It Has Begun

     Canning/freezing season has finally begun in our household! In order to keep the momentum, and still keep up with the upcoming vacation and ten million other plans, we are going to have to keep to a very strict picking and canning schedule around here.


     We began with peas and raspberries this weekend. This was actually suggested by Bearded Man, and seemed like a good idea. So, packing our four kids, plus a spare kid (Lexi's friend who spent most of the weekend with us) we were off.


     Let me stop right here. We need to backtrack just a tiny bit. We need to discuss Facebook. My little sister, who is having the worse luck in the entire world right now, was mournfully talking about how awful things were compared to looking to see what her friend's Facebook posts were like. It only made her MORE depressed, to see these perfect people, with perfect lives, and no problems, as they smiled into the camera during yet another fun filled perfect family trip/or whatever the prefect family happens to be doing.
    
     I told her it's generally NOT real. I COULD have been "that" mom. I COULD have lined all my happy kids up (plus the spare kid) in front of the beautiful fields full of bountiful goodness, in the summer sunshine. I COULD have snapped the picture and posted it with caption and fourteen hashtags. "Berry Picking!" #Summer #eatingright #bountifulgoodness #countryliving #prepingforwinter. yada yada yada.


     What REALLY happened was: The kids fought for approximately half an hour before we left, over who was going to sit where in the van. After they settled on a place for everyone, the threats, barbs, insults and snide comments commenced on the way to the berry patch. Bearded Man announced he hates picking peas, and decided to pick raspberries instead. He took Lexi, her friend, and George up to the berry patch. I took Kaila and Joe to the pea patch.
     Within minutes, we were sweaty. Our legs and backs hurt, from bending over to dig for peas. Kaila could not possibly pick many peas,  because there were pricker plants around her row. Joe was disgusted with the entire process, and announced there must be a more efficient way to do this miserable job, and why wasn't there an invention for this yet?
     Lexi, her friend and George came down from the berry patch, and Kaila and Joe went up to trade spots. Everyone hated the entire process. George ended up in the van. Followed by everyone else. Joe went to the roadside stand to sing his tale of miserable woe to the owner of the farm.
     Bearded Man finally came down with his berries. Half a box. I was informed there were more, but he had probably eaten about half of them.


     Memories and stuff. We took the kids home, fed them, and went swimming.


     By Saturday evening, about 4 million pounds of peas were shelled and in the freezer, and by noon on Sunday, 12 small jars of raspberry jam was made.
     Lexi's friend was still with us, and asked to help too. She was SO impressed. "Wow. You are the coolest mom! I wish MY mom did this kind of thing! What else are you going to do?" So, all excited I said we were going to do MORE raspberries, try to get the fall strawberries, do blueberries, corn, green beans and peaches. And, if I could get over my fear of the pressure cooker, tomatoes. Also, we had ordered a pig for late fall.


     "A PIG???!!!! TO EAT??? Right now, there is a poor little pig that is alive and happy and doesn't know you are going to KILL it and EAT it???" She accused me in horror.


      "Well, I am not going to kill it. Someone ELSE is! We won't even see poor little Wilbur alive!"


     "WILBUR??? You NAMED IT?????!!!!!!" She gasped.


     "Mom" said Lexi tearfully, "You know I just decided this summer that pigs are my favorite animal. I cannot eat pig."


     "Lexi. you just ate HAM for dinner last night."


     Lexi and her now unimpressed friend proceeded to leave the kitchen in righteous indignation.


     In preparation for Wilbur, we went and looked at larger freezers this weekend. Where there may have been startled sales persons, as Bearded Man announced (loudly) that chest freezers could be great for bodies. The upright freezers would be more work, as one would have to cut them up first. (If I am ever missing, please check my freezer, okay?)




     Anyhow. It is now Monday again, and, it's a relief to leave the chores at home and come to the relative break of work.


     I should mention that Joe did indeed survive Scout Camp. We arrived to find him covered head to foot in bug bites, and his voice hoarse from all the shouting Scouts are supposed to do. He was exhausted and ready to come home, but, once again had a wonderful week at Scout Camp.
   
     "Mom." he confessed, "You know how you just bought me a new Scout Shirt last week for camp?"


     "yes"


     "I think I might have lost  it my first day here. I think it may be over by Sports somewhere. Not sure."


     "UUUGGHH. Okay. It's okay Joe. We'll get you a new one."


     "My stomach was literally quite sick about it."


     "It's all good Kiddo. I only beat people on Tuesdays, so, you're fine."


     The shirt, by the way, was found exactly where he pretty much left it, and he can't wait to go again next year.


    Bearded Man bought himself a boat this weekend.


     He has wanted a small fishing boat for some time now, and, on the premise of going to the Vet to pick up a prescription for the dogs, left Saturday morning, and came home with a small boat. That he just "happened" to stumble across. It was practically throwing itself at him. He was going to name it "Little Dinghy" but, I like "I Can't Swim" better, so, the name of the boat is up in the air at this point. I want to be on the bank of Case Lake watching, the first time he takes it out. He's been riveting and caulking it all weekend.


 Anyhow, that's all the excitement here. This week, I am determined to go blueberry picking, to keep on my self imposed canning/freezing schedule. I can only imagine the horrors my children will perceive this to be. builds character and all that.