Back to Work

I owe, I owe, it’s off to work I go! Yesterday was the first day back for teachers in our county. Our students start August 20. We’ve started this early the past couple of years, but I just can’t get used to it. It doesn’t feel like time to go back to school. I would describe yesterday as being like running on a treadmill at marathon pace, but no finisher’s medal at the end of the day.

I ran before school yesterday with a friend and it was really nice to get out while it was still cool. On workdays I don’t have to be there until 8 am, so running is possible. On a regular school day I’m there by 7 am, so running before school is not going to happen. We talked about my friend’s vacation in Idaho and her kitchen renovation project and the exercise time went by in a flash.

I canned my Gene Parr pickle last night. Ended up with 5 pints and 1 jelly jar.

Sunday was a big canning day. I processed and canned two 5 gallon buckets of tomatoes. The man that I run with has a gigantic garden and he and his wife are generous with sharing their produce with me. It took most of the day by the time I drove out to pick the tomatoes, drove back, and then did the work, but I’ll appreciate the 14 quarts of tomatoes that I ended up with when I’m making soups, chili, lasagna, spaghetti, and other yummy cold weather foods. I also made a batch of spaghetti sauce with tomatoes from my garden. That’s going into the freezer for a night this winter when I don’t feel like cooking. I won’t have any more marathon days in the kitchen like that now that I’m back at school!

Sunday’s rewards: