My original intention was to make this post a photo montage of all the crazy things that we’ve been up to this summer that have kept me from blogging, but I didn’t have the time to do even that 🙂
The pressure canner is going almost non-stop. I get up early in the morning to start chopping and preparing the food, and the rest of the day is spent watching the pressure gauge. This picture (I had a bouncing baby in my hands, that’s why it’s blurry) is only part of the pantry, and the shelves go two to three jars deep!!
If I’m not canning, I’m harvesting, bouncing babies, playing with and homeschooling Kaia, at Tae Kwon Do, doing class work (an herb course I’ve been taking for the last few years), knitting, keeping house/homestead. It doesn’t really sound like much when I type it out, but some how, it keeps me busy from the time I get up until the time my head hits the pillow. Kaia starts back to school (she goes to a part time distance program) next Wed. but I don’t think that will give me any extra time. She is great at playing by herself and helping me out around the house. She’s also great with watching over Leif.
I had big plans for a winter garden. But, I’ve decided not to do it this year. It seems like Toby and I always have another project (or five) in the works and rarely take down time. So, this winter, I’m going to put cover crops on the beds, maybe have a bed of lettuce, and try to put my feet up more. Kaia is already planning our family time by the fire with hot chocolate and knitting (did I tell you she started knitting???!!) I can’t wait!
Dang. I am impressed. The wooly bears are completely black and you have a full pantry…..hmmmm…long hard winter?
A very impressive canning stash! We’d love to join you for hot chocolate by the fire 🙂
Sounds like a lot to me. I love pictures of full pantries. I, too, have been looking forward to the hot chocolate by the wood stove.
I am in awe of your canning efforts–and the fact you’ve managed to do all that while raising two wee ones.
(I suppose throughout history, women have gotten amazing amounts done while raising kids. But I like to give an extra round of applause when someone does so. I’m on the go pretty constantly trying to balance home needs and work and we don’t have children. I can only imagine the juggling act parents must have to pull off every day.)
Oh my goodness! You are officially the QUEEN of canning! 🙂 How neat that Kaia is knitting! I have started teaching my 15 year old D how to knit…but we are busy now that school has started so we haven’t gotten far yet. This winter we will, I think.
i’m so envious of your pantry! i haven’t done much this year, i’m so burnt out. i’ll be feeling the lack of work this winter. 🙁
you have been very busy! your days sound very full to me, i can relate with homeschooling jaden and amusing sage at the same time while trying to get all the homestead stuff done. it is all time consuming and exhausting.
i can’t wait to see some of kaia’s knitted creations!
are you kidding me? that sounds like a ton of stuff. i didn’t even get a garden of any sort in this year. i gave tashi seeds for easter, and we didn’t even plant them. so lame! you are amazing. all that canning is mind blowing! btw, tashi did send out the book sharing letter to six friends. . .
Thanks… sometimes it feels like all I can do is get the dishes done, and even that is a stretch. So, when I see the chard and kale in the garden uneaten and needing harvest, and the floors are dirty and we’ve eaten PB&J for the last 3 meals… it can be disheartening!