September 30, 2005
The Midwest - Part 3
Canning.
How many Lake Wobegon soliloquies were devoted to that most Midwestern of enterprises? It's what you do when you have enough vegetables to replace the lost Louisiana gulf coast.
The Beginning of "Ol' Herb's Tomato Tonic".
It must be understood (by me mainly) that canning is a perfectly normal thing to do in the Midwest. It is not normal in New Orleans.
Watching two silver pantomimes get in a fistfight over who will stand still at the corner of Orleans and Bourbon, that's normal.
A New Orleans couple showing their commitment to each other by having their faces permanently tattooed with clown makeup, that's normal.
Go cups. That's normal.
Well, one of my first chores was to be of use during canning day. Follow the fold to see more photodocumentation.
We had two juicers in use, extracting juice from several varietals of tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beets, garlic, onions, radishes, and who knows what else.
Another juicer.
Not only does the juice get simmered, the bottles and lids are sterilized as well.
Boiling and toiling.
Dad.
... 15, 16, 17, - Hey Dad! - ... 1, 2, 3, ...
Mission accomplished. And I helped (yes, a 44 year old man uttering the line from a 70s era cookie baking commercial)!
65!