What did you do in the garden today?

[NewBoots]

Do we have any folks that were in the path of those horrible tornadoes last night? If so have they checked in? I can't imagine what a literal nightmare that must have been.

You can't get heavy cream in the stores here! I usually get it at BJs for half the price & they haven't had it in a couple months.

No dairy shortages here but there are a lot of dairy farms in Oregon so that might be part of it. Then again, now I'm craving real cream that's really fresh. Dang it @WthrLady! I'll bet it's like the difference between fresh eggs and store bought isn't it? /shakes cranky fist at WthrLady.

Wild and stormy here today but Penny still got her walk this morning albeit a short one. I sent off the box of home canned goods to our friend in Portland but I'm really glad I didn't include a jar of the dilly beans. I must have made a huge mistake with them and doubled the salt or something. I just opened a jar and all I could taste was SALT with a faint garlic taste. Oh well, that and the too sweet rotel that I made are my only big fails...so far. Well there was that can of salsa that broke in the canner but that was just one jar. Oh and IS rotel supposed to be sweet? Just asking for a friend.

Going to can more jars of apple pie filling, DP was an absolute hero and peeled and cored the last bag of apples that had been sitting on the porch. Perfect timing too, we've used all but one quart and one pint of the ones I canned earlier. Tomorrow I'm going to get jalapenos and a few other mixed hot and sweet peppers and can a bunch more pickled jalapenos and cowboy candy.

 

[Sally PB]

I got a half bushel of Gala at the farm stand. They're kind of mushy when you bite into them, so I think I'll dry most of them. Then they always become crisp. I'll probably do that tomorrow or Monday.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Gardeners to wet for garden still I do my own shopping .. Will never order groceries if I can go to a store

 

[WthrLady]

just back from the market where a pint of heavy whipping cream was $1.77

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Totally agree with @Sueby on the sticker shock at the grocery stores in New England. I only buy heavy cream from Trader Joe’s and not the ridiculous ultra processed stuff. I make my own butter with it. Only the butter I use on my morning toast. I do my regular shopping just a few days each month so I really see a big jump in prices from month to month. I can see the cola increase in my retirement checks pretty much swallowed up by this rampant inflation.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I’m totally astonished by the devastation in Kentucky from last night’s storm. I don’t recall anyone on this thread hailing from that area. But still, my heart goes out to all affected.

 

[NewBoots]

Okay I now have a new canning disaster. I tried a new canning recipe for apple pie filling but I had to use clear gel instead of corn starch. The recipe stated 1/2" head space. I just pulled all the jars and set them on the towel covered counter and all 6 jars are siphoning pie filling at an insane speed onto the towel. No way they are going to seal. I am so annoyed.

Any suggestions? Should I re-can and process again? Anything?

 

[WthrLady]

Okay I now have a new canning disaster. I tried a new canning recipe for apple pie filling but I had to use clear gel instead of corn starch. The recipe stated 1/2" head space. I just pulled all the jars and set them on the towel covered counter and all 6 jars are siphoning pie filling at an insane speed onto the towel. No way they are going to seal. I am so annoyed.

That's not because of the clear jel. I use that and it's a 1:1 replacement ratio.
Siphoning is due to rapid pressure and heat change. It's not predictable, but it IS infuriating. I'm sorry.

 

[igorsMistress]

You have to watch those online carts.
They up the price, and hope you're just going to click on it to check out. My last trip the the major chain here in town to grab a specific cheese for holiday, will be my last for a while. I was practically tripping on the personal shoppers and their towering order carts and baskets. The amount of time the cold foods were left out while they shopped for 10 people at once and then did check out and pack for pick up was insane. And the packers are super careless with the squishables, and could care less about picking quality fruit/veg/meat.

Not worth it in my mind to click and pay to pick up groceries.
I swear the online prices for the market are higher than the in store prices to pay for all the new employees they use for the pick/pack/pickup service and the warehouse trailer they use in the lot to manage it all. OC this place has 8 tesla charge stations too, but only ever seen one car there, the manager's.

Didn't feel drawn to anything special in the seed savers catalog. Into the recycling bin it goes.

That’s why I don’t do online shopping. I’ve seen some of Those people literally throw items into their cart or to put them back and pick a different thing. No thanks!

 

[WthrLady]

I did notice when I went into the city that the market that had the massive pick/pay/pick up no longer had the refrigerated shipping container in the parking lot to store the pickup orders for people, so demand must have dropped a LOT. Now there are 6 parking spaces at the front, where you park (NOT ME) call in the store and they fill your trunk. They removed the Military/First Responder/ Hometown hero spots for this shopping experience.

Although inside, there were still pickers and their trollies in every row, one had 15 orders on it.