CANNING ON THE GRILL.

I really love canning. I do. I love preserving our own food. But the thing is, I also hate canning. It falls in the middle of the summer, and we cook with wood....which means, standing over a wood stove for hours on end in already 100 degree weather.This year, we experimented with canning outside, on the grill. It was, indeed, hot. And it still took all day. But I would say it was pretty successful, and we didn't heat up the cabin in the process! Best of all, the grill was still so hot when we were done that we baked brownies as a reward for all our hard work.How do you can your tomatoes?- Hannah.

SUNDAY CANNING.

The Bugtussle family is on vacation! That means we are watching the farm for 10 days - moving the animals, bottle feeding a calf, taking care of Ira's menagerie, and generally being busy! But today. Today, we had an excess of tomatoes and it was just too nice outside to resist. I parked myself in the outdoor kitchen all day long and canned. It was 75 degrees, remarkably quiet with no children or critters around - basically, it was bliss.Canning is normally done in the heat of summer, slaving over a hot stove for hours - and in our case, a WOOD fire! Thankfully, I was able to use the Smith's stove.  I read, I watched the hummingbird's on the kiwi vine, I relaxed. We do indeed have a busy 10 days ahead of us, but today was a nice little calm before the storm. Sundays are good for rest, and it is always lovely when our schedule allows them to actually be restful. I hope your Sunday was just as perfect.- Hannah.