I'm trying to churn out this blog post.  I'm sitting in front of my computer screen.  I'm even typing once in a while.  I get a paragraph down and then think 'that's so stupid.  Who cares'.  I delete the paragraph.  I write another few sentences.  I think 'what am I even thinking about here'.  I delete it.  And so on.  I realize that I've got nothing in my head.  What can I blame my complete empty brain on?  Even though it hasn't even been a month, it feels as though summer was an age ago... an era even.  This work thing is crazy.  How can we survive in our society without working?  And then flip the coin and wonder how we can survive working.
When I was reading this book (please don't start with me... I know, I know) the author talked a lot about working for money.  He thinks it immoral that we have to pay for food to sustain ourselves.  He also believes that working for a wage is yet another way to keep the masses down, occupied and compliant.  I kinda know what he means.  I have no idea though what life would look like without working for a wage.  I still have to exist in this 'world' that uses money for everything - absolutely everything.  I don't know what I would do without that paycheque and the benefits that come with it.  It terrifies me to think about it.  However, if it were ever a realistic option to survive without it believe me I'd be the first in line to try it out.  I can totally understand why we often define ourselves by what we do as opposed to what we are.  We spend so much time doing that work, so much energy there that it pushes out other things from our brains.  It starts to take over MY thoughts.  Sometimes my dreams.  I forget how to think without it.
I'm not going to quit my job anytime soon.  Maybe when I get to move to the country, live off grid, have my own chickens and root cellar and never cut my hair or shave again.  For now, I'm going to get up tomorrow morning and hustle my sorry ass off to work again.



All that to tell you that I made pickled beets this weekend.  Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would be interested in making beet pickles.  Less than a year ago I confess that I had never even cooked a beet before.  Here we are though, making beet pickles.  What?
Out came the stupid blue canner again and it happened.  I didn't make a whole lot because no one else in my house is going to eat them.  To be honest, I don't even know when I'm going to eat them.  I'm going to share them with my Mom though because she eats them too.  I haven't tasted them yet because they're in these jars that I just don't want to open up yet.  When I do open them up though, if they suck then I'll let you all know.    


Pickled Beets adapted from 'Canadian Living'

5 lbs Beets
2 1/2 cider vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp pickling salt (or I used coarse sea salt because that's all I had)
clove
mustard seeds
coriander seeds


Wash the beets and boil them whole for about 30 minutes.  Remove from water and cool.  Slice them as you want them in the jars.
In the bottom of about 4 sterilized jars place a couple of whole cloves, about 4 mustard seeds and 2 coriander seeds.  Place the beets into the jars leaving at least a 1/2 inch of space at the top of each jar.
Combine the cider vinegar, water, sugar and salt together in a saucepan and boil for about 5 minutes or until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
Pour enough of the liquid mixture into each jar to just cover the beets.  Place the lids on firmly.  Boil in a water bath canner for about 30 minutes.
Remove and tighten the lids if necessary.  Place under a clean towel.  Make sure that the lids have sealed properly and then store in a cool, dry place.  Will keep for up to a year.