All Things Homemaking: Canning

Home Is Best

My love for homemaking began as a young girl. I loved to watch my mother with her hands covered in flour as she kneaded bread dough on a Saturday evening. Being short, she used a chair with her bread bowl on it which afforded me the opportunity to not only watch but drink in the smell of yeast as it mixed with the flour. I also remember her wearing dresses and heels under her aprons even for kitchen work. The apron I remember best was one she saved for those special occasions. It was made of a white organza fabric and had embroidery around the bottom edge. Because my mother loved homemaking and was wonderful in creating an art about everything she did, it was natural that I should develop this passion too. I believe this love and ability is a gift given from God. It is an honor that He has bestowed on me to be a wife and mother. I delight in employing every ability that He has equipped me with to love and care for my family. I love to be home. Just the other day one of my daughters asked me if I ever wanted to go out and get a job. I thought for a moment and then responded with, "why would I want another job when I have the best one in the world". There might be a time when I need to be in the workforce outside my home but it will be a step down in my career. For me, HOME IS BEST!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Canning

I love to can. There is a feeling of satisfaction and reward that comes from seeing the process from my garden to the finished jars on my shelves. I have been canning for over 25 years. Canning is not difficult. It is time consuming and it can be messy. It is important too, that the process be done correctly to ensure safety in food. Canning is becoming a lost art. My goal through this blog and through teaching is to encourage people to can. We have a generation of children growing up who do not know where the food even comes from, how it is processed and the joy of doing it yourself. I have many fond memories of my mom's basement canning room filled with jar after jar of home canned produce. Learning to can is getting back to those roots and feeling the satisfaction of being there through the whole process from seed to those beautiful jars on the shelf.