Well, I can plant as many veggie seeds as I want, plant all the plantlets I can; but if the freezer has not been defrosted, the process is for naught. With that motivation in mind, along with the threatening weather howling like the Baskerville menace here in the harbour, we decided that today would be the day— defrost that freezer ! It is the same story every year you know—all the stars and planets must align, the conditions must be right, the supplies must be low, we have to have a place for the frozen goods to wait in, the weather has to be cool and overcast annnnd we have to be “ready” to begin. It is like gardening itself, planning, shifting and precaution. Domestic meteorology, in a manner of speaking. We needed freezer bags, freezer batteries, free space in the refrigerator’s tiny freezer as well as a thick quilt and a crate for waiting out on the balcony in 5 degree C temps. That whole crate had to be shoved into a massive, black Norwegian bin-liner for protection from the elements and to hold coolness. All the prepping and shifting-about finished, we could get stuck-in. The melting of the ice build-up in the freezer could begin. The drawers were removed, cleaned, dried and staged in the small dressing room to wait. So then, pans with hot water, absorbent cloths and me on my knees to try and keep up with the “break-up”. The cloths were not yet on the racks in the foto, but if I did not use them there would have been a proper water-ballet. Experience is a good and handy thing. You know what they say about history, right. Right then, the process over, we are now waiting for the freezer to reach -10C, before chucking the frozen supplies back in. It all goes like a lubricated machine, I do not know why we dread it every year. We are now ready for the harvest to come, pity it will be another three months or so.
Thank heavens for my frost-free freezer! I usually have it stuffed full of soups, stews, breads, stock, and veggies. This time of year it gets less stuffed full and although we are in no danger of starving for the next few months, I do get a little anxious about all that free space. Sjoerd, I love the way you and your bride work together and get things done.
Ahhh, cheers Jane, it really is the key to getting things done quickly and correctly. I know what you mean about the slight anxiousness provoked by seeing empty space. It is a double-edged sword isn’t it. On the one hand you breathe a sigh of relief that there is finally some free space, but on the other hand, the open areas are a gob-smacking, eye-blinking confrontation with the reality that you are slowly but surely running out of stocks of your precious harvested meal components. We know that we must get cracking with planting seeds, but it is still too early for here. Oh yes—a frost-free freezer. Of course I am way too tight to spring for one of those. Well, if this one ever ups and quits on me I will consider it. Perhaps a larger one as well. As for now though Jane Jones, I will not be keeping up with you. It doesn't mean that I won’t be jealous though.
Chuckle! But what a job!! And I agree with you and Jane, that working together on such a job does make it easier. Unless of course you get yourselves into trouble, working together. My husband & I once decided we needed to snake out our sewer line in the basement. We got to it, only we were having such success that we kept snaking this thing on & on. More is better, isn't it? It finally occurred to us that the head of the snake was undoubtedly way past the inside of the house, probably well on is way to the leach field. I exaggerate here but it was definitely a ways outside the house. And then of course we had difficultly extracting it. We tried and tried & then looked at each other and said " What'll we do now?" It would have been quite embarrassing to have to call a plumber. We did finally get the thing it out (phew!), but that phrase "What'll we do now?" has been with us ever since. It's like our "in joke".
Good grief Cayu ! What a story that is. I know that sort of situation, the feeling of realising that you are in deep poo...and how that feeling of hopelessness sweeps over one. Then when it all turns out oké in the end that you wind up with “family sayings”that stick with you. Its all so familiar.
@Sjoerd we go through that sort of thing to defrost the upright freezer, but with mine at the bottom I've got a sort of funnel and I put a tray underneath that to catch the water. Also have a few towels down, but i enjoy chipping at the ice.
