What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

Anyone have a recommendation for a vacuum sealer? I need to buy one

I like my foodsaver.

 

[Smokerbill]

This is the poor man's version of a vacuum sealer. I've tried it before and it sort of works. Not as good as a real vacuum sealer, but better than nothing. I think the narration in this video is AI generated, sounds a little strange.

 

[MROO]

So strange that people get such a bad case of COVID. My oldest daughter got it, then my son got it, then my husband got it. My husband kissed me on the lips and it was over 8 months before I got COVID. I had a headache for a week and nothing more. I feel so bad for all that have lost a loved one or their own life to COVID. I have been exposed to COVID so many times and yet I have only had it once. Everyone that I know that has had the vaccines for COVID has gotten it multiple times.

Covid is becoming a new "common cold" virus. Everyone will get it ... multiple times. Just like the cold, some people pick up the virus and fight it off. They never get really sick, just "under the weather." Others get knocked flat. Then there are people like my DD - who tested positive but never showed a single symptom.
The vaccines don't prevent people from picking up the virus; they build antibodies so the beast is kept in check once someone is exposed. I wish I'd had the vaccine before catching the virus, but I got Covid early and hard. I still got the vaccine, so my body can keep up with the mutations, but my lungs will pay for that first bout of the actual sickness for the rest of my life. I don't wish that on anybody - so everybody, please take care of yourselves!

 

[Smokerbill]

Covid is becoming a new "common cold" virus. Everyone will get it ... multiple times. Just like the cold, some people pick up the virus and fight it off. They never get really sick, just "under the weather." Others get knocked flat. Then there are people like my DD - who tested positive but never showed a single symptom.
The vaccines don't prevent people from picking up the virus; they build antibodies so the beast is kept in check once someone is exposed. I wish I'd had the vaccine before catching the virus, but I got Covid early and hard. I still got the vaccine, so my body can keep up with the mutations, but my lungs will pay for that first bout of the actual sickness for the rest of my life. I don't wish that on anybody - so everybody, please take care of yourselves!

The newest version of the covid booster will be available in the next few weeks. It's designed for some of the current variants, I think. When it's available I'll go the Wallyworld and get it and my flu shot at the same time. I got covid February of 2020, before it was known to be in the US of A. It hit me really hard, but since then I've never tested positive. Knock on wood...

 

[WthrLady]

The newest version of the covid booster will be available in the next few weeks. It's designed for some of the current variants, I think. When it's available I'll go the Wallyworld and get it and my flu shot at the same time. I got covid February of 2020, before it was known to be in the US of A. It hit me really hard, but since then I've never tested positive. Knock on wood...

Me too Valentines Day 2020 from my shooting partner who had been on a cruise to asia. It was not at all pleasant. Had it twice after that and it was no big deal, and then again last July knocked me on my A for two weeks. I've never used to much Kleenex. DS brought that one back from a conference in Boston. We all got that variant at the same time. Took months for my lungs to kick back from that one, weeks and weeks to have smell return.
It just is what it is at this point.

====
VERY warm and pollen filled out there today.
Spent the day trimming the orchard, what's left of it.
At least the smoke is almost out of here.

 

[WthrLady]

Not entering the State Fair anymore. Period.
I got the comment cards back today along with the ribbons.
The state fair does NOT open jars and taste or test foods entered in the canning category, UNLESS they look like they are not what they say they are or are packed in oil or alcohol instead of what they should be packed in. It says so right in the rule book, they don't open or taste.
So basically they are judge on how pretty they are, which is nuts, but whatever.
So I never know how things are going to work out and I work extra hard to make things presentable.
My pickle slices were wavy cut, and had staged spices and bay leaf front and center lined up with the Golden Harvest logo and the lid lined up with that. It looked like a magazine prop.
I couldn't figure out how I came in 4th when 1st place was a quart jar of spears with no spices in it, and almost 3 inches of nothing in the bottom of the jar and spears floating at the top.
2nd and 3rd were so loosely packed they were only half full.
The comment on my card for 4th place, some bits of the pickle slices sticking up above the liquid.
UM, I handed over my entry in perfect condition, it was driven by fair employees 200 miles, handed over to other people to store at the fair, and then handled by others for display. I have NO control over that, and it doesn't matter anyway. Pickles should be TIGHTLY packed.
Then I look at my other entry cards.
2nd for Tomato PUREE. "Tastes wonderful, should think about simmering longer to thicken."
UM JAR was still vacuumed sealed when I saw it after judging at the fair. NO WAY it was opened. Concave lids are OBVIOUS. and it's puree not paste. I had simmered it from 6qts down to 3.
#1 entry, the jelly, comment "amazing color and marvelous taste" again, after judging, i saw my jars, NOT OPENED!!!!
What the flying frick???
IF I do the fair next year, I'm on the judging panel!

 

[Sally PB]

^^That is just outrageous. Wow.

 

[Acre4Me]

Anyone have a recommendation for a vacuum sealer? I need to buy one

I have an Excalibur brand. It’s a few years old works fine, but we do have to clean it out occasionally bc liquid gets sucked in. So, we bought a backup one off Amazon. It is Nesco brand -good reviews and made top 3 list from some research I did. I haven’t used the nesco one yet, but looks good.

 

[igorsMistress]

Not entering the State Fair anymore. Period.
I got the comment cards back today along with the ribbons.
The state fair does NOT open jars and taste or test foods entered in the canning category, UNLESS they look like they are not what they say they are or are packed in oil or alcohol instead of what they should be packed in. It says so right in the rule book, they don't open or taste.
So basically they are judge on how pretty they are, which is nuts, but whatever.
So I never know how things are going to work out and I work extra hard to make things presentable.
My pickle slices were wavy cut, and had staged spices and bay leaf front and center lined up with the Golden Harvest logo and the lid lined up with that. It looked like a magazine prop.
I couldn't figure out how I came in 4th when 1st place was a quart jar of spears with no spices in it, and almost 3 inches of nothing in the bottom of the jar and spears floating at the top.
2nd and 3rd were so loosely packed they were only half full.
The comment on my card for 4th place, some bits of the pickle slices sticking up above the liquid.
UM, I handed over my entry in perfect condition, it was driven by fair employees 200 miles, handed over to other people to store at the fair, and then handled by others for display. I have NO control over that, and it doesn't matter anyway. Pickles should be TIGHTLY packed.
Then I look at my other entry cards.
2nd for Tomato PUREE. "Tastes wonderful, should think about simmering longer to thicken."
UM JAR was still vacuumed sealed when I saw it after judging at the fair. NO WAY it was opened. Concave lids are OBVIOUS. and it's puree not paste. I had simmered it from 6qts down to 3.
#1 entry, the jelly, comment "amazing color and marvelous taste" again, after judging, i saw my jars, NOT OPENED!!!!
What the flying frick???
IF I do the fair next year, I'm on the judging panel!

That is unreal. How can you judge without tasting? Ridiculous rules

 

[jerryse]