August 15, 2022

Are You Ready For Another Story?...

If you've been around here for a while, you may remember the story I told about my Committee. If you're newer than 2017 to my blog, or if you've forgotten, HERE is the link to my first story on the subject.

Before I begin my new story, I want to tell you that I reread that original post, and all the comments that followed. At the time, I didn't know how to set up my posts to be able to reply. As I can now do that, I may take some time to go back and thank everyone who responded to it. I seemed to have touched a common theme with my friends back then, and I'd like to honor their messages to me. So, if you commented on that post, don't be surprised to finally receive a response to it.

So, back to the Committee. My mum had a pressure cooker when I was a child. Apparently, she wasn't as knowledgable as she needed to be, or perhaps she just made a mistake, but one day when she was using it, she blew the top off that cooker. From then on, I never heard anything except how dangerous they were. 

As a result, even though I've owned two used pressure cookers, I never used them, and I've either sold or given them away out of fear. My Committee kept reminding me that a cooker would blow up and they were too dangerous to use.

But, here's the thing. When you have something you want to accomplish really badly, you can overcome a fear. You can overcome the Committee and those (sometimes unfounded) voices in your head. I'm afraid of heights. I don't know how that came about, but I know it to be true. When we first moved to the farmhouse, I purchased a beautiful, big metal compass. I really wanted to put the compass in the peak of the (now) Compass Barn. So, I asked Shelly to hold the ladder, and I climbed. I beat my acrophobia and hung my compass. I came down the ladder with shakey knees, but I'd done it. Why couldn't I do the same with a pressure cooker?

Actually, I want a pressure canner. I want to be able to preserve foods without having to sweeten or pickle them. I want to safely and stably preserve meats and things like squash or potatoes. If the freezer goes out again, or we lose power, we'll still have food that won't have to be refrigerated to be safe to eat.


I had a talk with Handsome, and I metaphorically climbed another ladder. I figured if I buy a brand new pressure canner, all the parts will be new, ready to use, and safe. What did he think? (Remember, he's watched me buy and sell two before.) He responded that if I were committed to following through this time, I should go ahead and purchase one.

I searched for the best price on a nice-sized pressure canner, and ordered it over the weekend. In addition, I also purchased this guide to pressure canning so I'll have good information and more than a few recipes to safely use my new purchase. The book will be here this week, and the canner will be here soon after.

I'll also be watching a few YouTube videos, and check to see if Presto has a site with more information and tutorials. I have to say I'm really excited about this. I'm going to turn my fear into butterflies, and really, who doesn't love butterflies? I can do this. Right? I'm sure going to find out - and I promise to let you know how it goes.

12 comments:

  1. I hope everything works out for you with your new canner.
    My Mom also blew the pressure top off her into the ceiling.
    I've also been afraid to use one.
    I do have her old boil canner.
    Marilyn

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    1. Hi Marilyn:
      I understand your fear. I really do. I guess I want to can without having to pickle more than I'm afraid, so I'm going to give it a go. I'll keep you posted.
      xoxo
      Donna

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  2. I've never used a canner/pressure cooker because quite honestly I'm terrified of them too. I'm sure the new ones are much safer than what they used to use but I'm still most likely going to continue to give them a wide berth. Perhaps your experience will convince me otherwise.
    As for climbing and heights - there's no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks you will ever get me up on a ladder after having fallen off one when I was a kid. I learned that kittens really will figure out how to get down out of a hay mow without my help.

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    1. Hi MA:
      When I was five, I was climbing around on the top of our metal t-post for our clothesline. I fell off and landed with my right arm behind my back. I broke my clavicle, and had to wear a sling most of that summer. I was so uncoordinated that while healing, I was sitting on a swing (hanging on with one hand as I was trussed up with the other) as my mother hung laundry on that same line - and I fell off the back of the swing. sheesh! (You can laugh. I know my mother did.) I've gotten braver with age, but no less uncoordinated, so I try to be very careful. We'll see how that works out in the long run. I'll let you know how it works with the canner.
      xoxo
      Donna

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    2. That must have been a horrible summer! At least I didn't break anything but that's only because I landed in a pile of hay.

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    3. It's a good thing I was only a kid. It's now been so long, the injury event is all I remember! You were fortunate to land in hay. Lucky girl! xo

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  3. The way that you conquer and succeed with new skills, that pressure canner should fear you! I'm looking forward to reading about your experience with it, as I am looking for different ways to stock my own pantry. I went back and re-read your older post. I do remember reading that years ago. It was a very good reminder to reflect on how God created us each as truly valued individuals, to forgive and get past those who couldn't see that and contribute appropriately to (as you put it) "the committee" and how we can be a blessing in contributing to other people's "committees". However, it still doesn't change my fear of heights - LOL! (-;

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    1. Hi Lois:
      I'm not sure about the canner fearing me, but it's definitely going to get a healthy does of respect from me. I reread my post, too. I try to go out of my way to compliment people and help them see their own value. It meant so much to me to be on the receiving end. As for my committee...I've forgiven all of them. More for my benefit, I think. It's exhausting carrying around all that weight. As for heights. I'm still very careful. Even the farmhouse staircases are more steep than I'd like. I'm always watching my feet on them so I don't fall down and break my neck. I don't want Handsome to be responsible for writing the last blog post anyone ever reads here! "Careful" should be my watch word, for sure.
      Hugs,
      xoxo
      Donna

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  4. I've always been afraid of pressure canners, too. You can do it! This reminds me of the fear of EVER touching the tension knob on a sewing machine. What we learn as kids sticks sometimes. I'm over that fear now. Lol.

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    1. Hi Kathy:
      It's nice to know I'm not the only one. I'm going to watch lots of tutorials and read instructions fully to conquer this. Thanks for adding your voice to this. You know you're part of my new, improved committee, right? Hope to see you soon.
      xoxo
      Donna

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  5. Sherry of createology: I am also of the age when mother had a pressure cooker and blew the top off more than once. It scared us all! I am certain you will conquer your new pressure cooker since it is decades safer now. My daughter preserves every food imaginable with her HarvestRight.com freeze dryer. It is amazing how many things she has canned and preserved…including eggs!

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    1. Hi Sherry:
      I've contemplated the dehydrators, but I'd really love to have a food freeze dryer, but they're crazy expensive. I've also heard of putting up eggs in a lime solution in jars. I'm waiting for more feedback on that from bloggers who are trying it. For now, I'll see if I can't master the new canner that's on its way. I'm actually getting excited about it! I'll keep you posted.
      xoxo
      Donna

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment today. I'm using new settings on my comments so that I'll be able to respond to your messages to me. Be sure to come back to see my replies!

Blessings, Donna