Making memories that count

[singedwingangel]

After an unexpected diagnosis from mom's lung doctor on Friday I have been reeling to say the least. I have bounded from laughter to tears. She , as is always the case, has been the calm in the storm for me. I have found peace in her peace. She has no fear or concern, her outlook is that if this is how the good Lord takes her home so be it. So Friday night we had Doug's graduation and everyone had a great time. Doug also got a bonus trip to Ohio with Payton and her mommy so she would not have to go alone. He has had a ball.  So hubby and I decided we had waited on Dianna to come over long enough. The garden was going to waste, beans needed picking and apparently we were the only ones willing to do it. Deanna, the twin to Di, showed up as well as her son and his fiance and we all attacked the garden. Since the bean vines were no longer blooming with flowers we simply pulled them right out of the ground and picked the beans off that way. With 5 of us picking the beans we had the vines picked clean in no time. We all laughed and cut up and had a great time. 

Well the neighbor came over and helped us get out the new potatoes that were ready to be dug, and we also got some more zucchini and cucumbers. We then went to his garden and got us some corn and beets, enough beets to can, YUM! I love pickled beets and they are such a hoot to get ready. We looked like we had just killed Barney as the juice is red at first them purple colored as it dries. We got 17 pints of pickled beets. The coolest part is once you boil the beets for canning they simply slip out of their skins. But you do have to leave about an inch of their tops on them or else they will bleed to death as mom called it..

WE had a ball, me, mom and De cooking and canning. Although my sister hates getting pictures taken her hubby got in on the fun and snapped some good ones of us and some with mom with us. Mom kind of attacked her for the photo rofl

It reminded us of when Memaw (mom's mom) was alive and canning with her. Never a dull moment.. and she did it without air conditioning YIKES lol..

So we got done aruond 2 am with the beets and decided the beans would wait till today. So we got over there this afternoon and broke the beans, Did I mention we had a ton of beans lol:

That is my cousin Mikey next to mom he had stopped in for a quick visit and was telling her about their trip to Arizona they just took. Mom asked him if they got to see the Crand Ganyon Rofl (meaning of course the grand canyon lol). Another Memaw moment if we ever heard it.

After breakin the beans you have to wash them in cold water in the sink. then pack them in jars as tight as you can..

De and I are not as adept at mom of course but we are getting there. You add a teaspoon of salt to the jar and then hot water and put them in a pressure cooker till it lifts the jiggler thing 1-2 times a minute. You turn down the heat till it does that and let it cook fro 25 minutes. Although I loathe pressure cookers I was not too bad with this one..

Grand total?? 17 pints of beets and 42 cans of green beans. But we also go some new potatoes to add to the beans when we cook them.. mmmmm

But best of all I got to spend some time with my mom. Learning the things she learned from her mom, before it is too late. All we have is today, we know for sure now tomorrow is not promised... make each day count, you can never get it back..

[mierjo]

Jul. 20, 2009 at 8:16 AM

What a beautiful post! Enjoy your time with your mom. I'm sorry to hear of her illness. Thanks for the important reminder! God Bless * {{HUGS}}