Any "home-canners" Out There?

[Guest Viola]

Jen, if you live in town, there is no reason you couldn't do a New Year's Santa pictures with "pets", The kids would love it .. You would even get guinea pigs etc. I'll bet. Still, the whole idea of it is to do a New Year's afternoon thing with people with some thing in common. You could even have a neighbour hood Stitch & jerk New Year's coffee party with spouses ... of course the b%$@#ing part would be kept down

What we are trying to promote is to start the New Year off with friends, meet someone new in the neighbourhood, share your interests and have a good time. Some times the New Year is kept strictly with family (including any squables), or in this day and age with families so scattered, many people are alone. Have a neighbourhood coffee party, and you can include all friends from other neighbourhoods as well, and share your left over Christmas goodies, it's an awsome way to start the New Year off. People start asking in July if we are going to have our pictures with Santa party.

Of course it doesn't just have to be a New Year's thing either. Sharing is good anytime of the year

[Guest Viola]

The forum keeps changing my B-i-t-c-h to "jerk" when I was talking about "stitch & B-i-t-c-h

[tiredofdoctors]

Love the changes to your party name! I kept thinking, "What is a stitch and jerk party"? . . . .Will take a digital picture of poor little destiny -- who is staying under the electric blanket in order to keep from shivering continuously -- to show you how pitiful she really looks. She still isn't happy with me! Jen -- how did you start your cookie exchange? My daughter and I think it's a really neat idea, but don't quite know how to start it, what to tell people (how much, etc.), who supplies boxes, etc. . . .would love to know how you set yours up. Wouldn't it be fun to do a pets with Santa like Shirley does? I think that's great. In my parent's neighborhood, they have a little gazebo that they do kid pics with Santa -- I'm wondering if I can get someone to dress up and "borrow" the gazebo to do pet pics! Wouldn't be the same as at home, but right now our house is in NO SHAPE to entertain (even pets!) Well, better go -- Destiny is giving me a dirty look because my laptop is in her way! Talk to you guys soon . . . . Lynne

[jenvan]

Lynne-

Using the gazebo would be cool! The cookie exchange is really fun, and not hard to do. Since some of my friends aren't quite martha stewart's, I have everyone bring 4 dozen cookies. I choose not to make people rsvp their cookie (my dh thought that was too OCD), but I did include a long list of more unique and uncommon cookies in the invite to get people thinking beyond 'chocolate chip.' Last year I maybe had 10 or 12 people. This year I am inviting 25ish ! (And moving the party to my mom's house--since mine is tiny!) I have some simple hors d'ouvres and drinks like homemade eggnog and spiced cider. When the friends arrive I have them fill out a place card with their name and the type of cookie. Then I set out the cookies and placecards around the house. We all hang out and eat for a while, and then I welcome everyone, and have each person introduce themselves, talk about the cookies they brought, tell a story or memory about them if it is relevant. Like how last year I made my grandma's butter cookies--with one of the presses she used to use years ago that I inherited. I also have christmas music etc. in the background. I may do some kind of favor this year...not sure. I make the invitations by hand (since i love to do that stuff). I don't know how old your daughter is--but that would be fun to do with her. My mom helps and goes to the party.

Everyone really loved the event that year and I had a few people asking about this fall already. The husbands love it especially! I think its a great idea b/c making 4 dozen of one kind isn't bad, but coming home with 15 other types of cookies to try is great! I have one other friend coming who is a celiac, but beyond that (and my mom's , they will probably all be gluten-filled! For me the point is more for the friendships, and I usually gave most of the cookies away as gifts to friends and neighbors for the holidays anyway. This is a modified tradition of what my dad always did... He loves to cook, and bakes some family recipes each christmas...then goes around and delivers them to friends. Anyway, that's about it! Oh, one suggestion I will make is to be pretty directive in the invite. Most of my friends forgot to bring an extra container with them, so that when theirs was out with their cookies, then had another to collect others' in. This year on the invite I'm going to have a "When you come, bring: your cookies, an extra container, 20 copies of your recipe to share, yadda yadda. I'm looking forward to it already!

Maybe when Bri and I get a bigger house we'll do a pet party! Most of our friends have them. Maggie (our cat's) birthday is on halloween, so I am ordering her a present today

[Guest Viola]

Jen, that sounds wonderful ... kinda like a cookie pot luck, except you get to take them home Any get together like that is extra special.

Lynne I'm looking forward to getting a picture of Destiny, send me one email at

hubel@netidea.com The gazebo idea is a great one! You could really decorate a gazebo

[tiredofdoctors]

Hey guys -- the good news with the gazebo thing is that it is already decorated -- really nicely! (These people have kind of weird standards -- it's O.K. to have a pond that is really grose -- but the gazebo has to be extraordinary -- winter is lavishly Christmas-y, and spring/summer is professionally landscaped) I think I may have a Santa & Pets Day.

Jen -- your cookie exchange sounds fantastic!!! It has got to be just so much fun. I loved the idea about telling stories about the cookies -- especially the one about your grandmother. I'm really sentimental about things like that, and I think it makes for a really "heartfelt" experience for everyone. My daughter is 19 -- she's a sophomore in college. She's a Speech Language Pathology major, but is minoring in vocal music performance (hopes to treat vocalists after graduation). She auditioned for the "stellar" performance group (called the Chorale) and made it last year, met a really NICE guy who sings in it, and is SOOOOOOO in love. It wouldn't surprise me if they got married next summer. (The reason I put "stellar" in like that is that, unlike a LOT of moms that I've come across in the music realm -- my son plays jazz saxophone(btw, he's 23) -- I'm not a "show mom". Don't get me wrong -- I'm very proud of their talents, and go to all of their performances, but their talents are just what they can do -- it's not who they are -- and I think a lot of moms can get that confused. I've met a few who are way too into it, maybe living through their kids, and they're kind of obnoxious! Sorry to anyone who reads this who is like that. No offense meant, but I just think that it's not my life, it's theirs.)

Boy, did I get off the subject! At any rate, both kids love to cook so I think it would be a really good experience for all of us.

Okay, now I AM bragging -- guess what my son asked the other night? He asked me to come up with a list of ingredients which I can have / can't have (I told him I'd make some copies of lists in my books), and he wants to start experimenting with recipes to come up with gluten-free foods for me! He is an exceptional cook (doesn't bake much, but can really cook) -- and I can't WAIT! Isn't that neat, though, that he wants to do that? He said it really quietly -- we had a birthday again, and I couldn't have either the cake nor the ice cream, and he felt awful -- and he said that he wants me to be able to enjoy really good food that's not going to poison me. I'm pretty happy about that!

Well, poor, pitiful almost-bald Destiny is staring at my computer with laser beam eyes -- I think she wants me to let her sleep. I would love to, also, if my joints would behave and stop hurting so badly that they wake me up! Talk to you guys soon . . . . Lynne

[jenvan]

your kids do sound great! and i do think you have the right attitude...many moms don't know where their kids end and they begin! your sons sounds like he will make a great husband to some woman one day--how thoughtful! one of my mom's secret dreams is to have a gazebo some day

[Guest Viola]

Jen, your mom's secret dream isn't a secret anymore. I don't blame her, I'd love to have a gazebo too, I can even think of a few places to put one up here

Lynne, your kids do sound wonderful, good for you instilling the love of cooking etc in them.

Everyone has talents, we just need to find our own, enjoy the kids, but let them get on with it and enjoy our own talents, what ever they may be. My eldest daughter Tam, loves to cook as well. It's a good thing as she is Celiac too and she really enjoys changing recipes to suit. She also extrememly talented in training dogs ... it's not the run of the mill talents, but super important and I'm really proud of her.

Our youngest hates to cook, and claims not to be domesticated at all But she has done a super job in raising her son to adult hood by herself and is our financial wizard as her employer calls her. The talents are so different, and we are proud of both of them.

[tiredofdoctors]

Having had multiple canines, I find that the talent of being able to train them is a gift from God and extremely rare! Certainly NOT run of the mill, but yet, doesn't that make her VERY special??!! Also, a financial wizard in the family is a great gift! I think it's true -- each child has different talents (and different quirks ), and you need to love and appreciate each individually.

I sense that both of you share my philosophy of not confusing your kids' lives with your own! Like I said, I'm highly supportive of them, encourage them, have bought more instruments than I'd care to admit (we tend to be musical), but I'm strictly behind the scenes. When they were in high school, there were these moms who were there EVERY day. They kissed-up to the directors like you wouldn't believe. This one mom was convinced that her daughter was THE BEST singer ever produced. And boy, did she let EVERYONE know it. I got so tired of hearing it. I kept thinking, do you not have anything that you can do? Long story short, when my daughter got into (by audition) a state program that her daughter didn't, she let the entire school know how outraged she was. She went so far as to tell them that her daughter was a much better vocalist than Ashley, and she didn't know HOW she managed to get in. (Like I have so many influential contacts --that's just it -- I didn't go to the school, etc., and I am basically a peon!). It was rediculous! Again, though, my evil twin did get some sick pleasure from her frustration It was nice to see the big suck-up so frustrated

Oh well, need to reminisce (sp?) a little more . . . . . Ahhhhh . . .. .Talk to you soon!

[jenvan]

I haven't seen my favorite thread in a while Anyone doing any cool crafts or projects right now? I went antiquing with my mom over the weekend and bought a slew of vintage hankies. I am going to sew them into a table runner, and then embroider on it as well. My first embroidering project went well. I am the MOH in my friend’s wedding and I embroidered a hanky for her with some flowers and her new initials…so she can wrap it around the base of her bouquet and have during the wedding ceremony. Just wondering if anyone else was doing any cool crafts etc...

[tiredofdoctors]

Hey Jen -- Have been getting the house "cleaned up and out" so that I can have my own craft room! Pretty excited about that. We got a new couch and a new bed, so I've been trying to decide what I'm going to do with the family room and bedroom. Our house is pretty small, so I want to try to make it look as big as I can. I never thought that I would be HAPPY that our maniac dog shredded the bed (the only thing that is scary is that he shredded it from my pillow all the way down -- eek) I don't know what his problem is, but it was the second time he had shredded the bed, he had shredded four fitted sheets, one pillow case and one pillow. Evidently he has some repressed anger. I'm not, however, going to pay for a shrink! I made some pretty intricate wreaths for my sisters-in-law for Christmas -- that was fun -- then spent after Christmas looking for bargains for next year -- I'm going to rent a booth at the "Christmas Exposition" here. Have gotten all my "stuff" organized now -- all the papers, etc. Also, have started scanning pictures for my parents 50th wedding anniversary -- my sister has a DVD writer & software, so they're going to take the pix (my scanner has a higher resolution than theirs) and prepare the DVD. Planning on preparing a scrapbook for each of my kids, especially since Ashley is getting married in August -- have a few good ideas for that.

My "neatest" project this Christmas was that I took a shadow box, put a picture of the view outside our room in Cancun when I took the kids years ago, put sand and seashells that I had saved from there in the bottom, but also put in the sunscreen which they laughed at me about -- I wanted to have sparkles, but didn't realize that 15 spf wasn't enough in Cancun -- was burned to a crisp -- but they started calling me "Suzie Sun Sparkles" -- I saved the lotion, and had a small bottle (corked) of it in each. I also put in a larger bottle of "fairy dust" -- it was the dust I scattered in a trail to the place where their tooth fairy money was when I couldn't manage to get the money under their pillow without them waking up, or if I overslept. On the back of the shadowbox, I wrote a note to them that I was sort of passing on the torch, and reminded them that I am now, and will always be, Suzie Sun Sparkles!

Well, the new couch guys are here . . .. need to go

[tiredofdoctors]

Need to clarify -- the first new couch had the back coming off it -- so we had to have a SECOND new couch delivered -- it's here and in -- seems to be O.K. so far, but we'll wait and see! These guys give me the "ick" feeling, though, and the dog DOES NOT like them. They're still wandering around out front -- they should be gone by now. My scare factor if huge now -- three years ago, I was buff -- 12% body fat, and strong -- I could have taken out anyone who tried to hurt me or my family. Now, I can't even stand well by myself -- and I have NO muscular endurance -- so it really gets to me when scary people have to come in when I'm by myself. At any rate, wanted to clarify!

[jenvan]

Sounds like you did some cool things! A craft room, that would be awesome! Maybe one day my dh and I can share a craft studio/workbench tool room Scrapbooks are so great. I made one for my dh when we got married. I'm sure your daughter will love hers! My mom made ones for me for the high school, college years. Good luck with the dog! He does sound like he has unresolved anger issues. Perhaps you could stage an intervention??

[chrissy]

i'm so glad to find this thread!!!! i was going to ask about home canning since it dawned on me one day (as i bought a more expensive chilie for my girls), that i could make my own and can it. i used to do alot of canning, but with having so many babies and my fibromyalgia creeping in on me, i had kind of abaondoned it. do any of you make and can your own soups, chilie or spaghetti sauce? i used to do a great vegetable soup that we really liked. i've also canned meat before----it is so easy to add a little cornstarch and make a wonderful meat gravy with.

we are in the process(slowly) of sewing some pioneer bonnets. my girls are going on a pioneer trek this summer---they are supposed to dress authentically.

christine

[jenvan]

Christine-- Welcome! I do love to can too I opened a can of homemade no sugar added applesauce last night. Very good... I do make my own spaghetti sauce...I made several batches this year to use the end of the garden tomatoes. I love to make soup too, but usually froze that, rather than can. We have a deep-freeze. We make our own regular and white chili too. Canning meat or soup would be fun. I have considered trying that before. So far, I've done peaches, applesauce, green tomato relish (end of summer w/my g. tom., onions, peppers), chutney, stewed tomatoes. The peaches, apples are staples for us. This year--definitely canning strawberry jam or maybe a strawberry/blueberry preserves. Sorry to hear about the FM...I too have that. It can be really discouraging. We should exchange recipes sometime !

[tiredofdoctors]

Welcome, Christine! Have to tell you -- Jen and Shirley are absolutely the Goddesses of information with regard to well, pretty much everything around the home! They have taught me so much -- and it's a really FUN thread!

Jen -- I am really excited about the craft room. The funny thing, though, is that I'm also the one in the house who likes tools, as well! My husband doesn't like to do that type of work around the house -- he'd rather do the laundry, iron, dishes (which I am COMPLETELY O.K. with ) The funny thing is, though, when he does work (on the toilet, the electric, etc.) he's really adept at it! Can't wait for it to be finished, though -- it's going to be really fun!

The dog definitely has unresolved issues -- I think he would DEFINITELY be a candidate for the show "Intervention" I think he's still made that there's estrogen in the house, now -- it used to be just "the guys"! My husband let him get by with a LOT, too! He had another dog, and he used to let them play however. They would run up and down the hallway -- at one point, they both ran into the end room door that was closed They also almost knocked the couch over -- with me in it. Me, having my little 3 lb. poodle just didn't tolerate it when I moved in, and he had to stop. Because of another reason -- the one dog got into a vicious fight with another dog -- we no longer have her. So I'm sure that the dog has serious issues with regard to my moving in!

Christine -- again -- any questions you have, Jen and Shirley are the people to ask! I just kind of "chime in" every now and then if I have a tidbit of information! Welcome!!!!!

[pinktroll]

i'm so glad to find this thread!!!! i was going to ask about home canning since it dawned on me one day (as i bought a more expensive chilie for my girls), that i could make my own and can it. i used to do alot of canning, but with having so many babies and my fibromyalgia creeping in on me, i had kind of abaondoned it. do any of you make and can your own soups, chilie or spaghetti sauce? i used to do a great vegetable soup that we really liked. i've also canned meat before----it is so easy to add a little cornstarch and make a wonderful meat gravy with.

we are in the process(slowly) of sewing some pioneer bonnets. my girls are going on a pioneer trek this summer---they are supposed to dress authentically.

christine

Hi Christine,

I'm Nikkie, I haven't said much other than a few posts on other boards but I saw that you are making pioneer bonnets and thought I'd offer you some. I made 40 of them last year for a school play and I still have at least 30-35 left. I don't foresee ever needing that many, so if you are interested you are welcome to some of them. They are "coal skuttle" style, very basic, not the cutest bonnet out there but great for shading your face from the sun. Let me know and I would be happy to share! Nikkie

[chrissy]

nikkie, that is so sweet of you!! but, we already have one almost done and the other is partially sewn. i can't believe you sewed so many!!! what was the play?

christine

[pinktroll]

We live in Utah so the 4th grade did a state history program and the girls were pioneers and the boys were indians. A bunch of the older kids in our area did a pioneer trek to Martins cove last summer so I lent out several for that. Have fun finishing yours up! Nikkie

[chrissy]

nikkie, my girls are going to martin's cove this summer. i am trying to figure out what i am going to do about their food for the trip. we live in southern idaho, but i lived in provo for about 5 years when i was young. my grandmother was a member of the daughters of the utah pioneers.

christine

[Guest Viola]

Hi all, I'm so happy to see this thread on the go again Boy have you all been busy! Good for you. A craft room all to yourself! That's wonderful!

I have a sewing room, but it's a little crowded because I also have my water colours and crafts in there, and because we only shop once a month, it ends up being storage for the extra paper towels etc. But I still love having it because I don't have to take my machines down when I've sewn something.

Hmmm, I think that dog needs a dog run or a crate when he isn't being watched. That could get expensive for sure. Probably not all that good for his digestion either

Christine .. canning chilli works really well, you do have to use a pressure cooker though. But it makes for great chilli and you never have to worry about what's in it.

I haven't had too much time for sewing so far this winter as I've ended up holding 3 chairs in the Kennel Club. So that's been keeping me out of mischief lately. But I have managed to put together an applique wallhanging called butterflies in spring ... but I've used really primary colors so it's more butterflies in summer I've also done a drawing of a cartoon dog yesterday that I want to turn into a wall hanging for the Kennel Club raffle. It's sooooooo cute, I might even keep him

Anyone been doing any quilting?

Now for the fun stuff ... The Kennel Club holds a breed information Day at the mall in Trail once a month in the winter. So we spent the whole day down there today. But yesterday I phoned up a couple more Celiacs in the area and arranged to meet down in Trail. So .. here we are ... four Celiacs sitting around with the dogs, having a cup of coffee and munching away on some lovely cookies that Barb brought. It was such fun! So we decided that when spring comes and the roads are trust worthy (they can be a little dicey in British Columbia this time of year) we are going to put an ad in the local papers and see if we can't get all of the Celiacs out to a dinner at a restaurant that caters to Celiacs and diets in this area. I can't wait to see how many we'll get. I know there are a few in Nelson, at least four of us out here in the valley, and of course all the ones in Trail, Fruitvale and Castlegar. We could have a big party Anyone want to come??

[tiredofdoctors]

Hi Shirley!! It's good to "talk" to you again! Sounds like you've been REALLY busy! If there was any way at all to be up there at a get-together, I'd be there in a heartbeat -- it sounds like FUN!

I don't know what to do with our dog -- he has gotten used to me being home, and when I leave, he is determined that I will be punished. The problem is that he is part Basenji, part Australian Wolf Hound, so he is NOT a winter dog. We can't leave him outside, because he just doesn't tolerate the cold at all, and certainly doesn't have the coat for it. He is definitely a house dog. The funny part is that, prior to my moving in, Dave had another pure-bred Basenji, and they (the dogs) would wrestle rigorously all over the house. It was so bad that they almost knocked over the couch while I was sitting in it! We had to adopt out the Basenji for behavior reasons -- she shredded EVERYTHING of mine. She would pick it out of the hamper and shred it, she got a brand new pair of pants down off the dresser, out of the bag, and shredded them to pieces. She definitely had issues with me! Since she has been gone, Lucky (the mix) has become the quintessential lapdog. He is the biggest mama's baby you have seen! He has stopped the bolting out of the house that he used to do -- now he comes out to the porch, even to the sidewalk -- says hello, then comes inside with me. (I think he learned that from our little poodle -- she is DEFINITELY not a runner -- and I think she modeled that behavior for him) I do know that since I've gotten sick, and I haven't been able to go outside and run with him, he is really unhappy. I used to go outside and run all over the yard. The last time I tried that, I fell and was hurt pretty badly. When I do go out with him, I try to cheer him on, but he won't run -- he just stands beside me wherever I am - even if I try to get him involved. I put a training leash (50') around my waist when I was planting bulbs in the front yard during the fall, thinking that he could safely wander around. I had to sit or crawl, but it was no big deal. He sat RIGHT beside me, and wouldn't leave my side. Any suggestions you can give would be GREATLY appreciated.

Went to the fabric store today to get my material for my sheers -- I have been watching it for a year now . . . It had been $16 a yard -- DEFINITELY out of my price range -- and it was clearanced, clearanced, clearanced down to 1.20 a yard! I'm pretty happy about that! Now I just have to make the sheers, reupholster the ottoman, reupholster the kitchen chair seats, make the duvet cover & shams for our new bed (including the sheers & cornices for two windows) and plan my parents 50th anniversary party with my sister (June 16) and my daughter's wedding (August 5). No pressure, huh? I have a feeling that my bedroom things will be delayed for quite some time! The front window sheers have to be made because my husband feels that, when the drapes are pulled back, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE a window treatment on each of the individual windows, you can still see in the house, and he is afraid that someone will see that I'm home alone. So, in order to have some semblance of sunlight in our front windows, I'm making these sheers . . . . !!!! He's a little overprotective, but I'd rather him be like that than not care. While we live in a safe neighborhood, about three blocks down from us, there is a rather "seedy" apartment complex. One of the tenants set up a methamphetamine lab in the storage unit beside it about a year ago. It's a shame, really, because we have a nice neighborhood apart from that. Very home-town-ish. In fact, behind us we have a farm! The roosters crow in the morning to wake us up!

Well, I'd better quit babbling -- I have really missed you! Talk to you soon . . . . .Lynne

[Guest Viola]

Wow Lynne, with all that going on, your stress level must be going through the roof You will have to take extra care of yourself so it doesn't add to your other health problems.

That's wonderful about the fabric for your sheers. Don't you just want to do a little dance when you find the fabric you really wanted is marked down that much? It's almost like finding a new gluten free food marked as such.

That's quite a mixture Basenji and Aussi Wolf hound. I can see where he might have separation anxiety as they are really pack dogs, both breeds. So they want to be right beside their 'human pack' and when you go out the anxiety would go up and chewing is a way to release that. I would really recommend getting a large crate (Wal Mart carries them) and to start with take the door off, put his bed in it and any treats he may get, feed them right in the crate. This will soon become his "den" As soon as he is comfortable with his den you can put the door on when you are out of the house. This keeps him safe and out of trouble and he'll likely just sleep all the time you are gone. Also a rubber Kong filled with a mixture of fat free peanut butter and a good kibble that he doesn't usually have will keep him busy and out of trouble trying to get that good stuff out of there. All dogs think that healthy kibble that they don't usually get is a "treat" You could put the Kong right in the crate with him. Of course you really don't want that peanutbutter stuffed Kong on a carpet

[tiredofdoctors]

Shirley -- THANK YOU -- that sounds like great advice! And it certainly makes sense to me. Lucky cries for 30-45 minutes after Dave leaves to go to work -- he is inconsolable. Dave said that, when I was independently mobile, he would do the same thing with me. He said now, when Dave drops me off for my "independent night", Lucky just paces the house to the front door continuously. Being from two pack dog heritages, it makes absolute sense. Maybe, also, that's why he likes his bed really really deep around him. We'll start with the crate -- and the kong -- today. Thank you. And it's so good hearing from you

Lynne

[jenvan]

Shirley- cool idea on the celiac party--glad you have found so many celiac disease friends nearby

Lynne- reupholstering--that would be fun...although, not fun when it is b/c the furniture is getting torn up! my grandma used to upholster. we have her old antique upholstering hammer... maybe one day i'll use it

started sewing my hankie runner this weekend. so far so good...the machine had some grease that got on the thread and made some of the stitching dark grey insted of white i'll have to fix that later i guess.... am excited to sew it all together and then get to embroidering. i laid the hankies out all over the floor as i was choosing where to put them. maggie my cat kept sitting on one and when i would pull that one up, she'd sit on top of another. gotta love it