Crockpot (Was: Crackpot!)

[doddiemoemoe]

> Sheryll:
> 
> I was raised that way, too. I have an aunt who eats
> only stuff from her own garden all summer, with the
> rare addition of meat. Bakes all her bread and
> goodies. 
> 
> This was probably the first year since we bought this
> house 10 years ago that I didn't plant a garden. Just
> didn't have the time to tend it. That and a great deal
> of procrastinating at the beginning of the season.
> Nothing quite like going out the back door to get
> salad fixings and such. 

Doddie here:

I know that feeling..*heavy sigh* I always regret it around holiday 
time...but at times I don't miss all the work of canning, pickling 
etc. and baking of various squash breads..LOL

As for meat...in my younger years my family bought "the cow" or "the 
pig" as you and yours do...

Nowadays...at times I must resort to the grocery store...I still 
manage to fish or at least know those that do fish for salmon/trout 
etc....no local organic ranches or swine farms around so pork and 
beef I obtain mainly from grocery stores..
There are local dairys, and poultry farms organic and otherwise.

I don't think I'd often go through all the extra trips and trouble 
if a couple of my kids didn't have severe allergies..(one who is 
allergic to numerous red dye's so when I do buy meat from a grocery 
store I have to be extremely careful and make sure the butcher is 
knowlegeable...

I'm curious to know what with you and yours buying meat "off the 
hoof" so to speak; if you make your own sausage out of what you 
purchased?