right now

right now

Jun 22, 2011

The rest of the post!

Yes, the happy ending to the day!  I did get some birthday presents after all, and exactly what a gal like me wants most!


If this thing is half as Bad A$$ as it looks and feels, I'm going to be a very happy girl!  



I'm now the proud owner of an All-American canner, built right here is the USA, in Manitowoc, WI.  This thing is built for generations to come, it's simply unbelievable unless you are already familiar with them.  I researched the heck out of it but it still didn't prepare me for the quality and heft of it.  A really nice manual & canning guide came with it.  I purchased it from Amazon at the best price I could find at $179.99.  I can't wait to use it, I feel like canning the world, LOL

The other gift was from my hubby!  I have been using a PDF version of this on my computer since my printer is dead, but now I have a real hard copy to flop down on the couch with and mark up to my heart's content!

But why does hubby have to spill random coffee or hydraulic fluid on it before it even gets to me?!


For those of you that might wonder, no, we aren't LDS, but some of you may be familiar with their ideas on preparedness.  They advocate preparing a year's worth of stores, almost require it even of their members, and have lots of good material on the subject, as well as a few websites out there devoted to it.  I guess we could call ourselves "cultural Mormons" in that we value family, preparedness and a few other of their ideas.  Their doctrine states that although they should not drink alcohol, provisions are made for alcoholic drinks made at home, ha!  So I guess we are doing that :)  It actually stems from the fact that they were persecuted and sources of alcohol and other food items could not be trusted as safe, so they highly recommend home gardens and canning as well.  Too bad about their views on gays and gay rights, otherwise they might be able to convert me :)  I better watch it, they probably have people trolling the blogs and they'll be over here tomorrow morning.  That's okay, I'll listen intently and then turn the tables on them, they'll be my interns by noon at the latest.

Gosh, I sure am having a ranting kind of day, aren't I?  But check out the items covered in the manual, pretty neat stuff.  There's also tons of checklists, self tests on supplies and other things not always thought of, like ways to store water, fuel and cash.


Do I feel bad about hubby using his work printer to get this for me?  Nope!  I figure if he has to work 80 hours a week and be gone for half of the year supporting a war for a government that occasionally threatens to pull the paycheck out from under us, well, a little "preparedness guide" is just what military families need!  Am I a little weird for liking these kinds of gifts?!

20 comments:

  1. Wow, wow and wow! Can't wait to get MY canner just like yours! (Am I strong enough to lift it??) Sturdy lookin' piece of equipment ya got there!

    Are you weird for liking the kinds of gifts you just got? Not so much in these circles. ;o}

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  2. They are the best gifts ever. You are in good company!

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  3. LOL! The best gift ever! Glad you got something you love and can get lots of use from. I'm with you on the preparedness but since we both live in such small homes were ever do you plan to store all that stuff?
    Do you think I can convince my husband to dig out our basement so we can have room to store our year or two of food?

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  4. Oh and the last two posts I did on your blog gave me these two word verification words.

    "hande" "evers"

    My new name is Hande Evers. LOL!

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  5. Oooo....
    nothing more to say. Congrats on the great stuff.
    Judy

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  6. Sparkless, LOL, maybe I was hoping for a "revelation" at the end of the book on where exactly I am supposed to put all this stuff, I haven't seen an answer yet but I'll let you know!

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  7. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those either! So glad you got your canner and can't wait to hear how that goes! The world, ha!!

    Cool gifts for a lucky girl!

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  8. Great gifts, and the best kind to get!

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  9. That canner is amazing! I will have to add it to my wish list. There is nothing wrong with being prepared. Heck, you're crazy if your'e not in today's world. Rant away!

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  10. Get him to also print out the guide from the University of Georgia center for home food preservation! It's fantastic.

    Now for the real question...where you gonna store that pot?
    Ribbit

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  11. That is one awesome canner. You go girl! I can't wait to see all the canning you will have done when I return from our retirement vacation. Looks like you got a great deal on it too. What would we do without Amazon?

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  12. WOOOHOOO! You get down with yo bad self!

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  13. I knew you would love it. There is no comparison between the All american and the imported junk. You will be passing that down to your grandchildren. Congratulations.

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  14. Looks great! I don't think you are weird at all for liking those gifts. Is it weird that I like those gifts, too? That canner is totally sweet. And the LDS book...SCORE!!

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  15. Your gifts are fantastic!! If you're weird for liking them, then I'm a weirdo, too. Some of my "weird" gifts have been: hubby built some raised beds for me, a scroll saw (yes, for me), a spinning wheel... Just not into the frou frou stuff...

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  16. Tis I that is so jealous of that new contraption -yer to have thar---OK -so my pirate skills aren't up to par but love your new cooker-did I ever tell you to tell hubby "thanks" for fighting the war for us. I hope you can keep him safe. I LOST MY BROTHER IN NAM AND AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO MY GRANDSON'S TALKING ABOUT ENLISTING.

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  17. You are going to be hanging canned goods from the ceiling aren't you Erin? I can just see it now.....hacked Ikea shelving rigged to the ceiling full of meats and veggies for a family of four. And 2 dogs. ;)

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  18. I love your gifts. That's one awesome canner! I'm sure you'll be so glad you got it, especially in 20 yrs when it's still going strong and obviously will outlast your grand kids. Happy canning! :)

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  19. Where the h*ll have I been?! I am the worst blogging buddy ever! Happy belated birthday, Ms. Erin!

    By the way, that pressure canner does look totally badass. Are you sure there isn't a nuclear warhead housed in that thing????

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  20. I am sorry, I have been a very bad "responder" this weekend! Kelly, storage will be a challenge for sure, sometimes I think I wouldn't have it any other way :)

    Thomas, hey it's summer! No worries, we are all busy at one time or another, or is it always LOL!?

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