Wire Bale Canning Jars
Every week I try to score something special for my canning obsession and this week I did very well!
When I was a kid, my nana had some of those wonderful wire-bale mason jars that are so popular now but I was too anxious to ‘get off the farm’ to appreciate the beauty of an old jar that had a glass lid and would most likely pinch your fingers if you tried to snap it shut. Now, I’m sorry that I lost that part of my grandmother’s life since she left me with such a rich history in canning.
Yesterday, I was able to buy back some of my childhood for just a little money. I went to an estate sale in Norman at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. The first thing I eyed was a fabulous, very small dunce cap or chinois strainer. It is about 1/2 the size of the one I inherited from my nana and will be so easy to grab out of my Rubbermaid when I just want to strain a little fruit. And the good news is I got it for $10. He wanted $25 but I talked him down. He had about 12 other dunce cap strainers for sale, but I only wanted the one.
Then came the pièce de ré·sis·tance ! I spied seven wire bale canning jars of varying sizes on a table over-run with old Avon bottles and back issues of Good Housekeeping magazine. I couldn’t believe my luck! He wanted $8 for each. That’s $80 I didn’t really want to spend. I wasn’t planning on actually canning in these items although with replacement rubber, they would seal just fine and be safe. I really just wanted to decorate with them. I had to get Mr. Flea Market down to a price I could be comfortable with and he would be satisfied with.
I began my negotiations the way I always do, “What is your bottom dollar on all of the wire bale canning jars”. He asked me if I canned. I said yes. He asked if I ever canned pickled beets. I said yes, I had several jars on my shelf at home. He told me I could have all seven jars for $10 if I brought him back a jar of pickled beets and homemade jelly.
I accepted his offer gladly! Basically, I ended up with $105 worth of items for $20……what a deal!! We ran home and I boxed him up 2 pints of pickled beets, 1 jar salsa, 1 jar spaghetti sauce and 2 jars of jelly.
He felt like he got the best deal, but I know I did!
