Canning

 

Growing up, I assisted my parents for many years canning green beans, wax beans, carrots, tomatoes, applesauce, and pickles.  One of my prevalent childhood memories is sitting in the dining room many evenings during the summer and early fall with the canner steaming and rattling.  The pressure canner we had used specific weights (5 pound, 10 pound, 15 pound) you would put on a steam vent to build the pressure for canning. 

I mentioned a little while ago that I was going to can the green beans I picked from our garden.  We finally processed them the other day.  This was the first time I had ever tried canning on my own.  Finding the pressure canner, jars and lids was not difficult.  The pressure canner we picked up is different from the one I remember growing up is there only one weight (15 pounds) with a pressure gauge to measure the pounds of pressure inside of the canner.  You can still pick up pint and quart jars in stores, as well as lids and canning salt (you don’t use table salt because the minerals will end up as sediment in the bottom of the jar).

For this first go round, we only did 3 1/2 pints of green beans (that was all we had).  It was really weird to do that.  I was always in the cutting and filling of pints and quarts with the different fruits and vegetables we grew.  To actually be the person putting the water in, running the canner and getting them through the process was completely different.

 

We’re hoping to get more green beans (we even picked some up from the local farmers’ market to get additional pints) and carrots (store bought again at this point since my carrots are not yet ready).  To be able to have processed green beans and carrots without so much salt will help us as we try to change our diet.

Wasn’t paying attention

 

 

And I just completely blew past post 100.  This will be post number 102.  Oh well, I guess it’s better late than never.  In honor of the occasion, I post a picture of me with a cabbage leaf on my head.  Why?  No reason, it just seemed like a good idea.  Per unanimous family vote, they say I look better with the beard and without the cabbage leaf.

There are some times I wondered if I would get to something like this.  Other times, well I just seemed to have a lot to say.  It took over four years to get to that magical number (February 2009 was the first post – and July 2013 is when number 100 occurred). 

Looking through the posts over the years, the topics have run the gamut from politics to religion and recipes to gardening.  Some personal items and some out in the public forum. 

One thing I’ve noticed though:  I still seem to have a little bit of a ‘censor’ when I put my posts out, it’s kept me from putting some of the more outrageous thoughts and ideas out there.  Oh well, if they can’t find it then they can’t prove it.

We’ll see if it takes another four plus years to get to number 200 (we’ll see how much fodder our betters give me).  Glad you’ve followed along so far, and look forward to the future.

First Cardiology appointment

 

Usually, when I talk about cardiology appointments, It’s in reference to my daughter.  She has hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), with multiple open heart procedures as well as catheterizations and other procedures under her belt.  This time the cardiology appointment in question is mine.  I was originally supposed to see a cardiologist much sooner than this last week, but they had scheduling issues, and because I said I was doing ok, more time than what is normal for new heart attack patients passed before I could get in.

The appointment itself went fine.  After getting the usual vital statistics, I was brought into a small room (this is a very large practice so there are a lot of patients and doctors involved).  The nurse got my list of medications, asked a few questions about my overall condition, verified my medications (I brought them in rather than try to remember each one), and then went to get the doctor.  The doctor came in and went through the history of what happened (with the heart attack, tests, and hospitalization) and how I have been since then. 

One question was about my medications.  In the hospital I had originally been on a vasodilator (opening of blood vessels) but was taken off because I was dizzy.  Since then, I continued to have dizziness issues and actually needed to reduced the dose of the beta blocker (helps keep the pulse rate down and increases efficiency of the heart), so we decided to go back on the vasodilator (brand name Imdur).  Starting with half dose for four days and then go to full dose as long as I can tolerate it.

The next point of discussion was what I had and hadn’t had done for tests.  Other than the ekgs, angiogram, and blood tests immediately related to the heart attack, I hadn’t had any other tests done.  So, now I get my blood drawn for tests related to medication and cholesterol in the next few weeks (not sure when that will be – question for this week), and I go in for an echocardiogram this next week.  Once those are done, I get to sit down with the cardiologist and discuss the results.  From there, I’ll continue seeing the cardiologist fairly frequently until I prove to be stable.

This was just another reminder that something significant happened to me.  There are times I feel like it was minor and insignificant, so maybe I need the reminders to help keep things in perspective.

Continuing down the garden path

 

Well, I’ve given up trying to comment on current events.  I’ve determined I’m either going to say something to offend everyone (shock the room as it were), or work myself into such a frenzy that it’s akin to wrestling a pig (we know how that goes).  So, I’m going to turn back to my continuing ‘experiment’ of the garden.

Right now, the peas appear to be on their last legs (most recent picking was only about a dozen or so pods), so I think we got all we’re going to get from them.  We were able to use them in some salads as well as to a couple of main dishes (stir fry).  We’ve got 3-4 meals worth frozen for later.  All in all, a decent showing.

What is really coming into play now are the green beans.  Here is a picture of the second and most recent picking (not a lot but looks like about 2 quarts worth if I can believe the line on the bowl):

So, what to do with those?  Can them, of course.  We picked up a pressure cooker/canner and some pint jars.  We got 4 pints (3 full and one 1/2 to 3/4 full) so far, and should be able to get some more as we go on. They definitely have potential.

What about the rest?  The carrots are continuing on, but I’m not completely sure how long I need to leave them in the ground – I remember leaving them till about labor day but that was when we were planting around memorial day.  These were planted at least a month earlier.  Tomatoes?  We seem to be getting some, and will have at least enough to accompany a meal, but not much else.  I think the pepper plants are just for show, as they don’t seem to be doing anything other than existing.  The cucumbers are starting to produce as well as the zucchini (why do I keep hearing the theme from ‘Jaws’ every time I mention zucchini?).

Of course I will give a final account once everything is in or done, but as of right now things are going at least as well if not better than I expected for a first year garden.

More adjustments

 

I do have some ideas moving around my head about current events, honest.  I think I just have to sit and write them down so they can be coherent.  The biggest thing rolling around my head is a growing sense of disappointment in my fellow man (the species not the gender, although sometimes it’s the gender too).  Ignorant, complacent, and way too quick to hurt others physically and mentally.  Anyway, that wasn’t the reason for my writing.  I have more adjustments to my new reality to talk about.

I finally had to get my medications adjusted.  My blood pressure was staying too high (130s and 140s over 80s and 90s), and when I’d rest (sitting or lying down) then my pulse would drop to the upper 50s.  I could tell something wasn’t quite right as I couldn’t stand up or bend over without dizzy spells.  So, a discussion with my regular doctor later, and I’ve added a med and cut the dose of another in half.  I’m doing better so far, but I’m sure there will be other adjustments that need to be made.

Being on a low sodium diet for over a month now, when I happen to eat something processed or, for lack of a better term ‘normal’ for an American diet, I cant’ help noticing how salty it tastes.  It really doesn’t take long for your tastes to adjust.  Even some things homemade are going to have to be adjusted going forward, if for no other reason than they are now too salty for me in taste to enjoy.

I am starting to be able to do more physically.  Which has been nice, since the peas are starting to come in and I am able to do pickings.  I can also continue to check plants and even pull a few weeds as necessary.  I do try to keep in mind that I’m not back to normal, but sometimes it’s difficult.  Mentally?  I’m not sure where I’m at.  Am I still trying to adjust, to deal with what has happened?  Has it not really sunk in?  Sometimes I wonder.

One month

 

It really didn’t dawn on me until a couple of hours ago that one month ago today I had my heart attack.  Of course I’m not much better than I was late last week physically (sometimes it actually seems worse with the heat, I’m not tolerating it well) and mentally I’m still trying to adjust.

The number and rate of changes that have occurred are still mind boggling to a degree.  That, and trying not to terrified every time I sneeze or have to bend over.  There are times I wish this whole thing didn’t happen, but obviously that’s not an option.  It’s strange how some dates and other things can trigger ideas and feelings within you and you don’t even realize it.