We won’t starve this winter
Posted on | August 31, 2009 | 6 Comments
We did a little bit of canning this weekend. That’s salsa with stuff from the garden, blackberry jam (from last weekend) peaches, peach jam and more peaches. I bought a lot of peaches. Last year Recovering Straight Girl and I went peach picking and she taught me how to can. I love her for that.
This weekend, Fancyhats and I did the canning. We didn’t pick any peaches, but went to an orchard and bought a pre-picked flat. Because, really, how much work can I put into this? Those jars took us the better part of a day, but I swear, come February, I will start opening those peaches and for a few small moments, it’ll feel like summer.
Fancyhats is a very good cook. He had to cook for himself for years. I am a good cook too because I like to eat and I’m super cheap and also I’m a bit on the paranoid side about what goes into my food. So we were in his kitchen together. On a warm day. Canning. Together. We both have strong personalities and are both used to being the boss in the kitchen. Let me just say, there were a few moments of, “that’s really great, how about you do it?”
And then coming back together again. A hug. A kiss. As much as we stepped on each other’s toes, we laughed a lot while we canned. I almost peed myself watching Fancyhats try not to instruct me on knife-usage and then finally giving in and pretending he was hosting his own cooking show. I told him cooking with him is like being tickled. It’s like torture, but it makes me laugh uncontrollably too.
Again, a learning experience. Learning, for both of us, how to let go of the reigns. For a long time, I was the boss of the whole house. I took care of most everything. If I didn’t nag about something, remember something, schedule something, or do it myself, it just didn’t happen.
I tend to let go a little faster than Fancyhats does, though I’m sure he’d disagree with that. But I try and let go. I relax a bit. I put my hands up and enjoy someone else driving. That he’s willing to be in control for a little while is a pleasure in itself.
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6 Responses to “We won’t starve this winter”
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August 31st, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Oh! Control issues. Blech. Yuck. I’m glad you laughed. And I’m jealous of your peaches. I spent many a morning in Middle School DREADING THE PEACHES. My mother would can and can and can and can and we had to help. It was torture. And now that I don’t have any canned peaches, I’m sad.
August 31st, 2009 @ 11:52 am
Dane and I both will admit we have major control issues. Driving in the car together is not…it’s not good. But we forget about all the snapping and snipping as soon as we get out of the car.
In any case, it’s so much better than being in a relationship with someone who has zero backbone.
August 31st, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
I like to think of it as “helping.” If I know a better way, wouldn’t it be irresponsible of me not to share my methodology? Yes. It would be.
August 31st, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
so which of you is the bottom?
August 31st, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
Ken and I do not cook together mostly because it winds up with someone holding a knife to someone’s throat or balls or something and threatening to end it all if the other one doesn’t GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE KITCHEN!
I cook when he’s not home. It’s less traumatic for our children.
November 16th, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
I turn into such a mom whenever I’m around someone cooking something. And I mean mom as in, “Don’t you think the carrots would cook faster if you cut them into rounds instead of matchsticks?” “That sauce is gonna burn if you don’t turn the heat down.” Especially if you get some wine or beer into me. Egads.