Thursday, August 11, 2011

Now that's a Cuke!

Well nothing much to report in the stitching sector of my life but the garden part of my life well! Hubby did well. Look at this Cuke! With all the rain that we have been getting well - it's pickle time!!!!

You would think this was a zuchinni if I was growing one, but this must have been one that I missed on the last pick a few days ago.

Here is a link to an amazing pickle recipe - but the gentleman that posted some years ago - a few questions always comes up - the salt goes into the brine mix and it is white vinegar that is used. Russian Dill Pickles (wonderful Sweet/sour pickle)

Now for my refrigerator version:

I used a empty (LOL!) pretzel container, you know the large barrels. In layers of the remaining ingredients.

Make double the brine recipe

dill/vidalia onion (I used 1/4 onion for each layer)
3 inch layer of chunk cukes - 1/2" slices
more dill and onion
2nd layer put in addition Crushed garlic clove (not minced like recipe calls for does the same thing)
continue till you get about 2 inches from the top.
On the top place 4-6 cloves of garlic and 1 tsp of Alum(found in the spice section of the grocery store - this helps prevent the pickles turning black)

After brine has cool some - warm pour over the pickles. Using a wooden (not metal spoon), push the cukes around a bit.

Let the container sit at room temp for 5-6 hours and then put in the frig. Ready in 24 hours. Great in 2-4 days peak - if you can wait. Not happening once you taste them! LOL!

So enjoy the reaps of your labor - I have been enjoying mine!

Hugs and happy gardening Joan

Friday, August 5, 2011

Wonderful Vacation Getaway

Well I had a wonderful time on vacation - just got back from 3 days in Atlantic City with hubby! Of course found a wonderful needlework shop- okay knew was there - so it was a revisit. Here is the stash I came out with. Who wants to put money in the slots. Actually this shop is located 12 miles south of AC, in Ocean City, NJ.

So here is the hauling:
 So this is what I bought: Rainbow Galleries: Very Velvet in Christmas and fall colors. Inspiration into the Christmas Card SAL! DMC no 5 Pearl in Christmas colors. The whites also Rainbow Galleries - Alabaster, Artic Rays and Fancy fur (also part of the SAL). Needle Necessities - since out of biz - Love going there to get some more for the collection.  and Carons Watercolors Marigold. Since her shop is distinctly for Needlepointers she has some linen she sold me for real cheap. So the name of the shop see below! This is what the shop looks like from the outside - go to her website to see the inside! DROOL!

So anything you need and want for the SAL will let you know which ones I will be using by the end of August so you are ready for the first part in mid-September!

So did you think that I would not come back with thimbles - you are all so funny!
Of course I did - ones for me and extras for swapping! You want to swap let me know!

 So as you can see ones from Atlantic City, NJ and extra New Jersey ones. Close up in next pic.
 So if you want to swap for a jersey one - well needs to also be a souvenir one from either your state if I do not have it or some where else. Just need to send me a pic!!
and unfortunately these were the only 2 I could find the day of my jaunt to Ocean City, NJ, so these are staying in my collection. so the collection grows.

Now a few pics of my trip: this was the skyline coming into AC


 Early morning boardwalk walk after we got all settled in
 View from the one restrarant we ate at in Bally's
 One view of the NJ Korean War memorial - very impactful!
 It's Sugar Store - and yes that elephant is covered with Jelly Belly Jellybeans
 One of many views from our room
 Night shot of Wild Bills casino
 Trip to Ocean City, NJ, this is the music pier
 And this is a shot I took from it!
Then back to AC for an evening walk down by the beach!

Thanks all for looking! Now back to Drooling over my new thread stash!!
Hugs and Stitches Joan

Monday, August 1, 2011

making comments

so I try and I try to comment back to your comments and blogger will not let me - so dumb - so I am not ignoring you - blogger is! LOL!