I

am

a tomato canner.

Yes,

that's right;

I can tomatoes.

At least,

today

I did.

~

I have 6 lovely quarts

of

peeled petite diced tomatoes sitting on my counter

plus another one in the fridge that didn't seal.

But here's the thing:

If I'd have bought 7 big cans of petite diced tomatoes

at Walmart

it'd have cost me $8.33 plus tax.

Them there 7 jars

represent 2 hours of labor

(1 1/2 hours of mine & 1/2 hour of Brandon's - thanks, Bud!!)

and that doesn't include the finding and washing of the jars

lids, rings and canner.

Or the picking of the tomatoes.

Also coming into the equation:

it takes 1 hour and 25 minutes

to water bath process a quart of tomatoes in their own juice.

The heat under the canner was on high for over an hour

prior to that

while I was preparing the tomatoes.

Another burner was on high for an hour an a half

so I could have boiling water to blanch the tomatoes

so their skins would slip off easily.

I had to turn the air on in the kitchen

because it got so hot

(and today was a really cool day!)

My mom gave me lots of canning stuff

(thanks, Mom!!!)

so I didn't have to buy jars or bands

but I did have to buy lids

(14 cents per lid

if memory serves me - which - in all fairness, it may not...)

~

While the part of me that wants desperately

to live a self-sufficient lifestyle

is quite pleased,

the realist in me

(who is equally loud; probably even louder....)

says

it really isn't worth it;

just buy your stupid canned tomatoes at the store

and be done with it.

Move on.

~

at least I can still make my own jam...