Getting in touch with my inner cultural Mormon

Most days in summer, I wake up and don't "have" to do anything.  There is much I "should" do, but there are no consequences to wasting the day away.  And since I gave up television for the summer, I find myself more aware that I'm wasting the day away.  I think that makes sense.  I have to work harder at finding something to fill my time, because I can't just plop on the couch and flip channels until something catches my interest.

Why can I not force myself to be productive?  If I knew that, I'd be a totally different person.  I just need either (a) an external deadline with consequences that I did not set (I just think those ones away), or (b) an inspiration to do something because I really feel like it.  But lately I just haven't felt any inspiration - not to work on classes, not get in better shape, not even to take on some ridiculous home improvement project.

Until last night, when I realized...

I feel like canning.

Now, I haven't canned anything since I lived at home, and my mother forced me to help.  But it's something I've been meaning to do for a couple of years - not Mom style, but a few jars of stuff I really like.  Today (after much online research yesterday to find the best deal and make my plan) I picked up the canning supplies I will need.  Early tomorrow comes the produce shopping, at least for what is in season right now.  And then the fun commences.  On my list:

• Raspberry Jam - my absolute favorite, and the primary motivation in deciding I really should can a little on my own.  My mom doesn't supply it for me anymore!
• Blackberry Jam - a close second, and sometimes you need a little variety.  I think I actually like blackberry best on toast, but nothing beats raspberry in PB&J.
• Pears - I found a recipe for vanilla cinnamon pears that sounds heavenly.  Pears are awesome, especially with cottage cheese.
• Applesauce - because there really is nothing close to homemade applesauce.  Ask my sister Beth's friend-from-high-school, Rachel!  She'll tell you.
• Dilly Beans - my grandma used to make these, and they are awesome.  I was originally going to do pickles, but I figured these would be more fun and a nicer change.  I don't mind store-bought pickles as much as applesauce and jam.
• Pickled carrots and cauliflower - since I'll have everything for pickling, I thought I'd try a couple of jars.  I like spicy pickled carrots, and ran across spicy pickled cauliflower while looking for a recipe.  

You'll notice that peaches appear nowhere on the list.  While I am not averse to a nice bowl of peaches, they are my least favorite thing to can.  In fact, all my nightmare canning memories seem to involve standing, stuck to the floor with peach juice, at the sink, removing slimy peach skins after the hot water dip, then slicing them with the juice running down and dripping off my elbows to add to the stickiness gluing me in place.  Intellectually, I know other things (especially applesauce) involved stickiness - but emotionally it was all those darn peaches.

The jams can wait a couple of weeks as we are just hitting berry season, and the applesauce can wait as well.  I found a great deal on pears, so those are up first.  After that, I'll just look for deals and can as the opportunity arises.  Maybe next year I'll even get motivated to do at least a little container gardening!

(Or, I'll end up with 6 pints of pears, remember I hate my inner cultural Mormon canning, and guiltily stare at my new supply of canning jars for months until I finally move them to the basement in November.)

Anyone have any other canning adventures I should add to my list?