10 hours?!?…. How did I mess this up? When the 2024 garden season started here in Toledo I felt very prepared.

It’s my very large margin in error of time that has left me weedy, and also stirring this roaster of tomato’s for 10 hours…

Let me tell you the speckled romas were stunning produce and the pride was beaming off of me. I raised them from seeds and was harvesting for my pantry, homesteading base entry level learning this feels huge!! So pick pick pick and harvest those tomato’s! Whew!

Then the process of getting the roaster filled, (not so bad with the banging ass Ninja food processor that became part of my kitchen this summer) , and “cooking down” to make tomato sauce.

Easy peasy. I’m on a roll!

Always read the entire plan, always.

By the time that roaster was full it was 10:48pm on a Wednesday night and I had arms like noodles, (hey there was still lots of cutting the Ninja isn’t magic,) as I plugged the roaster in I referred back to the “stir every 20 mins until thickened”

Ok awesome I can do this.

Clean in between stirs, jars are sanitized, lids are ready, more dishes, man that ninja blade is sharp…

Stirring…

Stirring..

I wonder how long.. ? .. man I’m sleepy..

Phone call to a fellow that I know makes sauce…

Me: how long am I committed for this roaster full to cool down?

Fella: About 10 hours, what time did you start?

Me: 7pm

Fella: yeah we start at 7am.

Hang up call and laugh so hard the tears are real.

…to all learning the ropes of canning, tomato sauce is a commitment that you should not take lightly. 🍅👰‍♀️

And wear the apron cause I now know why my great grandma didn’t ruin those blouses all those years 😂😂😂