Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Promises, pears and pickles

I have sheepy shots, as promised.

Sara recently posted some sweet pix of sitting with her new sheep, and it made me realize how long it's been since I've done that. With all that's on my plate and no lambs to make friends with this year, my old friends just haven't gotten the attention we all enjoy so much. Thanks to Sara, I took a little time to remedy that....

Browning and Blake are in the Sheep Sheraton. It is not a good idea to go in and schmooze with a ram, but perfectly fine to give a respectful fellow some loving scritches over the half-wall. (Browning couldn't be bothered; there was fresh hay to eat.)

The other three wethers and Bramble are hanging out in the wooded lot. I had to laugh at Bingaling bedded down under the feeder:

When I upended a bucket and sat down for a chat, Bramble and Bittersweet came over to say "Hi," but Bing wanted more and I was happy to oblige.

Big Bart was too suspicious to approach:
I'll have to work on that this winter in the sheepfold!

Today, processing the second batch of soup, making pickles and canning prunes were on my agenda, but last night Rick brought home two bulging bags of groundfall pears from a client's place. Sigh. I couldn't just throw them to the chickens!
So besides another five quarts of condensed tomato soup, I've added seven quarts of ginger pear sauce to the pantry, and a crockpot full of ginger pear butter is simmering as I type.

Break time's over. Let's see if I can knock out a couple cannersful of dill pickles before bed!

Back to the salt brines at . . .

9 comments:

Maureen said...

Holy crap, you are busy... love the sheep shots! I can't imagine filling that many masons - you must have the most awesome pantry!

Shane Pollard said...

Hi Michelle
I'm feeling tired just reading about all that canning work - good for you though - wonderful supplies to draw on in the long winter months.

I love those sheep photos - they're such individuals aren't they - just like us!

Nice to catch up with you today Michelle.
hugs
Shane

Mama Pea said...

Wow, you are just a canning machine these days! Love to look at the pictures of all your beautiful canned goods. Also enjoy the pics of the critters, too, of course.

Ebonwald Cardigans said...

Can I just put in an order for canned and frozen foods from you? I'm serious.

Susan said...

I love the idea of canning my own condensed tomato soup (my favorite thing on a cold winter day), but have never found a recipe that I liked. Can you share yours? I love the sheep pics. I have been taking the time every day to do as much sheepie scritching as I can squeeze in. It makes everyone happy, including me.

Michelle said...

Thanks for all the kudos, but I still feel like a slacker compared to the canning my mom and other family members used to do! Every little bit helps the food bill, though.

Garrett, we might have to trade; sheep for food? ;-)

Susan, here the recipe as I received it, and what I actually use in parentheses:

5 qts pureed tomatoes (I don't usually peel them)
1 onion, pureed
3 stalks celery, chopped and pureed (1 t. celery seed)
1 c. butter (2/3 c. oil)
1 1/2 c. flour (2 c. flour)
3/4 c. sugar (evaporated cane juice)
1/4 c. salt
1 T. garlic powder

Make a roue with oil and flour, then add all other ingredients. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Pour into clean, hot jars and water-bath process (10 minutes for pints; 20 minutes for quarts). Makes five quarts with a bit left over for lunch!

Anonymous said...

Your canned goods look delicious, and of course the sheep are beautiful!

melanie said...

I am looking forward to trying the soup recipe......yum!

Unknown said...

Heeheeheee, Bart is playing sheep-a-boo!