Canning days are a special time around here. It’s been a tradition a long time in the making. We had canning days when Nannie Red was still alive. Those were glorious days to be in our family. The kids helped too, but afterwards, we got to play!
Time has passed and now my sister and I have our own family, the tradition of canning days continues with all of us at Grandma Jean’s house.
Over the past week or two we have put up corn, green beans, squash, blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, salsa, okra, pickles, beets… and the list goes on.
It’s part of the fun. We all get together, we all bring what we have and share everything. Most of the time, it all equals out. I may have more of this, or Sister may have more of that, Mom has this… we pile it all together and make the best of it. It is a blessing.
When it’s all put by, we split it 3 ways. Even Steven.
We all go home with achey backs, throbbing hands, full larders and happy hearts.
There have been times where we have processed things alone at home. And still, it is a blessing we are very grateful for, but, the canning days make it so much sweeter when we are all together.
I love seeing my children helping out. Taking the role that I used to have so long ago at Nannie Red’s.
Even my little brother while at home the other day got in on the action of processing our 40 dozen ears of corn we were creaming.
These are days of work, but days of sweet memories also. Days I will treasure for as long as I live. I know one day, when my children have grown into adulthood, they will look back and remember canning days with the same fondness that remains with me, today.
