Yesterday was a bad day.

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Yesterday was such a horrible day. My neighbor gave me tons of beets that I was determined to can. Starting early, I washed them, cooked them (4 batches, 40-45 minutes each batch), washed jars, went down cellar to retrieve more jars, fell down cellar steps (ouch, double ouch plus a few #%*#% words), limped back upstairs. Worked beets all day. Finally ready to can, found pressure cooker gasket was not usable, so hauled out other pressure cooker. By now it's evening and I'm sore all over from falling down the steps. DH finally got home to help me and finished up the canning after I limped up to bed. Processed beets for 40 minutes only to discover most of the liquid had steamed out of the jars and basically the beets are not usable. All that work and no beets. And what a mess - beet juice all over the countertops, plus peelings and canning debris all over the place.

Next time I'll stick with pickled beets (don't need the pressure cooker for them) and stay away from the cellar steps. I'm black and blue from calf to shoulder on the left side. Fortunately, I sleep on my right side. I never knew bruises came in so many different colors.

Wishing you enough.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Answers

Wow Dianne, sorry that you had such a very bad day. That would be so discouraging!!! I had that happen to a batch of corn once. Did the whole stack them up 21 pints load. I am thinking that my gauge must have stuck, I skipped the venting step and didn't remember skipping it, or something and the heat got too high, or I just unknowingly filled them too full. One thing I have found with pressure canning is that it is ok to use a little MORE head room, but less seems to cause really big problems. Hope you recovery from you fall real fast. hugs,

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Oh no! How disappointing. As much as I love beets, they are such a mess.

One of my cats had a very bad day yesterday too. She was sitting on the bathroom counter and decided to leap up into the bathroom window. She missed, and landed in the toilet! To make matters even worse, Keith was using the toilet at the time!

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


So how's Keith? That must have been traumatic for the both of them!

I'm sorry about the beets. I hope you feel better soon.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


I think I'm only about a 4 or 5 hr. drive from you, Dianne, I could have let you borrow my canner :-)!! I always make DH peel the beets for me...they really are messy. And I just cold-pack 'em. Call me lazy! Hope your bruises heal fast!!!!

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Ouch, Diane! I fell on the steps last summer and wrenched my leg badly. Remember all those old things about household accidents? Guess they were true -- watch out for your bathtubs, everyone!

Hope you feel a lot better soon!

Sherri, my sincere condolences to the cat and Keith. Ask them to forgive me for my giggles!

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001



Well Keith was standing up, so he was able to dodge out of the way. Of course, since he had lifted the toilet seat that just made an even bigger opening for poor Kira to fall into. It startled Keith so badly that he almost said something! (He's the type that considers "Uh-huh" to be a complete conversation)

Warning: salty language follows.... She sure was a pissed-off pissed-on cat! ;)

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


No kidding, it sounds like a horrible day! Ouch is right. I'm really glad that you didn't break something. Falling down stairs is frightening...

We have a very slippery grassy area between our house and the hen house. I have fallen there annually when the rainy season gets going (like right about now, for some reason.) I HAVE to remember to somehow fix it (it's on a slope.) Thanks for posting your misfortune, as it reminds me to get going on that. I hope you recover quickly, Dianne.

One of our cats fell in the hot tub with us once. He didn't like it one bit, not for one second (which is about how long he stayed in!)I think the toilet would be worse, though!

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


I just knew I'd come to the right place for the much needed sympathy I was looking for. Somehow, I knew all of you would understand. I don't know if I'm more upset that the beets failed or the 7 inch black and blue on my left tushie. Boy, it hurts to sit down.

Thanks to everyone who sent "oohhs and awhs". I really needed that.

Wishing you enough.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


Looking over some of the other posts, I guess a 7 inch black and blue on my tushie isn't so bad after all. At least that will heal in time. When I read about friends being laid-off, or Kirk's bad back or (Heaven forbid, the cat that fell in the toilet) I realize I'm really doing okay. At least the chickens will eat the beets. LOL

Thanks again.

Wishing you enough.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


Tee-hee! Wait til you see those egg yolks, Dianne! I fed our chickens peelings from beets one time and the yolks were a bloody red color - couldn't hardly stand to eat them - eyewww!!

I prescribe a nice warm bath with epsom salts to draw the soreness out of those muscles - sorry you're hurting...

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001



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