Feeling Insecure?

Maybe it's just because this is the first time in my life that I have lived in a larger metropolitan area, but I am feeling increasingly paranoid about my family's security.  We moved into a great neighborhood, and have both a retired and active police officer living on our street and another around the corner on an adjacent street, so i should feel pretty secure, right?  But I don't.  Perhaps I watch too much news, perhaps it is seeing that there was an armed home invasion in a gated community only a few blocks away from ours, perhaps it is being a new mom, perhaps it is just plain insanity.  Regardless of the reasons, the plain fact remains that I am not feeling as safe in my home as I would like.

So, what are possible solutions?  We have a dog, and she barks whenever anyone is close by that shouldn't be, but that's not enough.  So, what's a gal to do? Well, if you are me you research home security systems.  Alarm Systems East Syracuse provides a nice site with a lot of information on security systems, so maybe this is a good place to start.  There are so many different security systems, and I don't want to go crazy a' la Tim the Tool Man Taylor when he installed a massive security system for his family on the classic family show Tool Time.  But I do want something that will provide a warning to my family should we be home, and something that will hopefully provide a quick response from both the security company and the local authorities.

Preserving our Past

I have been feeling nostalgic lately; thinking alot about the idyllic scenes that flash through my mind as I recall my early childhood.  One of the things I remember most fondly is going down into the basement to pick out some delectable jar of preserved fruit or vegetables, maybe even jam from my grandmother's stash of homemade preserves.  So, I pulled out my large pasta pot, bought a bunch of canning jars, some fruit, pickling cucumbers, random canning supplies, and got started creating my own versions of grandma's treats. 

My husband thinks I am crazy, and isn't as enthusiastic about the canning bug that has gotten into me (he thinks I might be going over the edge into nutsville because I have been watching too much of National Geographic Channel's Disaster Preppers).  But that's okay, he can sit by and eat his icky, commercially made, preservative and chemical filled foods while my daughter and I eat homemade, healthy deliciousness in which the only things I can't pronounce might be the names of the actual fruits and vegetables.

So far I have made no sugar added strawberry rhubarb jam, Kiwi Daquiri jam, and some spicy pickle chips.  I can't wait for the growing season to really hit, as I intend to take full advantage of the multiple farmer's markets in our area.  I am also looking forward to canning some homemade chili's, salsas, ketchup, soups, and so much more.

Man, I better get more shelves for the pantry!