EASTER 2014:
Boned and rolled two more butts for this year's Easter - one for us, and one for my Chiropractor Dr. Chris Michlin! Took all morning to get them boned out and rolled but I was able to get it done - amazing how weak my left hand is, even after finishing my son's quilt i made for him for his graduation from TCU-McNeely MBA class:
It took him 2 years to get his MBA, took me 6 years to finish the quilt! My original intention was to complete it for his graduation, but 5 strokes got in the way. I worked on it in therapy classes, i had to re-teach myself the crochet stitches every time, just like re-learning how to type every time; but I did it, I got it finished two days ago! Just have to wash it and I can present it to him for Easter! (It is TCU purple!)
Anyways, I wander - got the butts boned and rolled:
.....and pumped them with my brine needle and into the brine. Chilled the trim, hand was too tired to trim out the trim, will have to do that tomorrow and make some sausage.
I pumped them between each string, on opposing diagonals (start on the left top to bottom right and inject, next string start on the right top to left bottom, and so on, alternating) to make sure all areas have been injected. Put in the bucket of brine and weighted down with a half-full gallon bag of water (4 lbs.) to keep them immersed. I roll my cutting cabinet with the bucket on it to the garage door, set the bucket on the garage floor, and slide it with my foot to the fridge, then have to lift it up 2 ft. into the base of the fridge with 1½ hands, lol. Take my time, rest between each move, keep my back straight, and don't lose my center of balance so as not to strain anything. Usually I'll have one or both kids here to do all that, but everybody's getting ready for the cruise (youngest son is getting married again) so just take my time and use what's around me to make it as easy as possible on me.
I'll be smoking them around the 17th or 18th of April, ready for this year's Easter!