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.