When we started coming to Tampa for the winter a number of years ago, I was startled when I couldn't find the flour. There was certainly no mention of it on the signs on either side of the grocery store aisle. After a closer search and scrutiny, I found the small bags of flour on the bottom of the shelf in the middle of an aisle - in a very small area. Yes, I'm a bit slow. When I compared the flour section to the baking "mixes," there was no comparison. Conclusion? Not many people use flour!! Duh. Mixes and prepared foods are "de rigueur" (I had to look that one up . . . ) in the city and probably everywhere else but rural areas.
In early October, I flew to Hoonah, Alaska, for a memorial service. A long time friend there, gave us the jars in the photo above. I tried to bring out the colors and textures justice in the jars with the camera, but I'm not that happy. Aren't they beautiful? I guarantee they'll taste good, too.
I'll bet not many people preserve vegetables and meat by canning any more. I'll bet my brother and sister remember our family "gatherings" canning peaches, tomatoes, and more - depending on the year. We also froze corn, string beans, lima beans, strawberries. We grew most of it, although often the peaches or other fruit was supplemented by the farmer's market, a roadside stand, or "U pick it." I'm not sure the "gatherings" were necessarily fun, but we all felt part of the something greater than the individual. I think we learned something about delayed gratification - in the winter those fruits and vegetables were pretty doggone good.
I can still see those quart ball jars of bright red tomatoes and creamy yellow peaches lined up on the basement shelves. Beautiful . . . and functional!
