Patting My Own Back

I have received a bit of flack for not updating my blog very much lately. Well, this post is for all you complainers (Laurel). I generally don't like to blog about things I do around the house - who really wants to read about this - But, when anyone does any canning these days, I think they deserve a BIG pat on the back. I'll have to pat myself on my own back 'cause this is what I've been up to:

We have two pear trees in our backyard and since Leon sprayed them this year, I felt compelled to do something with them - bottled, jammed, and pear bread.

Our cucumber plant was prolific, so I made bread and butter pickles. We've decided that 4 tomato plants is FAR too many. We've had fresh tomatoes in as many dinners as we can, and I sauced and froze the rest.

This goes without saying, but our zucchini plant was also prolific. At one point I thought for sure we were growing a Volkswagon back there, but it turned out to just be the biggest zucchini in history. I've made zucchini bread (of course), chocolate zucchini bread, zucchini in just about every dinner, and grated and froze the rest.
Our grapes must be an early variety since they come on in August. We've had to fight the birds for them every year so this year we put a net over them to hoard them for ourselves. The juice is quite yummy.
I think the apricots were the first to hit. Our apricot tree died last year, but one of my neighbors had plenty to spare. Apricot jam is one of my kids' favorites, so I was happy to be able to make some this year.
So, here's the big BEFORE:
(this was way before - like right when we moved in, but it's still technically "before" - right?)

And, the BIG AFTER:
I really don't think my kitchen has fully recovered yet. The pile of tomotoes on the counter will never go away, it seems. I'm hoping to do some apple pie filling here soon, too. Maybe in a month or so I'll be able to see my kitchen counters and not stick to the floor???
A recent conversation on Facebook:

Stephanie: If any of my local friends would like some tomatoes - come and get 'em!

Laurel's Comment: Tomatoes make a GREAT blog entry. :)

Stephanie's Comment: Oh, Laurel, I have plans - BIG plans - you just wait and see!

Laurel's Comment: HEY! You can't promise BIG PLANS for a blog post and not deliver. I'm waiting....

So, Laurel, I guess tomatoes DO make a blog post. Your wait is over.