CANNING FOOD

I'VE TRIED TO READ SOME GOOD BOOKS THAT WE HAVE HERE. THE LATEST I'VE STARTED IS THE DISCOURSES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. WILL I EVER GET IT ALL READ?? A THICK BOOK AND SMALL PRINT.

AS I WAS READING THIS AM THE THOUGHTS OF HELPING WITH THE CANNING AS I WAS GROWING UP CAME TO MIND. EACH YEAR AS THE GARDEN PRODUCE GREW AND GOT READY FOR CANNING THE JARS HAD TO BE BROUGHT UP FROM THE DIRT CELLAR AND CLEANED. THE OLD LIDS ALWAYS WAS REPLACED ON THE EMPTY JARS TO KEEP SOME OF THE DIRT OUT OF THEM. BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THE OUT SIDES FROM BEING COATED WITH DIRT. WE'D BRING THEM FROM THE CELLAR AND WASH THEM OFF IN THE DITCH THEN TAKE THEM IN TO BE WASHED WITH SAOP AND WATER AND RINSED GOOD. WHAT A LOT OF WORK THAT WAS BUT IT KEPT CHILDREN BUSY AND WE NEW THAT WAS OUR GROCERIES FOR THE COMMING WINTER.

THE BEANS, BEETS ,CUCMBERS, CORN, WAS PICKED AS THEY CAME ON JARS FILLED WITH BEANS, CORN, BEET PICKLES OR DILL PICKLES . WHAT EVER WAS READY. THEN AFTER THE CORN WAS CANNED ANY LEFT AFTER FEEDING FAMILY AND THREASURE'S WAS PICKED AND CUT FROM THE COB AND HUNG OUT ON THE CLOTHES LINE TO DRY OVER A PERIOD OF DAYS ALWAYS TAKEN IN AT NIGHT TO KEEP FROM DEW ARE FROST.

DURING ALL THIS MOM WOULD TELL ABOUT HER LIFE GROWING UP IN "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE IN THE UNION. THEN WHEN PEACHES CAME TO TOWN WE REPEATED THE CANNING PROCESS ALL OVER AND MOM CANNED ABOUT EIGHT ARE NINE BUSHEL EXCEPT WHAT WAS EATEN BY HER GROWING FAMILY AS FRESH. I'LL NEVER FOR GET WHEN SHE GOT THAT PRESSURE COOKER TO USE FOR THE VEGETABLES CANNING. WE WERE WARNED OVER AND OVER TO NOT PUT TOO MUCH WOOD IN THE STOVE AND WATCH THE GAGE FOR HER SO IT DIDN'T GO TOO HIGH AND EXPLODE. WE'D HAVE GLASS CORN OR BEANS ARE WHAT EVER ALL OVER THE PLACE IF IT EXPLODED. WE DIDN'T HARDLY DARE TAKE OUR EYES OF THE THING.

I LOVED THOSE TIMES AS WE SAT AT MOMS FEET[ LITERALLY] AND PEELED PEACHES AND HELPED HOW EVER NEEDED. THEN THE STORIES ROLLED OFF HER TONGUE AND SHE WOULD GET THAT FAR AWAY LOOK THAT SAID I'M HOME SICK FOR MY PEOPLE AND TEXAS. I SUPPOSE IT HELPED HER TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HER HOME AS A CHILD. IT GAVE ME A DESIRE TO KNOW HER HOME STATE A BIT. THANKFUL I WAS ABLE TO GO THERE WHILE SHE WAS STILL ABLE TO TRAVEL AND HAVE SOME OF HER SIBLINGS STILL ALIVE. SHE BLESSED ME WITH A GREAT HERITAGE AND LOVE OF OUR SAVIOR AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. SORRY I HAVEN'T WANTED TO LIVE IN TEXAS BUT WOULD IF ALL ELSE HAD FAILED AND I'D HAVE LEARNED TO LOVE IT!!MAYBE!!!