Cinnamon Pickles

Several years ago I would make cinnamon pickles. This summer I made them again. The cucumbers need to be large and beginning to turn yellow and the process takes 4 days from start to finish. It's not hard just takes time.

Here is the recipe for CINNAMON PICKLES:
1 gallon cucumber pieces
1 cup lime
4 1/4 quarts water
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 bottle red food coloring
1/2 Tablespoon alum

Use cucumbers that have begun to turn yellow. Peel, slice, and remove seeds. Dissolve lime in water. Put cucumber pieces in lime water and let sand 24 hours. Drain, cover with cold water and soak 3 hours. Drain. Add vinegar, food coloring and alum; finish covering with water. Heat and simmer 2 hours; then drain. Make a syrup as follows:

SYRUP
5 cups sugar
1 package red candy red hots
1 cup vinegar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 cup water

Mix all ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour over cucumber pieces. Close tightly and let stand overnight. For three consecutive days, drain syrup into a pan; heat and pour back over the pieces. The fourth morning heat pieces and syrup, and bring to a boil. Pack into jars and seal by processing 5 minutes in a boiling waterbath. Makes 6 pints.

When Melodi and Amberlea were small they loved these, especially Amberlea. I could not put them on the table before we ate or she would

Fun Activities for the Grandkids

While the grandkids were visiting, we did some fun things in the afternoon. They included playing various Bingo games for candy and money, painting sun catchers, playing with modeling clay, and doing mosiac tiles.

Activities for the HOT Days

What do you do when the temps are 100+ outside? Working outside is not our choice when it is so hot. So, here are some of the things we do on the farm: scout out things on the computer, blog, watch baseball and movies, read, do Bible study, embrodery and craft things. A nap in the afternoon is always refreshing as well.

The Wax Soda Pop Bottles

Grammy and I took Jett to Norman to meet Amberlea. At Hobby Lobby they had wax soda pop bottles of juice. When I was a kid, I thought that was really something to buy some of those. Jett had never tried them so I bought a package for him. At first, he seemed impressed then later decided they were not his favorite.

Grammy's Walk to the Barn

Grammy walked to the barn to give Mel his birthday card. She sat down in his "barn office" to visit with Jett, Mel and I. Afterwards Jett and I took her home in the "mule".

The Posted Birthday Card

Jett had made Grandpop a birthday card and wanted to give it to him at the barn. After reading it Grandpop put it on his bulletin board in his "barn office". Jett thought that was really special!

Whose Donkeys???

Sunday evening our neighbor, Tony, called and said he had 2 donkeys in his yard. Would we know whose they could be??? We called a couple of people and they didn't know then drove around to a few neighbors north of us. No one know whose donkeys they were. Mel called the sheriff to have them deal with the donkeys. Our concern was the donkeys getting on the Turnpike and someone getting hurt. The deputy came and he and Mel managed to get them to Julie's pasture, then the deputy sheriff left. The fence at Julie's was not for keeping animals in so Mel along with Julie's family drove the donkeys north. After about 2 miles the donkeys headed on north. The next day Mel's Mom was talking to her friend and come to find out they belonged to her son, a few miles north of here. The mystery was finally solved!