Summer Time

This summer is flying by at an amazing rate. I’m sure the fact we had rain through most of June added to the feeling of a shorter summer. The projects around the house are mounting up and the time is slipping away.

House cleaning has never been high on my ‘to do’ list. So there are times my house becomes a little overcrowded and cluttered. Yesterday we had our yearly yard sale, my attempt to reduce the clutter. The set date of the sale gives me great motivation to sort through belongs to determine what we really need or will I really used the cake pan which has been in its original box, unused, for four years. A cool, overcast morning made the day outside very comfortable. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Canning is our other summer tradition. This tradition has been handed down for generations from my mother’s grandmother (and I’m sure her mother) to my mom and now to my daughters. The last couple of years, the girls and I have increased what we make to include vegetables along with the fruit we can and freeze. Preserving our own food allows us to decide what ingredients we include or don’t include in the process. Nothing compares to the homemade freshness.

Although we enjoy each others company and listen to books on tape, canning is hard work. You do a lot of standing and work in an extremely hot kitchen. As we spend the day canning, I often think of the pioneer women with no grocery store down the street or modern conveniences yet they preserved all of their food. I admire their dedication. Their hard work which makes our canning seem insignificant.

The sunshine is beckoning as is the rewrites I need to do. Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.
Cinnamon