Adventures in Pressure Canning

A new adventure for me! I've water bath canned for years, and have had an old All American canner in the closet for a couple years, just minus the courage to use it. I've heard too many horror stories of a poor canner, plus I had no reliable gauge or way to test the gauge I had. Enter the Lions Club "Million Dollar Sale" this year. I didn't even go until the second day, and there under a table in a closed box was a brand new looking Mirro pressure canner, 16qt. size. I snatched it up, brought it home, and did some research on the web for a manual.
Today the boys and I cut, cooked green beans, and then I canned. I didn't blow up the kitchen. I didn't break any jars. No one was injured in the making of six quarts of green beans. The test will be if they are edible and I don't kill anyone with botulism. Boy am I optimistic today. Now to blanch some broccoli to freeze...

Treasures

As promised, the Lion's Club sale delivered. Nate was up early and could not sleep, so he headed into town before six am. Mind you, the sale did not start until 9 am! He said the wait wasn't too long, after all, he was in the front of the pack. He visited with plenty of people and scoped out all the treasures that were for sale.

Some of our treasures: fishing nets, lures, tackle box, pick axes, shovels, a charcoal smoker, a small antique table for the 'lil lodge', camping cot, lantern, floor squeegee, a sien (not sure how to spell that one, a two person type of net, and the big purchase of the year, a redwood patio set, which included four chairs, table and a like new umbrella. It will have a gracefull home on the screen porch once Nate has time to build it. All in all, a worthwhile morning.

The crowd at 9:20 am.

One of our new chairs, and the cute table and lantern for the 'lil lodge.'

Our treasure pile.