A good day's work

It all starts with 12 pounds of pickling cucumbers and a space of at least 3 days. I began Thursday evening by washing and slicing and soaking the cucumbers in lime water. Friday night I rinsed and resoaked in plain water. Then I used my grandmama's recipe to make the liquid that gives them the pickle flavor. Saturday morning I got started right away.

The first step was to boil the cucumbers and liquid for 35 minutes. I used the large pot Kevin got me for Christmas and it was perfect for this double batch. He was pleased to see me so excited over a pot. In the past I have had to boil the cucumbers in several batches, but today I was able to do it all at once. While it was boiling I got everything else ready, including the canner.

I inherited the canner from my mother a few years ago, who had inherited it from her mother and every time I use it, it brings me back to my childhood days when we would spend summer days at my grandmama's house with my mom and grandmama working over the canner, putting our food up for the winter. I always feel very close to my grandmama when I am canning foods and using her recipe and her canner.
Finally after several hours at it I have the finished product cooling on my dining room table. 19 pints and 2 quarts of pickles. I tasted a few and they are so good. I get enormous satisfaction storing good foods for us to eat all winter. I feel as though I am doing the right thing taking care of my family in this way. Yes it is time consuming. Yes I could probably buy pickles for cheaper at the store. Yes it is hard work sometimes. But I love it.