All the Salsa

I made 26 quarts of salsa yesterday. There are 14 on the counter and 12 in the canner:

I don’t usually run two canner loads in one day but I was motivated to get this done. And it’s a truism of canning season that no matter how many stock pots you own, you don’t have enough stock pots. I’ll have to pick up one or two more. The husband and the crew were here when I mixed up the first batch, so I had them taste it. The husband suggested I add a few more hot peppers. I may have to include a couple of hot pepper plants in the rotation every year because those six surprise plants were very popular with us and with the neighbors.

I still have one batch of tomatoes that I left warming in the roaster overnight. I’ll run the last canner load of salsa this morning and that will be it. The only canning left to do now is pumpkin and that can wait a few weeks. The tomatoes are out of the freezer and there is room for pork.

One of our church members and his sister came over yesterday morning to get some tomatoes. I made an announcement last week during our service that anyone who wanted tomatoes was welcome to come and help themselves. Looking at the forecast, we may get a frost tomorrow night but I am not going to cover anything. I think it’s time to call an end to gardening season for 2024.

Something has been burrowing into the greenhouse. The husband and I saw this the other evening when we went out to fold up the tarp that was on the tomato patch:

Whatever it is, it was determined. I don’t keep food or produce in the greenhouse so I’m not sure why it wanted to get in.

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The acrylic insert for my sewing table arrived yesterday. Monday or Tuesday next week is going to be devoted to nothing but sewing. I’ve pulled a few cool-weather fabrics for making some long-sleeve tops and hoodies and I have those quilts to finish.

If the long-range weather forecasts hold, I may get my wish for a very snowy winter. I am anticipating lots of sewing time in December, January, and February. Putting off sewing until after canning season has been hard, but that is how I have chosen to prioritize my life, and I am fortunate to be in a position to make those choices. All things in the proper time.