ReSoLuTiOn - who?

Life altering resolutions are NOT for me. I am NOT a consistent person. Resolutions and promises are rarely kept and rarely are they sincere. I don't really believe in I'm sorry's, or a "do-over" for mistakes. Chances are it's gonna happen again. Just pick up and move forward. This is such a bad quality. I  know this (to all of you passing judgment and psychoanalyzing me). Admitting is the first step right???? It is entirely too stressful to commit yourself to something for an entire year. As with most of my projects, I lose steam half-way through anyway. However, here is what I plan to do in order to make my life better in 2012:

{1}

Read More Books and Magazines: I really want to do more than look at the pictures and spread them out nicely on my coffee table. Books are also spread throughout my house in nice piles and I keep imagining myslef coming home at night curling up with a good book...yeah right.

{2}

Craft Inexpensively - I want to use more reusable or recycled materials when I'm crafting and I am going to try more of all those "pins" and "likes" on pinterest!

{3} Learn to take the time to actually watch television. Random I know. I watch about 1/2 an hour to 0 hours of television per week. Not even kidding. I am always busy on some project, or gone somewhere, or just focusing on cleaning or organizing something that never gets finished anyway. I want more time to rest. To enjoy actually sitting and doing absolutely nothing. Is there anyone out there who watches less TV than I do? I think not.

{4} Garden Planning - I want to plan more for my garden to make the most from my space and resources. I also want to plant more variety. Gardening gives me such peace of mind and joy. But right now there are some major winter weeds taking over. I just picked the last of my brocolli today and started pulling weeds...Just look what I found chilling amongst the pile of weeds....

{5} Take a time out for a better daily devotional - not just the email kind. I also want to keep a gratitude list that is a daily reminder of all my blessings and how lucky I am. I am stealing this from the Best Boss Ever (who shared an old devotional with me in which she had done the same). I know God has great things in store for the Austin family this year!

{6} Yea Yea...eat more vegetables and exercise. I'm gonna go with ZUMBA once a week. How's that?

What are your "making-life-better" plans? 

PS. Can't wait to share what I got into @ Daddy's today - NC Stizzle fans will LOVE! Promise! 

Until next time, XOXO

Therapy for Moi :)

Some people clearly must wonder why I love canning so much. It is a lot of hard work, and it requires a lot of preparation and cleanup. What do I love the most? Is it the escape from the outside world? The concentration on a fine art of homemade goods? Is it sharing it with others? Is it blogging about it? Is it the constant name-calling of Susie Homemaker (which I enjoy)? Wellllll....I don't know the answers to those questions but, I have come to realize this....

I love canning because I cannot afford therapy.

This week I have canned another batch of salsa and 2 batches of homemade applesauce. Talk about a HOT MESS in my kitchen. I am convinced that it needs a thorough scrubbing sometime soon!! And when I have my Ipod on....Good Gracious y'all..... Look out! What I know now is that canning does 3 major things for me: memories, stress relief, the joy of sharing.

1.
Provides Memories: When I'm canning I think about so many people along the way. My grandma and grandpa Reams come to mind because she taught me first about canning and grandpa (Go PACK!) taught me about gardening. She was a HECK of a lady that is for sure. There was no getting out of things easy with her, or taking shortcuts. It was the right way or no way at all.   My grandmother was an excellent nurse and a determined homemaker. As a nurse (and grandma) she was very strict, thorough, with not so much nurturing, but an excellent nurse all in all, so I have been told.....I've even heard "the best."  She was an excellent cook and seamstress also. My grandfather was in Agriculture and Forestry just like my Daddy is now.  Check out these pics from his really really really old suitcase with the NCSU stickers... LOVE <3

Isn't this one magical. I love the "old" wolf chillin' against the tree.

Circa 1968....DANG!

Naturally, I would produce a love for growing things and watching things grow (and being a PACk fan)!  I also realize that I am a kinesthetic learner which contributes to the fact that I always need to be doing something. Gardening and canning both provide the opportunity for this which fulfills my need to accomplish and produce things.  

2. 
Stress Relief: Because my body is constantly busy doing something, it gives my brain a chance to relax because I am focusing on one exact process rather than 5,000 other things which is so typical for me. If you find me in the kitchen alone, chances are I will not process a word of what you are saying. Nor will I probably care. I am in my own world...canning away. The nostalgia of domestication which I have learned over the years from mama's, grandma's, aunts, and mother-in-laws can be addictive. I feel the same way about sewing that I do about canning.  It's a complete escape from the outside world.    

3. I have canned things I don't even like this year (like sweet pickle) just because I like to share things with others. Typically, I do not like to share food but in this case it is just fine! Now, ask me for some of my Diet Coke or a bite of my sandwich and you gonna be sorry......It's a bad trait but I do give fair warnings :)  This week I made some applesauce for my GA and my sweetest little Landon. During the process I thought of them continuously which always gives me such joy. I love to give things and do things for those I care about (hence 2 of my Love Languages; Acts of Service and Giving Gifts (which I am happy to receive too) :)

I receive so much from canning that I cannot put into words.  A clear, sane mind for a few hours here and there is very refreshing.  After all, if I could afford therapy, I would need to go year 'round and it would be crazy intense...probably better to just keep some of that buried anyway....So, why put myself thorough that when I can get therapy at home for free in my kitchen?

Here are some photos from my most recent canning therapy sessions. I have also been dehydrating apples for fried apple pies and for a healthy tasty snack! GA loves them too. 

apples from Dr. Gault's house! Yummy!

ready to put in the food mill!

This is just like the one my grandma had but this one actually came from Sean's grandma, Mrs. Newton

Sliced apples soaking in lemon juice for dehydrating

Dehydrator!!!!

Altogether, lots of work but enjoyable. I'm glad so many people have taught me about canning over the years. Hopefully, it will save us some money on groceries too!

Lots to do over the weekend! Reunion time! Happy Friday everyone!

Introducing...BER.

Sorry this post isn't about my fab 4th weekend. (Stay tuned). You simply will not believe what is going on in my garden. First, I have to explain why this is so ironic (and random). As we discussed earlier last week, I have many nicknames. This one (Ber) is special because it has now become one of my major focuses for the summer.

Background Info:  So, You just read that one of those many nicknames is Ber. This lovely little name was given to me by some of long time friends from the S.Cack (which I get to see next week...holla!).  Thank you D, Jenn, and J-Bob for creating your own name for me at the Silver wHOlesale many years ago. I must also give a shout out to T-Bar who probably never actually knew my real name when I worked there (he started after me). This new name began nearly the same week I moved to Myrtle Beach, during one of my early 20's adventures. Since then, it has stuck and I just love hearing anyone refer to me as Ber since that means I am among good friends. When I'm down in South-cack I answer to Ber without even thinking. Lucky, I'm the kinda girl that I can just evolve no matter where I am. That's what I do.

Although I would just simply love to rant and rave about myself (imagine that), the one and only true "Ber," I must skip to the actual focus of my blogging project for today. Excitement ensuing? I knew it... Moving on...

Let me introduce you to the new BER that is taking over my life right now.

Yes my gardening friends,this is nothing other than the dreaded demise of my most precious tomato babies. Blossom End Rot. Ewww. Now, how the heck am I supposed to be canning homemade salsa this summer if my tomatoes look like shizzle and all I've gotten is 1 good tomato so far? Let's discuss.

Here is what I got the other night from my garden.

Complete Shizzle I tell you.

 I can't even believe they look like that since after all my garden looks so perfectly fresh an inviting. Let's examine their downfall.

First, hubby built me these super large really trendy garden boxes for my planting delight. (And he looked so handy building them, all sweaty and tanned. You know hard working man-type. It was a delicious scene.)

Next, my babies started getting bigger as you can see here. 

Then, they were all fallin' over cause they were thriving with growth and I had to get some big metal circle thingys to hold them up. But, that still wasn't enough. In order to hold up the majority of the plant, you must tie it in some fashion so that it doesn't hang over everything and it can continue growing straight and tall. See, tomato stems are really delicate and you can't just use any ole' fastening object to tie those suckers up. Also, the weight of the plant can be very difficult to work with. So, one of fashions' best accessories just made it into my garden. You can say I do have the most accessorized garden in our neighborhood. You can also say that to "tie the plant in some fashion" just brought on a whole new meaning in my world.

Remember these stems from this past February?

LC is giving me quite a look there...Must be the VS panty hose.

Well these, V.S. panty hose are now rescuing my tomato plants from falling over. Who knew Vickies could offer fundamental problem solving for 2 important areas; lingerie and gardening? Clarification: The panty hose are soft and delicate enough (and also clean) so that the plant stems will not be damaged, yet strong enough to hold the plant erect (I just couldn't help my self). Also, the elasticity of the panty hose allows the stems to continue in expansion while the plant continues to grow throughout the summer. Brilliant I know.

So, since I fixed that little problem, clearly I should be able to fix a little BER (blossom.end.rot) problem. Ber fixing BER? Bahahhahahah I am up for the challenge!

I first researched how this happened and then began searching for a solution. The daughter of a NC Forester, it would bring such shame if I couldn't get this right. Here is what I found out.

1. My first mistake was not getting a soil test from my local Cooperative Extension. It is also free. Contact Carl Cantaluppi at the Extension office (for all my fellow citizens on the Rox). I should know this!!!!! After all I am a Family and Consumer Sciences Major. Complete FAIL.


2. The soil becomes imbalanced between droughts and an unusual amount of rain and / or over-watering. The soil needs moisture consistency. B.E.R is also due to the amount of calcium absorbed through the plant in order to produce the fruit in a healthful way. Major science lesson here.


So, How do we add calcium? Well, I am a quick fix kinda person. I don't like mistakes and I like to see problems fixed promptly. Here are some suggestions that I researched: 

-powdered milk
-crushed egg shells
-tea
bone meal tea
-Tums tablets

While researching, the experts like to rub in that Prevention is key. Well Duh.
Some sites recommend removing affected fruit from the plant to reduce stress throughout. I did that which is how I got a compost pile full of about 20 + rotting tomatoes. Gross. Ewww. Etc. Many sources also say that this process is typical in the early season. Amber doesn't do early....EVER.. I want it right . ALL the TIME.

I decided to try one of the suggestions. Because I already had a full bottle of TUMS at home, I decided to try that first. I looked like a complete addict in my kitchen y'all. Little round pills all over the counter as I'm putting the medicine like tablets into little plastic baggies. I used my handy dandy Pampered Chef food chopper to chop those suckers up into a fine like powder. (So, would by food chopper be considered Drug paraphernalia?) The fine powder will be more likely to absorb quicker and since the soil was already moist from the rain we just got, it was a good time to do it. Then, I divided the powder among the plants and here's what I got...

Those large TUMS you see, well....Georgia Anne helped me 'plant' those....

 I don't know if this will help or not or if the gardening gods will be laughing their butts off at my quick fix. I just know that I cannot have this anymore.. Goodbye B.E.R!!!!! (hopefully)

Finally, one last bit of hope for my babies. While I was pulling away at all those tomatoes I did find one scrumptious tomato that was just right. GA will probably eat that thing like an apple. My little girl LOVES tomatoes! It does give me hope that I'm not a complete failure in the tomato world. Isn't it pretty?

Note to self: my hand looks abnormally chubby in this photo.  Give camera a thorough scolding!

Happy gardening y'all. July 4th weekend post coming up tomorrow. It was a doozie here on the Rox over the weekend. I can't wait to share all the classic Rox photos (some secretly taken). Until tomorrow then...

Canning for Dummies 101

As you all know by now I am so excited about my garden this year. First of all, my squash plants are like way extra huge and they are throwing out some serious squash on a daily basis. So far, I have 4 super huge squash plants, 1 zuchinni plant, 7 okra plants, 6 tomato plants, 2 cherry tomato plants, 3 butter lettuce (heads?...no idea what you call them when they are just leafy…) and several very serious, swirly cucumber vines which are everywhere (and they are so precious when they are tiny little wanna be pickles just basking there in the sun). Isn’t that exciting? It gives me such pleasure to pull out weeds and actually make something grow that is useful. I cannot help loving a finished product especially when it is tasty. Here are some photos from my recent pickin’ of said vegetables………

Can't you see that widdle baby pickle just waitin' for his vinegar and water spa day?

See that ginormous leaf hanging over those babies' head?

This is some really tasty butter lettuce which is expensive in the store. Seed packet cost me .50 cent. So far, I've probably saved $10 from buying bagged salad. CHA-CHING. More money for mani's and pedi's :)

In order to keep all those things tasty through the fall and winter months one must have a storage plan. DING DING DING….and so we have Canning for Dummies 101. Our local Cooperative Extension office (another one of NC State’s most magical blessings) recently hosted a class “From the Garden to the Pantry.” I must say this was quite an interesting class. It was made up of a very diverse group of individuals. You know, the organic-tree-hugger,-free-spirited type, the random grandma with nothing else to do, and then there is me and my friend Stephanie who are just craving the down home canning skills all the women in our family have. Side Note: Stephanie Brown is one of the most amazing, beautiful, and fun people I know…See here for her awesomeness... Geez she is thebomb.com photographer!

During this class we learned about gardening, canning, freezing, pickling, making jams and preserves (which I have already done here) and so much more good stuff. Some of the major things I learned were how to use a pressure canner, a pressure cooker, and what to can and what NOT to can. I learned that many things I have been taught over the years are not exactly safe. My grandmother is probably turning over in her grave. So, because we all want to be safe, I am going to share a few of the highlights with you…I know you are just thrilled!  

1.       1. First, Can you believe that new guidelines say NOT to can squash? Apparently, the squash never gets hot enough on the inside to kill the bacteria that can cause botulism …so better off to freeze squash.   

2.       2. When using a pressure canner- the steam created under  10 pounds of pressure must reach 240 degrees to kill all the harmful bacteria when canning.

3.       3. Add lemon juice to your tomatoes when canning, this kills some bacteria and is much safer. Tomatoes will also keep their color better. 1 TBS per pint, 2 TBS for a quart.

4.       4. For high acid foods use a boiling water bath for canning.  Your jars (with lids tightly sealed) will be completely covered with water for this purpose.

5.       5. Vent your pressure canner for 10 minutes and let steam escape before building pressure. Always use a pressure canner and not a pressure cooker when sealing your non-acid foods.

Finally, if you want to do it right and you are still learning like I am you must invest in this…..

 

So, here are some photos from our very fun, interesting night. My girl Stephanie and I should be pros by the end of summer. Look out farmers market and State Fair entries! Blue Ribbon for Ber and Steph? I think ..YES!

Stephanie bravely faces her childhood fear of the evil pressure canner. I was so proud.

me canning green beans :)

note to self....take Weight Watchers more seriously. 

 

 I will let you know how it goes!