Page 63 of Grounded
“Yes. It was expensive, but Daddy wanted him buried on the farm where he belonged.”
“As many times as I’ve been to Italy, I had no idea my great uncle fought a battle and died there.”
They were both silent for a few minutes, than Annie voiced the idea forming in her mind.
“I could take you there, Grandma. The area is familiar to me. I have friends who could help us find it.”
Beulah chuckled. “I can’t even get around my own home right now.”
“After you get well, you’ll be able to move around better than before. It would give us something to work toward,” Annie said, growing excited about the idea.
“We’ll see. I’ve never been much to travel, but it might be time I did a little of it. Evelyn might want to go. She said she’s always wanted to go to Italy.”
“We could make it a girls’ trip!”
Sterilized jars sat empty on the kitchen counter, a teaspoon of salt in each. A large canner was on the stove, a quart of water and a tablespoon of vinegar in the bottom.
“Now, I used to can the old-fashioned way, by cooking the beans and ladling them into jars, but I like this method much better. Seems like I get more done,” Beulah said from her seat at the kitchen table. “Now that the beans are clean and broken, fill each jar up to the top, stuffing in as many as you can. You don’t want them so high they poke into the lid, so keep it below that.”
Annie did as she was told, pushing the rubbery beans in and making room for more.
“Now, ladle the hot water into each jar until it’s about an inch below the top.”
Annie poured steaming water into each jar and watched it fill around the shape of the beans. “Okay, that’s done.”
“Take a paper towel and wipe all the water off the surface of the jar lid. A drop of water will keep the lid from sealing.”
Annie wiped each off carefully, pulling off a new towel when she needed it. “Done.”
“All right then. Now do the same with the sterilized lids and bands. Make sure to get every drop of water off.”
That took a little longer, since she wanted to be sure and get all the water. “Now, I put the lids and bands on each jar, right?”
“That’s right. Place them in the canner. Seven jars will fit, then lock the top in place.”
Annie did as she was told.
“Now put the pressure cap on fifteen and turn the burner on high.”
“Got it,” Annie said.
“When it starts jiggling, set the timer and turn the heat down. When the time is up, turn off the heat. When the canner cools down, we’ll take the jars out and wait for the lids to seal. Tomorrow we can take them to the basement after we mark the year on the top.”
Annie was writing everything her grandmother said on paper even as she did it. “I want to make sure I get this right. Now, will this be the same way for the tomatoes?”
“No, a little different pressure and length of canning time. There’s a book in there if you’re ever in doubt. It’ll tell you what to do.”
“And you’re sure this won’t blow up or something?” Annie said, cleaning the used paper towels off the counter.
Beulah laughed. “I’ve never had one blow up, although that was a common tale years ago when things were done a little differently. They have safety features, but you still have to pay attention.”
“Why don’t you get some rest before supper? There’s not much left to do, and I can handle it.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Beulah said, pushing herself up to the walker.
While Beulah rested, Annie set the table and cut some of the honeysuckle for a centerpiece.Help me to be nothing but happy and supportive for Jake,she prayed silently. She knew it was how he would be for her.
Annie had judged Camille to be someone with whom she couldn’t be friends just because she looked like a Hollywood actress and made Annie’s size six feel like a size sixteen. Jake had called her Cam, but to Annie she looked like a Camille.
