Pounding cabbage

Today i went to my Moms house to help her make sauerkraut.  I have never helped before. I mean, I've been there when she made it with my Grandma years and years ago....but i never really "helped" like i had planned today.

I brought my camera. Ready to photograph the process--and the fun!

We ran to Waldochs to get one more cabbage (cause we generally like to start off our time together in the car...or with a cup of coffee ;) )

We grabbed our cabbage and we were on our way to making kraut. And i was excited.

We got the big ol pot thingy and hauled it upstairs and washed it out.

Then we washed off all the other tools and the cabbage that we were going to be using.

This is the mandolin type thing, that just sends shivers down my spine after one too many accidents with those kid of tools and knifes.

I think i have a problem.

Says my left ring finger tip that was once laying in my chopped onions....Ugh.....shivers.

So here is the deadly weapon and the cabbage (pre- washing) and the plunger/beater thing that my Grandpa Will made for my mom. Super special.

Then she washed the cabbages.  Just after she kindly asked me "Not to take any pictures of her and put them on the Internet. Please." 

She's just so beautiful and fun, its hard NOT to.

Next, we (i mean she--i was more of the picture taker and she was more of the worker at this point) sliced the cabbages into quarters to fit the death trap of a finger snatching machine.  

Then we headed downstairs to start slicing the cabbage and getting to smashing it.

Here is the set up we had. Two chairs and the deadly weapon over the sauerkraut pot thingy.

It seemed ideal at first. Until we started to chop the cabbage and found it not conducive to our hard work.

(plus the blades on the thing were about as sharp as a feather, so...needless to say, we were putting in alot of elbow grease to slice it.)

We rearranged it. 

And then i tried to help. This next one is a shot of me "helping". I think Mom really appreciated that. :)

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That's my hand. The masculine one with the sweatshirt and athletic watch.

After we sliced quite a few of the quartered cabbage, we took a break to throw some salt in and to pound the heck out of it.

Mom, beautifully adding salt.  She's super cool like that.  Just throwin it in there--no bigs. She's a pro!

 Now, let the pounding of the cabbage commence!!!  It really looks easy in this photo. But don't be fooled by Mom's trickery.  It ain't for the faint of heart...or triceps for that matter!

Up, down....up, down.....up, down......up, down......up, down....(repeat 9,803 times)

Then it was my turn to do some slicing.  (i think she just felt bad for me and let me try)

Don't be deceived by the weirdly-constipated-like-face i am making. Its not a joke. That was a hard job--slicing cabbage with a blade as sharp as a feather and NOT cutting off a finger! Yeesh. YOU try it.

(yes, i understand it doesn't make sense to say the blade was dangerous AND not sharp. It was quite the predicament. I am equally as confused as you.)

  (go ahead, make an audible grunt--i think it just makes the picture make more sense)

So here's the cabbage after a bit of pounding.

And then we got back to slicing a bit.   I sliced like a champ, in hopes of impressing my Mom and letting her watch instead of always having to do the work. Anything to make her love me more.

But let me tell ya--that sweatshirt was quickly shed and my hair went up into a pony--cause, sister--it ain't easy slicing this stuff and pounding gracefully. You just got to get all up in it. 

 So slice i did...

But then.....more pounding. Up, down. Up, down. Up, down. Up, down.... Yeesh. This was feeling a bit redundant.  And did i mention my triceps?  MY TRICEPS ARE BURNING!!

Have i mentioned you do alot of cabbage smacking to make sauerkraut?  Cause ya do.

Go Mom, its your birthday....you're gonna pound cabbage like its your birthday!!....

(thats my impressions of 50 cent singing---on the prairie.)

  Okay, now i am feelin'it.  But take a quick photo, Mom, i'll act tired out. (or constipated--i can't quite figure out That face. I think i have to work on my expressions in the mirror tonight)

754 hours later, we have pounded the cabbage to its intended "done-ness" and salted and tasted it and its is glorious and ready to sit and ferment. (well, after Mom puts three more cabbages into it--i had to go get Junior from school)

Alas we have chopped it all and have all 20 fingers intact.

  Night night, sweet cabbage.  Soon you will transform into delicious sauerkraut. 

Das ist gut, ya?? 

See ya in a month....

Now, can anyone find my right arm?? Cause i can't feel it at ALL!

(PS: i'm sorry i said "pounding cabbage" so much--i just couldn't think of a better way to describe it. )

Me Mudder

My Mother.

Today i was on the treadmill and i got to thinking about my Mom.

Her life has been a hard life.

She married a mean man at a young age. And suffered for it.

She lost her parents too early.  And mourned it.

She dealt with difficult kids. And grew from it.

You see, my Mom is the strongest human being that i know.  She loves fiercely.  She is convicted of the truth and fights for it. No matter the cost.

She is a loving sister, auntie, friend, wife, mother and grandma.

Everything that she touches is with love. A purpose.

She has been thrown under the bus many times by those who she loves. And yet she continues loving them.

She has taken falls for us--from us.

There is an inner strength in her that i have never encountered.  She is truly a light to this world.  With such valid thoughts, opinions, concerns and care.

I remember at a young age, when she was dealing with the boys and their rebellious years, thinking that no matter what, i am going to protect her my whole life.

I remember being very young and understanding that her first husband certainly didn't protect her, her boys seemed to run wild, and she had lost her Dad, her shining star.  But i remember consciously thinking, no matter what happens in life, i'm going to defend her, protect her and stand up for her. Right or wrong.  I wouldn't let her down.

Now as i have grown older i have become a bit opinionated and mouthier and we have argued, faced indifference, and knocked heads, and sometimes i was mad.  And i regret even the very moment that i didn't stand by her. Understand where she was coming from and allow her to just be her. Let her love how she loves with out feeling i needed to give my two cents.

I talk to my Mom every day. I try to see her as much as possible and i appreciate, love and thank God for her every day.

I often think of how i would feel if i didn't have them. Would my life go on?

It certainly would be a deep, deep void. With out my Moms voice in it.

I would miss her witty humor, her wise answers, her loving arms, her kind spirit, and her smile.

I am so thankful that i have her today. There are so many people (my own family included) that choose to hold grudges. Keep a tally of rights and wrongs.

And that really bothers me.  I just don't see it and I can't understand it.

Why?

For what?

You miss out on life when you choose to strong arm the ones you love.  We need to forgive, to embrace and to enjoy every beautiful second that we are blessed with.

I don't ever want to live with regret. Especially when it comes to family.

There's just about nothing any of them could do that would make me turn my back on them forever. (but boy oh boy--has it gotten close)

Because in the end, that would hurt me the most.

I know there are so many dynamics and so many wrongs that are suffered in each family. Believe me, i know--i've felt 'em too.

But what is life with out your family?

Not just your cocoon of kids. But our Moms and Dads. Our siblings. Our cousins. Our Aunts and Uncles. Nieces and nephews. Our grandparents.

Whether we see them every week or once a year. Embrace those moments.

Because they are passing right before our very eyes.

My Mom is on my mind this morning as i think of all that she does to make life a better place.  All that she gives. And how hard she tries, just to leave this life brighter and better than the day before.

Now, if ya got a beef with my Mom and you don't agree with what i am saying....then you got a beef with me.  And let me just tell you, together we are a pretty mighty combination. I wouldn't mess with that. :)

I'd take bullet for my mom. physical or verbal. (amiright?)

So many people say, "well, if they needed me, of course i'd be there."  And that bugs me. If they needed you? Like if they were going to get hit by a car, you would push them out of the way?

Well, Yea--i'd probably do that for a stranger. That's not that spectacular.

Whats spectacular is being there every day. Putting in your time. Trudging through the rough parts of life and not giving up. Its about fighting for a cause, but loving in the same breath. Its about protecting. Its about putting someone else first and not thinking about yourself. Its about never giving up. Its about sticking together, even when you feel like falling apart. Its about the love of a family--dysfunctional or not.

Cause we've all got dysfunction. Right? And behind all the fighting is hurt, and if we could--only for a brief second--try to understand that pain and the life someone else has lived and give them grace, wouldn't this whole world--especially the family unit--be a better place? A safer place to lay your head? A place that was uplifting and encouraging and filled with love?

The answer is yes.

Here's the bottom line. My Mom is the best.

Period.

I'd give up my life for hers. I'll fight for her. I will protect her. I will laugh with her.(Oh, the laughter--its heaven sent) I will understand her. I will see through her eyes. I will extend grace. I won't live a day with out her in it. I will always return to her. Cause God gave us something real special when he gave us a mother.

And i, for one, don't want to waste a moment of time without mine.

There is strength, power, love, kindness, laughter, encouragement, care, concern, fiery protection, understanding, righteousness, and faithfulness in her eyes. And i'm so darn glad she calls me daughter!

I love you Momma.

1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."