The Very Februariest of February Tasks

As many people did, I did my share of stress-cooking in the first year of the pandemic. After the initial shortages were resolved and pick-up orders didn't have be scheduled a week in advance, I got my supplies and equipment organized, and when I wasn't working or taking care of other household tasks, I filled my deep freeze with soups, stews, and a wide selection of baked goods.  I canned jams, marmalades, pickled beets, and corn relish.

Once the freezer was full I lugged my big pressure canner into the kitchen and worked my way through canning spaghetti sauce, chicken, turkey, ground beef, chicken and turkey stock, and tuna.

For the most part I used pint jars; Kerr, Ball, the lovely old Mom's jars with their satisfying chunky squarish shape, a few very old STRONG SHOULDER Atlas jars that came with the first house I bought. 

Once my pantry shelves were full I found I still had several dozen empty jars to spare, so during the 2023 spring cleaning I finally donated them to the thrift shop.

But the rings remained, stored separately in an old mesh onion bag that hung from a nail in the garage. Dozens and dozens and dozens of rings.

What else is there to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon in February but sort through canning jar rings and cull out the rustiest ones?

The rules were simple. Any ring showing rust on the outside was discarded. A few small spots of rust on the inside were okay.

In the end I probably pitched a good four or five dozen rings, and I suspect I still have more than enough remaining.

Well. Every year has its rainy February.

We've made it through January!

 

This snowdrop would like you to know that it was FIRST! This is about a week later than I typically see them, but we had a cold snap last week that made them hesitate a bit.

But I don't kid myself that winter is over. There is still plenty of opportunity for the weather gods to turn down the thermostat and even throw some snow at us.

However, today was dry, and so warm that I was able to open the garage door and weave by natural light, always a treat.

I'm just about done with this simple warp of towels using 5/2 cotton that I put on for a looms open house I held at the end of October. Very soon I'll start winding bobbins for the warp for the next project.

Victor continues to take every day as a fresh opportunity to achieve Perfection in Napping.