Canning Beef – Family Style

I’ve helped Grandma Sipes can several different foods now. When we left here last time I said we would have to can meat next time, since we hadn’t done that yet. Sure enough, we were able to fit that into this trip. It was a family affair… we each took turns cutting beef and stuffing the cans, Grandma added salt and arranged the cans in the pressure cooker, Grandpa sharpened the knife periodically as it got dull, and Jesse was behind the camera documenting the process.Beef to canEmpty cansMildred cuttingMe filling cansGrandpa sharpeningMe cuttingMe cutting 2Jerry cuttingGrandma adding saltGrandma filling pressure cookerMe adding cansGrandma sealing pressure cooker

Fast forward about two hours…

Cooked beefGrandma emptying cookerGrandma emptying cooker 2Finished cans

The beef sure smelled good when it came out of the cooker! We had enough to make 18 cans, plus extra to put in the freezer. Grandpa and Grandma should get plenty of meals out of all that meat. Yay for more canning!

Leaving the Falls

This morning we were up super early to catch the sunrise over the Falls. We saw a pretty sunrise from our room on the first morning and we wanted a closer look. It was a bit more cloudy this morning but we still enjoyed getting one last look before we had to check out of our hotel to leave.

Jesse says I look like a Southerner by the way I try to get dressed in warm clothes. Apparently, my glove putting on skills are lacking, but I think I improved by the third day there. I felt ridiculous wearing so many clothes on the first night, but that was quickly forgotten as soon as I stepped outside and felt just how cold it was. I’m glad I borrowed an extra jacket from Grandma, I wouldn’t have been warm enough in the one I brought with me from home.

Outfit

It was extra cold this morning, but in the end we decided it was worth one last trip down and back up the big hill from our hotel.

Dark A FallsDark C FallsSunrise C FallsMe watching morning fallsSunny C FallsSunny A Falls

We grabbed a light lunch before checking out of our great hotel room. We kept taking one last look at our fabulous view before leaving.

Hotel View Saturday

We crossed the bridge to come back into the US and took one more last, LAST view of the falls. The border guard asked a lot more questions coming back in than the Canadian guard did when we left. I guess we finally satisfied him with our answers because he let me back in again.

Bridge to USA SignOn Rainbow Bridge ReturningIn Line US Customs

We made it back to Grandpa and Grandma’s just in time for dinner. Mildred made her homemade pizza which Jesse really enjoyed. Today feels like such a long day, I know we will sleep well tonight.

Anniversary at Niagara Falls

Five years ago today we got married! What an amazing day that was, what an amazing day today was. I think this is the best way we could have chosen to celebrate our first five years of marriage. I’m so lucky to be married to Jesse. We had an great time exploring Niagara Falls today.

Us at the Falls

It’s such a mesmerizing view. I could stand there for hours watching the water rush over the edge. It’s just so pretty… and so loud. From where I’m sitting now in our hotel room, I can still hear it roaring. It sounds even louder once the night gets silent, it’s fantastic to fall asleep to.

Tree with the FallsEdge of the FallsMe watching FallsJesse watching FallsMisty Falls

We walked clear past the horseshoe falls to some nice greenhouse gardens. We saw lots of pretty plants and flowers and got a nice break from the freezing cold.

Tree pathColorful treesBehind the falls

After lunch the sun finally decided to peak out of the clouds a little. The falls looked even prettier highlighted by the sun.

Sunny A FallsSunny C Falls

We made our way to some more gardens at the other end of the falls. We loved how perfectly all the hedges are kept. We sat for a while enjoying the view of both falls before walking back to our room.

Perfect plantsBenchMe with both fallsUs with both falls

We were both completely exhausted by the middle of the afternoon from all the walking. I feel like we are really making the most of the time we have here. I think we’ve fit in everything we had in mind that we wanted to do. What a great anniversary day!

Happy anniversary Jesse! Thanks for taking us to Niagara Falls and spending such a fun weekend with me. I love you!!