Fish Like a GIRL

I am not sure where the summer went, but I did not expect to look at the calendar and see August starring back at me. I feel as though I have not fished enough, gardened enough, hiked enough, or done really anything enough for it to be this late in the year, but here we are. It is almost time to start thinking about hunting season. I know many people think about that year round, and I supposed I did, too, in my younger years. But it seems the older I get, the less dedicated I am to the work that begins once the shot hits home on a nice buck. Getting out in the woods is still a passion, however, and I still purchase a sportsman’s license every year, but the idea that I “must” bag a deer is one with which I parted ways awhile back, probably after my late husband Rod died and I got rid of the house on the land where we used to hunt. It lost its luster after that, I think.

Looking forward to fall biking 

I was just talking with a friend the other day before a meeting and we both commented about how neither of us have even gotten on our mountain bikes yet this year. Some may remember that I purchased a used mountain bike last year, my first bike in decades. It made me realize my legs were not nearly as strong as I thought they were, and it took a bit to get back into the swing of things, but I am happy I decided to get back into it. I highly doubt I’ll be taking on any “expert” trails any time soon, or maybe ever, but it is fun and I feel like it is a great way to see some sights and sounds of nature. 

That said, all of that does require actually getting out on the bike, does it not? And, as I stated, I have yet to do that this year. I realized also that the older I get, the less heat tolerant I am. I would be lying if I said that the two did not have anything to do with one another. Biking in the heat, at least for me, just is not a fun way to travel.

That said, I am truly looking forward to the late summer and fall. The bike is not the lightest one out there, but it is light enough that I can get it in the back of the truck myself fairly easily, meaning I am mobile and can start out really anywhere.

That brings up the other question: where to start this fall. There are so many great trails, a few of which I have been on, many of which I have not, and likely some of which I am not even aware.

I would be interested to hear from readers which trail or trails are their favorites for fall riding. Additional opportunities for birding along the way are most favorable.

Adventures in canning

Last year I wanted to start canning. In reality, I took more advantage of pickling and freezing than actually canning. I pickled beets, onions and, well, cucumbers, which are obvious. I like pickled foods and always look forward to a friend’s pickled northern after the start of ice fishing.

So many foods freeze well, and I had a good amount of freezer space, so I took that into consideration and decided to freeze more. I just used up the last of my spaghetti sauce about a week ago, I still, of course, have frozen zucchini — who doesn’t, right? 

I blanched and individually froze a lot of vegetables, first freezing them  lying flat on a cookie sheet and then bagging them into meal-sized portions. That worked out great, and the last of my carrots and celery just went into a chicken dumpling soup this week. It seems as though the amounts I had were planned out pretty well, so that goes into the memory bank for this year.

But, one of the cool things about the house we bought, and one of the small bonuses that drew me to it, was the presence of a big pantry area in the basement. It reminded me of the pantry in the basement of my childhood home. My sister and I could go into the pantry and play “grocery store.” That is how much canning our Mom did when we were young. I can say, however, that I will likely never eat apple mint jelly as an adult. My mom kind of went crazy with it one year — at least I think it was just one year — but we had enough apple mint jelly to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, I believe. Perhaps it was part of a plan to never have to purchase jelly again. Or she just did not want to be wasteful. I don’t think my sister or I ever asked. 

But now it is time for me to pick up the torch, I suppose. We have a half a pig coming this fall, so freezer space will be at a premium. At the same time, I would still like to have peas, beans, turnips, kohlrabi, carrots, celery and some other fresh veggies over the winter. 

I do not think I have ever canned things by myself. I helped my Mom and my Grandma back in the day, but I have little experience pressure canning on my own. I did do some water bath canning of salsa last year, and it was great to have homemade salsa for a portion of the winter. That did not last nearly as long in this house as “regular” vegetables. But it was great to know the origin of every herb, pepper and tomato in that salsa. 

It does something to boost the mood when you can go be more self-sufficient.

I have been reading reviews of pressure canners. I have been doing a little pre-shopping. And, of course, I have been scanning YouTube and watching all of the videos I can find on canning. I hope readers stay tuned for those adventures later this fall. I am excited and looking forward to it. I have been picking up canning jars whenever I see them for sale online or at thrift stores and buying canning lids and seals here and there. Adventure awaits!

Beckie Gaskill may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].