Fall is coming. I can feel it in the air, see it in the light, feel it in my bones. This year, unlike years past, I am not quite as excited for the fall to come. I think it is the Pacific Northwest fall–it’s just– rainy. I guess I’m just used to those crisp and colorful autumn days that happen on the east coast…brilliantly blue October skies, cool air, and warm sun. But who knows, maybe this year will surprise me!

So while feeling this nostalgia for summer (which hasn’t even completely disappeared yet!), I have started canning and it has become absolutely addicting. I have even joined a local group that picks fruit from laden trees in people’s yards who want their fruit to go to good use–not just fall and rot in their lawn. My friend Chelsea has also joined me–or rather, I her. She went out last week and picked 25 pounds of Asian pears–then called me. We knew there was only one thing to do, can them! So, for one whole day, we peeled, we cored, we sliced, we made light syrup, we boiled cans, filled them, and boiled them again. It was hard work but so worth it! I can imagine myself this winter absolutely yearning for something to remind me that the sun does exist, finding these cans, popping one open and tasting some fresh pears. Yum. I also have this great gingerbread recipe that would be amazing with these pears scooped over it–oh yes.

The National Center for Home Food Preparation website was super helpful and has a slew of different things you can can. Tomorrow, I am hoping to go on a trip with the fruit people for a bunch of Italian plumbs. Sometimes they cancel due to tree conditions (it doesn’t have enough? the owner had a change of heart? we’ll never really know when this will happen, but sometimes it does) but I hope they don’t and we get another 25 pounds! Maybe I’ll even try dehydrating and make myself some plums .

Happy canning!