Monday, June 28, 2021

Half Of Summer Caught In Three Pint Jars


A few minutes ago the temperature dropped a little and great gallumphs of giant-boot thunder began to sound and now lightening is cracking and flashing to the south and the east of us. Leaves are stirring in a small, restless dance and the sun has closed its eyes to slits.

Come on, rain. Break this syrup-thick humidity, turn it into liquid that falls from the sky and cools the dirt. 

I took a small walk this morning, less than forty-five minutes, and it was miserable. I know that it seems that the whole country is suffering right now and I know that our heat and humidity is not as bad as it is elsewhere but that doesn't make it feel any better here. 

I spent most of the rest of the day in the kitchen, peeling and chopping tomatoes and cutting up onions and peppers and putting them in the food processor and then cooking all of that with vinegar, sugar, salt, spices. I started out with enough of the mixture to half-fill my biggest enameled cast-iron pot and simmered it down until this is what I got.



Not even three full pints of chili sauce. 
Sigh.
It's good but I can't help but feel that this may have been a waste of my time, considering the results. And it's not just the chopping and cooking and peeling, it's the bowls and utensils I have to wash and the kitchen counters that, no matter how carefully I work, end up covered with juice and seeds. 
I guess I need to look at as a way to preserve many of the tomatoes and peppers that we grow and that each of those jars holds an entire bounty of garden goodness. 
Or something like that. 

I also made cookies. Tomorrow is Mr. Moon's birthday and he doesn't want a party or even a lunch out and he doesn't want a cake. He just finished up the Father's Day dessert I made him and I think the idea of an entire cake is probably overwhelming. So I think we're going to go to the beach with Lily and her kids and we can take cookies for everyone to eat. He's spent all day today over at Lily's, mowing her vast yard and doing I-don't-know-what-all. She told me that she wouldn't let him get the leaves off her roof for which I am grateful. 

It's raining now. A slow, gentle rhythm. Not enough to do a whole lot but it is cooler and the air feels more like air should, rather than something you need a snorkel to breathe. I just looked up to see one of Darla's kids at least thirty feet from her, pecking at seeds underneath the bird feeder. He was brave for a minute or two and then rushed back to be with mama and the rest of the siblings. It won't be long before they're all wandering off on their own. I will miss watching that little family flock wander about the yard. One of the barred rocks, either Annie or Alice, was missing a few nights ago in the roost but she showed up again the next day. I have no idea where she was but I'm glad she's back.
 
The mystery and wonder of chickens. The mystery and wonder of rain. The mystery and wonder and alchemy of making sauce from tomatoes. The mystery and wonder of watching a cat watching the rain come down. The mystery and wonder of loving someone so long and discovering that you love them more every year. Hell, every day. 

The mystery and wonder of it all. 

Love...Ms. Moon


20 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to Mr. Moon. I hope you all enjoy the day tomorrow. Have a sweet night.

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  2. Wishing Mr Moon a wonderful Birthday with cookies and grands and Lily! and you!!!!!!! Your chili sauce is beautiful but yes, isn't it almost disappointing to see pounds and pounds of fruit and veggies (and the labor) reduced to 3 jars? I hear you on that...... but it will be a proud moment to serve it with any meal!
    Susan M

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  3. Happy Birthday to your Mr. Moon! What a special man he is and he is yours!
    Consider the fact that you have a wonderful garden that offers up a bounty of such goodies that allows you the option to create a delicious product you can use whenever ... consider those of us who do not have the same options! You, my dear, are so lucky!

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  4. On my walk this morning - 6:30am in a well-to-do neighborhood I came across a beautiful rooster crowing out - how unexpected and enjoyable. Early walk because it got to 110 here today - Seattle area - but the coast is now 30 degrees cooler so it is on the way. Whew! Even though you aren't having it this hot I know you feel pretty much the same way. Was Mr. Moon born on a hot day?

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  5. Happy birthday to Mr. Moon. May you have a wonderful time in the san at the beach.

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  6. The mystery and wonder of coming in here to new adventures every day! Happy birthday, Mr. Moon.

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  7. Happy birthday to Mr. Moon! The world is filled with mysteries and wonders - it's good to be reminded of that.

    Chris from Boise

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  8. Happy Birthday to your special Mr. Moon!

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  9. More Happy Birthday wishes to Mr. Moon from England. Hope that you both have a lovely day.

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  10. Joining the chorus wishing Mr Moon a very Happy Birthday.

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  11. I get what you mean about "all that work" to make that sauce, but from where I'm sitting it sure looks good!

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  12. I think all the work will seem worth it when you're eating that sauce! And yes, you've managed to use all those ingredients from your garden, and that's not a small thing. Happy birthday to Glen!

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  13. Have a wonderful birthday, Mr. Moon! Best wishes for a year of fun adventures, good health, and lots of love!

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  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb-0ZCqga48&ab_channel=PeteLounsbury

    Gramma put it all in a jar

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  15. I hope Mr. Moon has a wonderful birthday!

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  16. Happiest of birthdays Mr. Moon! Home grown and made chili sauce sounds like a very fine thing indeed,
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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  17. The mystery and wonder of this place, so full of love.

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  18. Happy birthday Mr. Moon.

    It always amazes me how so much can become so little, but in the end, how wonderful it is to open a can of summer in the middle of winter to make some wonderful dish. There are always two full Moons at your house at the close of the day!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.