Bread 'N Butter Pickles

I got this recipe over 30 years ago from a magazine, probably Woman's Day or Good Housekeeping. How do I know? On the back of the page I tore from the magazine is a coupon that expired on 9/1/1977!! I LOVE B&B pickles, so when we have an abundance of cukes I make some of these. They can be made with Splenda if you wish... that is what I do.

16 cups cucumbers, sliced about 1/4" thick (about 4 1/2 lbs)

6 cups thinly sliced onions (about 2 1/2 lbs)

1/2 cup salt

water

3 trays ice cubes

5 cups cider vinegar

5 cups sugar (or Splenda)

1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed

1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seed

1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric

6 1-pint canning jars and lids

1. In 7-quart saucepot, (I use a large plastic dishpan) mix well cucumbers, onions and salt. Cover with cold water and ice cubes; let stand 3 hours. Drain; rinse well and drain again; set aside.

2. About 30 minutes before cucumber mixture is ready, in another large saucepot, mix sugar, vinegar, celery seed, mustard seed and turmeric. Over high heat, heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 30 minutes or until syrupy, stirring often.

3. Meanwhile prepare jars and lids for processing. Add cucumbers and onions to syrup; over high heat, heat almost to boiling, stirring occasionally (do not boil). Ladle hot mixture into jars, leaving 1/2" head space.

4. Using spatula, release any air bubbles from around side and bottom of jar; wipe jar tops clean with damp cloth; close jars.

5. Invert jars for 5 minutes, the turn them over and allow to cool completely.

ENJOY!

Kat

Alaskan Fabric (and other treasures)

Here is a little more information about the wonderful fabrics I found in Skagway, AK. Our first stop was a wonderful little shop that was about half yarns and needlework and the other half quilting fabric and kits. It was called Changing Threads. The first great thing I found was the fabric that looks like Northern lights. Two of these are "Celestial" by P&B Textiles. On the other one, the selvage says, Timeless Treasures, but I did not get enough of the selvage to identify the fabric line. The lighter fabric (shown below) is a Hoffman fabric called "Glacier Lights" by McKenna Ryan.

The second shop (and right next door to Changing Threads) was called Rushin' Tailor's Quilt Alaska. I found some wonderful batik fabric (see above) featuring trees, bear, moose, etc. And the best thing.... they were on sale!! Five gorgeous pieces of this fabric came home with me.

At the same shop I also found: quilter's emory boards. I got several different patterns of these... they will make great gifts. I also got a tiny can of "Alaska Winter Salve" which is made in Anchorage by Denali Dreams. I have terribly dry skin due to sun damage (while fishing) and this will be small enough to carry in my purse. Some of the ingredients are lemongrass, lavender, and sage. IT SMELLS WONDERFUL!

At an Anchorage market I found antler buttons made by Robert and Cheryl Clark . These are polished on one side to a nice sheen. I don't know yet exactly what I will do with them but they will probably be used in a small wall quilt.

So that is all the "quilty stuff" that I brought home from Alaska. Now to go get this washed and dried so it will be ready when inspiration hits!

Kat

My OTHER blog...

I would love for you visit my NEW blog, "Enjoying the Journey", a journal of thankfulness and inspirations.

It is JUST beginning so there is only one post, but I am hoping to post almost every day with some type of short entry.

Check it out and let me know what you think!!

Kat

Squash Pickle Relish... YUM!

This is my absolutely FAVORITE thing I can! My grandmother gave me this recipe about 25 years ago, so I think of her each time I make it. It is so beautiful in the jars and tastes wonderful! It is also a good way to use those assorted veggies that you have too much of. Although the recipe calls for yellow squash, I usually add in cubed zucchini as well because we have an abundance of those. In previous years I have also used green tomatoes and cucumbers, and added a little hot pepper to it. Anyway you make it, it is delicious and my friends love to receive this as gifts.

I eat this on my purple hull peas and my most-favorite is with fried fish. Very simple, and it CAN be made with Splenda to reduce the sugar. DH is diabetic so I usually make a small batch with sugar and a larger batch with Splenda. Also, I usually double or triple the batch. Why mess up the kitchen for 4 or 5 little jars of stuff?

SQUASH PICKLE

8 cups sliced squash

(I slice the small parts of the squash, and quarter the large parts. When using zucchini I quarter the zucchini lengthwise, remove the seeds, then large-cube the flesh with the peels still on... that gives the relish more color and helps the zucchini hold together better.)

3 quarts cool water

2/3 cup salt

Place these three things in a dishpan or large pot and soak for 1 hour. While that is soaking:

In a large pot mix:

2 cups sliced onions (I prefer to cut mine in a large dice rather than slices)

2 cups sliced bell pepper (again, I prefer to large-dice them)

2 Tablespoons celery seed

2 Tablespoons mustard seed

1 large jar sliced pimento

3 cups white vinegar

3 cups sugar (or use Splenda)

While the squash is soaking simmer this mixture until the onion is translucent.

After 1 hour, drain the squash and add to the syrup mixture. Bring to a good boil but do not cook any more. Place in sterilized jars leaving 1/2" head space and seal. Invert jars for 5 minutes, then place right side up to finish cooling. Wait about 2 weeks before eating (that is the hard part!) Yield about 5 pints.

They're Stuck in My Camera, Again!

Yep... the pictures I took to go with about my next 3 posts are stuck in my camera, again. So the posts about the Alaskan fabric I bought, the squash relish, and the bread and butter pickles will have to wait until I can get the photos onto my computer.

I so admire those that shoot photos and right away load them onto the computer. There they sit, ready for blog inspiration to hit, the click of a mouse button, and then they are added to a post.

Not me... I just can't operate that way. Probably because my camera is STILL filled with about 300 pictures from Alaska. I have already loaded them onto the computer but I don't want to delete them until I have time make a CD of the photos and be sure everything is safe and secure.

So then I take blog photos, and when I load them on my computer it takes longer, yada, yada, yada... You really don't want to hear all my excuses, do you? The facts are that I just LOVE WRITING, but DON'T like dealing with the photos.

Never fear... my blog will not become photo-less. That would be pretty boring! But this thought of writing without being expected to include photos has me thinking about possibly starting another blog (Like I really NEED to try and keep up with 2 of them???). The 2nd blog would mostly be posts without pictures, spur of the moment things. I'm thinking that a "thankfulness" blog would be neat... a space I could do a quick journal entry at the end of the day listing what has blessed me that day. I would really enjoy that and would not have the "dealing with the camera" dread hanging over my head.

I'll have to ponder that idea some more... after I finish the quilt I am working on, do housework because company is coming this weekend for a family reunion (Under pressure I can clean like the "white tornado"...remember the old Mr. Clean commercials?), figure out supper for tonight, etc.

Time for a second blog? Of COURSE I have time... it just means the pile of housework will be deeper the next time we have company coming. No biggie.... TURN THAT WHITE TORNADO LOOSE!

Kat

Helpers at the Farm

Today we are blessed with some very good help on the farm. My Katie-Bug is spending the weekend with us, and she really enjoys the farm life. She and DH have spent an hour or so out picking from God's provision. I think she believes this is as much fun as hunting for Easter eggs.

She loves to hide in the vines. She calls this her "club house".

So what did they get this morning? Lots of good stuff for supper this evening! Rattlesnake beans (the purple stripes disappear when cooked and they look like regular green beans), cucumbers, grape tomatoes (which are HUGE right now since they are the first ones to get ripe), and some beets (the last of that crop). There in the yard they also picked from the mulberry tree. It seems to have gotten its second wind with that nice rain we had a couple of days ago, and is producing a few more berries for us. Now the 2 of them have gone to the woods on the 4-wheeler to pick huckleberries and blackberries. I think a cobbler for dessert will be on our table tonight.

Plans for later today: cooking (of course... time to don that apron she made a few months ago), beading (I have some new beads that will make very cute bracelets for her) and some sewing (we don't know what, but we will sew something).

Besides Katelyn, we also have one OTHER new helper on the farm. The new addition to our family is called PJ. (DH wanted to name it Paula after the person that gave her to us, but I would not let him... that makes it too confusing to know if he is talking about Paula the dog, or Paula my friend whenever the name is mentioned.) Poor PJ was abandoned by her family and Paula rescued her, then started looking for a good home. We think perhaps she is part Jack Russell, but who knows?

She is a very sweet natured dog, loves to run behind the tractor and 4-wheeler, and would LOVE to play with my cats. Unfortunately, they (the cats) do not feel the same way about her. They are letting her know that she in on THEIR turf, but are some what more tolerant of her today than they were when she first arrived.

I think one thing our recent travels helped me to remember: I am a country girl at heart! I loved visiting the big city of Vancouver, BC and touring on the trolley, but I am so thankful I don't live (and have to drive) in a big city, or ANY size town for that matter. Living down a narrow dirt road has a few disadvantages, but the positive things FAR outweight the negative!

Have a blessed day today and "bloom where you are planted". Enjoy God's bountiful provision, even if you have to visit a grocery store to get it... He made those fruits and veggies, too!

Kat

It's Here!

I've anxiously been waiting for the IMQA Quilt Calendars to arrive. I had been watching the mailbox closely before we left on our trip... no calendars. But guess what was waiting on me when we got home.

I am "Miss July" (actually, Peach Smoothie is Miss July). I was so excited to be included in this... there are quilts from lots of well-know machine quilters here, all masters at the machine, and then there is little-ole ME, that no one has heard of. I feel so honored and blessed to be included with them!!

This quilt was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit... I was considering entering the quilt contest in AR but was really undecided, when a friend from church mentioned it to me. Inspiration soon followed and the rest is history, so to speak. All quilting motifs were designed by Karen McTavish. I am so thankful that the One that has inspired writers and artists through centuries still reaches down to guide us today!

Even DS was impressed with his mom's appearance on the calendar, and impressing him is hard to do! He gladly took one home with him, and he is the one that says, "I don't know why all these women pay you to do quilts for them when they can just go to Wal Mart and buy a blanket!" (Note to self... leave ALL good quilts to DD in the will... Just kidding!)

And a big thanks to Marilyn Karper for the WONDERFUL photography she did on all of the quilts. She really has a talent for capturing quilt details, and it is showcased well on this calendar. Thanks, Marilyn! You bring quilts to life in your photos!!

And yesterday I found out that I will be able to purchase calendars for sale to others, so my supply of 20 calendars will soon be arriving. See me if interested... $10 + tax. (You can also order them from the IMQA web site, but they are not yet listed there, so you need to call the phone number and ask for them.)

OK... enough commercials. Here is a "parting shot" of beautiful Alaska scenery. This is Mendenhall Glacier (and waterfall) in Junuea, AK.

Kat

We're Home!

Actually, we've BEEN home for several days, but I am so busy catching up on other things I have not had time to post. I have been trying to catch up on blog reading a little at a time, but still have lots of reading to do before I find out everything that has been happening in your lives while I was gone.

No time to post photos today, but hopefully I have some really AWESOME photos of animals, glaciers, and many other things. The scenery was magnificent! Alaska is such a rugged yet beautiful and serene place (most of it... the towns are CRAZY with activity with the invasion of 3-4 cruise ships/day.). We had a wonderful trip in all aspects. This was my first time to fly and I really did enjoy it, but not something I would want to do very often.

I guess I'm still just an RV kinda' person... give me my own bed, surrounded by my own things, tooling along where we can stop on a whim, and not be at the mercy of restaraunts for food... that's my idea of a great trip!

So... what did I buy? A visit to 2 quilt shops in Skagway added some "Northern Lights" looking fabric to my stash (3 different color-ways!). I also found a great sale on some really neat moose, bear, and tree batiks, so those were added, as well as a really neat gray-sky background fabric that goes well with it all. Not sure exactly how I will make it, but this will be a trip-memory wall quilt. I took photos of a neat looking mariner's compass design on the carpet in the ship... so that might be an idea for the pattern... we will see. I also found some really neat antler buttons at a market in Anchorage. These will also be used on the memory quilt.

This week we are back to reality... housework, laundry, quilts pouring in the door, and vegetables from the garden to be dealt with. Today I have canned 9 pints of squash pickle relish. It is really intended for yellow squash, but we have so many zucchini right now I used about half squash and half zucchini in it. YUM! It is one of my most-favorite things we can. I'll try to get some pictures and post a recipe later this week.

Now back to work... church tonight so I will have to hurry and get supper fixed and see what else I can accomplish by 6pm.

Kat