It's no secret that I have to pace myself when taking on big projects. With my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, making jam or canning is a huge undertaking that I need to do over several days since I don't have the energy or the extra help to do it all in one day.
Today I decided that I had to get the nectarines all peeled, pitted and sliced up so that they would be ready to go. I put on some YouTube videos on saving money to watch while I worked.
It took me about an hour to get a huge stainless steel bowl full all done. My hands were feeling the affect of all that citric acid on them by the time I got the last nectarine in the bowl done.
I packaged up all the fruit into 2 heavy duty Ziplock freezer bags in 10 cup portions. I then froze them so that they will be ready for me to make jam with on another day when I do have more energy. Since we are heading into hot weather again over a very busy weekend for us, I will save the actual jam making for a nice and cool day when I know that I will have a full day or more to recover. So that my friends, is how I break things down when making jam and living with a chronic illness.
I do the same, Debbie. I've lemons and strawberries in the freezer waiting to be turned into marmalade and jam, later on.
ReplyDeleteHi Bless...great minds think alike! :) I have never even heard of lemon marmalade before. Could you please share how you make it when you do make it please?
DeleteBe blessed my friend!
It is good to know you limits so you don't overdue it. My mom and I have been doing tons of canning. We have been skinning and juicing tomatoes one day and them cooking and canning the next day. It makes it so we aren't quite as exhausted at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteWendi, I am so glad that you and your mom are able to can together. My mom and brother do that since he lives with them and they have it down to a science. :)
DeleteIt's nice to know others work the same way that I do! :-) I've been slicing grapes in half and de-seeding them. Tomorrow I will dry them to make raisins. I have blanched tomatoes and froze them to make spicy tomato sauce one day this winter.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to know that I am not alone. :) How long does it take to make the raisins in the dehydrator?
DeleteNo, you are not alone. I deal with Fibro (worse in the winter) so I am learning to pace. Plus, I am old! :-) I'm still trying to figure out how long it takes to dry the raisins. I should have made notes from last year. I dried them for about 3 hours yesterday and then had the dryer running most of today. Tomorrow I will only do 2 trays so they will dry faster.
DeleteGeorgene, I am sorry you deal with Fibro. A doctor recently told me that he suspects I have that too in addition to my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I had to laugh at your comment on being old...I'm not that far behind you! ;)
Deletethis is a great idea...do you add anything to your fruit before freezing? I was going to can this week but it is going to be HOT! Do you do this with tomatoes too? We have them coming out of our ears!. Thanks in advance for info. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. Barb in Peensylvania
Thanks Barb! I don't do anything other than peel, pit and freeze since I am not holding them long term in the freezer. As for tomatoes, I usually just wash them and them freeze them unpeeled and whole. If you run them under hot water when you take them out to use them, the skins come off fairly easily. :)
DeleteActually that is Pennsylvania! Barb
ReplyDeleteLOL! I kinda like Peensylvania myself. ;)
DeleteI love your blog and writings because you so often mirror my own life. So many people just don't get the CFS. I,too, have to divide tasks into manageable size chunks. And, there are many things I would so like to do but just can't. Like today, I was supposed to go swimming (one of my #1 priorities) and go to lunch with friends. Ended up canceling swimming because I couldn't do both. And lunch will be quick because I can't sit there for very long. Just getting to lunch will take most of my energy today. Most people don't understand!
ReplyDeleteSo, a long winded thank-you for your posts and willingness to share. SJ in Vancouver BC
Hi SJ! I too feel like you and I have so much in common and it always amazes me. :) I'm sorry that your energy is limited today and that you had to choose between going swimming and going out to lunch. I do hope you have a wonderful time with your friend though and then get a nap once you come home. Have a great weekend!
DeleteLunch was so worth it - a new Mexican restaurant in town. And it was two friends. I thought at one point they might kick us out for laughing so hard. I lasted 1 1/2 hours and then had to reluctantly go home. Good food, good company and just what I needed.I am wiped but won't nap. I tend to go to bed between 730 and 8pm so napping in the afternoon is tough. I am in my jammies already.LOL. Thanks for the encouragement. SJ
DeleteChronic fatigue or not, making jam is a lot of work! You're wise to do it in steps. Rome wasn't built in a day, just do what you can, when you can. Take time to enjoy the journey!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jane
Thanks Jane. :)
DeleteI have to break down chores into bite size pieces too. At first I had a hard time of it, fighting against what I used to do as opposed to what I was able to do now. When I started ice dyeing which is a several stage process, I began to get the hang of enjoying each stage. Now I think of chores in terms of finding two days to get something done, or how I can break something down over several days when there might be less pressure. I guess old dogs can learn new tricks.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I love your ice dying projects. I just watched a video on the process of how it is done and I can she why it is so labor and time intensive. :)
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