a snazzy new logo. If you click on the logo, you will be taken to Reduce Footprints' blog (the creator of this challenge) to see all the official stuff like rules and such. Do you like the change? Answer my poll in the right hand column...

Last week was composting, and otherwise reducing your contributions to the landfill. Though I did not create a new post this week for it, I did follow the challenge by continuing to compost and recycle. We took our twice yearly trip to the dump (we do not have municipal trash pickup) and got rid of the things we could not compost, upcycle, recycle, freecycle, or otherwise use or donate. How did you do with the challenge? If you need composting tips, you can read my older posts here and here.

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Now, for this week's challenge:

This week's challenge comes from one of our new bloggy friends, Millenniumhealth, at ... well ... Millenniumhealth. It's an easy activity and once again shows us that small actions matter ... especially when we all do them. Here it is:

This week, put your computer to sleep or set it to hibernate when it's not in use. If you need help in doing this, check out these sites:

Use Standby and Hibernate

Manually Put Your Computer Into Hibernation

Or ...

Typically, if you're already doing the first part of the challenge, I ask you to write about it on your blog. This week, however, we're going to do something different. If you are already in the habit of putting your computer to sleep or turning it off when you're not using it, look around your home and identify one other "sneaky" area that uses electricity. Come back here and, in the comments section, tell us what it is and how you'll either eliminate it or reduce it.

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I started this last night by shutting completely down for the night. I would like to see a change in my energy bill to reflect the environmental love I am sending out!

Also, if you Twitter, please retweet this post and add the hashtag #CTWW.
Visit the new forum for CTWW at Blog Catalog, set up by Tony Beach.

And, I am adding the CTWW Honor Society to this post as well:
Weekly Honor Society:

Tony Beach and at http://entrepreneursocialnetwork.blogspot.com/2009/08/smallfootprints.html and at http://www.retaggr.com/Page/TwitterOnlineSystem

Harveyavatar

Sharon Hightower and at http://www.jewelrytreschic.etsy.com and at http://artisanjewelrydesigners.ning.com/profile/SharonHightower

Cindygeenotes at http://dragyourfeet.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/small-footprint-gentle-hand/

The Wayland Springs Cook at http://waylandcook.blogspot.com/2009/08/compost-for-change-world-wednesday.html and at http://waylandcook.blogspot.com/2009/08/honor-soceity-for-cange-world.html

The Dafthermit at http://dafthermit.ning.com/ and at http://theblackbuscompany.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world-wednesdays-by-our-friend.html

Connie Mishali at http://seewhykinsman.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world-challenge.html

TC at http://livesmartbook.blogspot.com/2009/08/recycling-made-easy-with-earth911com.html and at the BlogCatalog Group he started here: http://www.blogcatalog.com/group/change-the-world

Green Gal at http://greenbeangal.blogspot.com/

Brian at http://the-new-author.blogspot.com/

Harmony at http://harmonytravel.blogspot.com/2009/08/welcome-to-my-world.html

S. Engelmohr at http://sengelmohr.blogspot.com/2009/08/recycled-items-in-your-home.html and from last week's challenge: http://sengelmohr.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world-wednesday-this-week-i-want.html

Joe Todd at http://www.myqualitytime.net/2009/08/change-world-wednesday-time-to-start.html (I also hear that Joe put CTWW on his facebook page so if you're a facebook member, look him up there).

Annie Kelley at http://akannie.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/august-20-2009/

Elizabeth Barrette at http://gaiatribe.geekuniversalis.com/2009/08/20/how-to-shrink-your-garbage/

Eemilla at http://eemilla.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/clean-and-green/ (for last week's challenge).

Sober White Women at http://thoughtsofasoberwhitewomen.blogspot.com/

Dora Renee' Wilkerson at http://y2k-hippie.blogspot.com/

EcoGrrl at http://ecogrrlnetwork.blogspot.com/

Ken at http://www.thegreenapartmentblog.com/apartment-recycling/

Harripao at http://blogodril.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world-wednesday-and-karinda.html

Kate at http://holdfastseeker.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-thing-for-planet-compost.html

Rewinn at http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2009/08/carbon-neutral-book-shipping.html

CHOCOLATE MODERN LEAF quilt wallet/card holder or iphone/ipod pocket. by cocoandmilkweed on Etsy

Beautifully created, chic little chocolate brown wallet from organic cotton and bamboo. Cocoa and Milkweed is a TeamEcoEtsy seller, so you can rest easy about your carbon footprint when ordering this wallet. (via Coco and Milkweed)

Today, I was pointed to ThisNext by a fellow TeamEcoEtsy member, and I thought it was such a great idea that I set up an account. Now, I can recommend items from my Etsy, Artfire, and 1000 Markets favorites and share them on ThisNext as well as more easily on my blog. The site includes the ease of social networking, so I can also share on Twitter, blogs, Facebook, and a number of other places.

Christmas is coming --- in 122 days!!! So I will be turning my focus a bit from the garden to handmade goods and good handmade finds to add to the shopping list.

You can visit my recommendations page at ThisNext.Com,and you can even subscribe to my recommendations page by RSS! Also, visit the page of my fellow TeamEcoEtsian, Lolaness.

Happy Shopping!

Sometimes, all we can do

is lend our prayers. We were watching ballet in the park the other day, and a young mom down the way had a ferret in her lap. Amilia was trying to see where we were pointing trying not to point ("look there, past the elderly lady in the lawn chair who seems asleep with her hand dangling down?"), and even with her binoculars, was unable to see it. So my MIL walked her down to see. While Amilia was off to see the ferret, the elderly lady of the dangling hand collapsed and began to slide out of her chair.

Others around the lady helped the her to the ground, and she lay supine on the grass, unconscious. Quick dialing by her family and others brought a very fast response from ambulance personnel. Luckily, Amilia had been taken to the restroom after looking at the ferret and missed the whole event. The dancing was put on pause as the crisis unfolded. The lady was revived by EMT Paramedics, and was carried away on a stretcher to the waiting ambulance.

The ballet director then thanked the emergency responders and police who were present, as well as all those citizens who did what they could to help. From the rest of us, she asked for prayers. She told us the name of the woman, Mary, and asked that we place her at the top of our evening prayer list. I was happy to oblige. I have kept her on my prayer list for several days since.

Today, I was asked to add another woman to my list. This woman is the mother of three young boys. She has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and will be undergoing treatment. I will be adding them to my prayer list as well.

Tonight, my mother called and told me that my stepfather, who has been feeling ill for several weeks, is in the emergency department of the local hospital. The exact nature of his illness has not yet been determined, but we are hoping for the best. We are hoping that it is something that can be fixed, and that he will be feeling better soon. They are 500 miles from me, so all I can do at this moment is pray for him as well.

I also regularly include ClayItAgain (and her ill husband) and Nie (and her family) of NieNieDialogues in my prayers.

Sometimes, we can share knowledge. Sometimes, we can make a sock monkey for charity. Sometimes, we can spread hope. Sometimes, we can give thanks for blessings received. Sometimes, we can share beauty. Sometimes, we can share magic.

And sometimes, we can just offer a prayer.

Silent Sunday (Almost)

FIRST, PLEASE take the time to answer my poll in the right-hand column about the Change The World Wednesday badge emblem (see my Wednesday post from this week to see the new image)...

Fresh apple bread (apples from the tree in the yard)

Berry picking

Blackberry cobbler

Berry Picking Time

I love berry picking time! Though I was less than thrilled about the scarlet veil being warn by my maple tree, it does signal that the time has arrived for picking blackberries. We heeded the call yesterday and loaded up the wicker baskets, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, hats, boots, and picnic lunch. We pick berries on the property adjacent to my FIL, where the friendly landlord neighbors have five acres abutting the river.In order to properly absorb the beauty and serenity of a blackberry picking day, we began at the river with our picnic lunch of (fried) egg sandwiches (compliments of our egg layin' girls), pasta salad, and Chardonnay. We sat on the small platform deck overlooking the river and enjoyed the simplicity of being. The water trickled by and chided the rocks for impeding progress while the riparian insects buzzed busily all around.When we felt it was time, we gathered up our tools and set to work. I wear vinyl gloves because they protect against the staining of my hands and nails, and I carry pair of cotton gloves to wear over them to protect against the thorns.We also wear long sleeves, long pants, boots, and hats. They protect against thorns, sunburn, and snakes. Even so, I have several puncture wounds to show for my efforts, and berry picking is not for the faint of heart.There is a delicate balance in fighting your way into the bushes just far enough to reach the ripe berries, but not so far that you are stuck fast in the thorns. I had to have Mr. Nature extricate me more than once when I got the idea I was a raccoon and shoved my way in too far. I just wanted that next succulent bunch that was just out of reach! I also had my hat removed a few times by a thorny tentacle, and had to back out and barter with the thorns to get my hat loose.
It is a very accomplished feeling to forage and scour the outdoors for ripe edible offerings, and we ended up with 7.5 pounds of berries for our efforts. We also picked a few sprigs of fresh mint for tea. We spent one hour lounging over lunch by the river, then two hours foraging for berries. Afterward, we were hot and tired, so we spent about an hour napping before we got started cleaning and putting away the berries.

Today, we made cobbler.

This 'n That

Today was berry picking day, so I didn't get to post until this day is almost over. In 20 minutes, the clock will tick across to tomorrow, and I will hop across to bed. Tomorrow, I will unfold for you the tale of this charming afternoon of foraging for our food.Tonight, I bring you what I had planned to post this morning: A glimpse at my current projects. I began the morning with my coffee on the east deck in a mug I have not used before. I chose it this morning because it has a lid (for steeping tea) and that means it holds heat in while keeping bugs and tree droppings out. Also, the bunny is in a porch swing, so how could I not love it?While I sat with my coffee, I finally began unravelling this sweater I purchased last year. I found it at the Goodwill. It had been washed and semi-felted and shrunk to a size nobody could wear, but was handknit, so I purchased it to repurpose the yarn. It has been in my closet since about September last year. It was definitely time to begin.Remember the Craft Hope project I am doing? I made a practice sock monkey just to make sure I knew what I was doing before I make the real donation monkey. Meet Inky (he used to be a pair of Amilia's knee high socks):Now he is a new member of the family, and has slept in a people bed for 2 nights in a row. No monkey nest for this pet! The weekend project(s) are to put up the blackberries (mostly freezing, I think) and make the donation monkey from these socks:And to determine which chicken is laying eagle eggs...

Happy Weekend to all...

Signs of Autumn crash Summer's Party

As I was braving the 102 degree heat yesterday to replace a sprinkler head and assess the development of the grapes on the vine, I happened to glance toward the sky. What greeted my eyes was not the clear blue sky and evergreenness (yes, I can coin that word if I want; it's my blog) of summer, but the fading oranges and crisp leaves of fall. Our maple tree is afflicted with the onset of season change.
And just like that, we are transported from the freewheelin' funlovin' carefree heat play of summer to thoughts of cocoa and woolies and the upcoming holiday season. To be honest, I have had my thoughts directed toward Christmas in theory, and have already begun the gift list and the knitting, but it was my choice to begin early and get ahead. I had not been told by the seasons that I had to get going and get thinking. Until today.

Last year, I was exhilerated by the first gold on the tree because it was our first year to experience an Oregon winter, and we wanted snow for Christmas. We were not disappointed. But this year, the spring was slow to get moving and the seedlings were delayed in growth. June was unseasonably cool, and remember that freak hail storm a few weeks ago that sent balls of destruction down on us? My tomatoes have only been red for four weeks, and my pumpkins have yet to appear on the vine.So, even though my wellies have their end of season holes and all of our outdoor work gloves are worn through in several fingers and Mr. Nature's pants are about to be relegated to the scrap bin, we have not had our fill of summer yet. I feel cheated, just a little.My porch swing still needs me, and Amilia isn't ready to abandon her bathing suit and camera yet.