Putting it Up

The past three days have been jam packed with a lot of different things to do.  People may use their weekends for entertainment and down time.  But this time of the year and with my goals in mind I don't do much down time.  I should do more downtime but isn't that winter is for?  That is a later topic.  Let's just say I probably run in my sleep.

I started it all on Thursday afternoon at the Waterville Farmer's Market.  There I stopped at the vendor, Snakeroot Farm, with whom we have a CSA with.  What is a CSA?  Perhaps you can find one close to you for next year. In a nutshell it is buying shares in a local farm for produce.  It gives the farmer starting cash for the growing season. You in turn get locally produced, hopefully organic (ours is!) veggies and fruits.  Yum!  My garden is very small this year because I knew I wouldn't have the time to devote to it.  The CSA was a great alternative.  Anyways I picked up 5lbs of beans, 10 lbs of pickling cukes, fresh dill, a overflowing pint of different cherry tomatoes, summer squash, patty pans, zucchinis, shallots and garlic.  Out of all of that bounty I spent a couple hours on friday and saturday canning.  This is the fruits of my labor.

The back row is kosher garlic dill spears.  The middle and front rows are a combination of bread and butter pickles and dilly green beans.  I love the bread and butter pickles and will be making more. 

I am on the search for the perfect relish recipe to can up as well. We do use the bread and butter pickles chopped up fine.  It is delish but I really would like a relish recipe. 

On top of that we went to a memorial service, cleaned house, worked in my studio, processed pictures and a whole slew of other things.  Despite the frantic pace of this time of year I love it.  Life is good.