Summer Sunrise

A few summer's ago we started this beautiful tradition of a summer sunrise on the beach.

We take a light breakfast (and hot tea for mom) and a blanket and go across the street to the beach.

It is always the best part of day, cool breeze and not too many people. We lay down our blanket and watch as the sky evolves from grey, to light pink to orange.

It is so serene and energizing. I always say ,"We'll do this again." But, we never do, until the next year.

Down in the Meadow

I came across this sweet little blog and thought I would send the info along to you. She has beautiful items & a wonderful blog. Check out her blog and market

down in the meadow market

I have created this meadow market swap shop for all those who love to browse through markets and find treasures...Down in the meadow market you will find knitted, felted and fabric toys that are Waldorf inspired . I hope to add goodies for Mama's too. I also spin so I will have natural handspun wool to swap. I am open to trade with other things. Tea's, edibles, cards, fabric, knitting needles etc.... We can exchange names and addresses and wait eagerly for our parcels to arrive.

A weekend away

My sweet girls went for a weekend away with Grandma. She took them a few hours away to see their cousin.  These are the bags they decorated to hold their lunches for the road!

It was a quiet few days, but a much needed break for me. And, it was almost a get-a-way weekend for my and my hubby. Thought we stayed right here!   We went out to dinner, went to a movie and walked on the beach...no babysitter needed  *wink*

Homemade Pickles

This year in our garden I decided to add a few pickling cucumbers so we could make sweet bread & butter pickles. We have had quite a crop coming in, so it was time to get to it. I have never canned anything before, so I checked out Youtube and watched it step-by-step.

Here is what we did.

 Chop pickling cucumbers about 1/4" thick. Then put in a large bowl and cover with ice
and Kosher salt. Let stand about 3 hrs.

When the 3hrs is up, rinse and drain cukes. Pour 4-5 cups white vinegar into large pot. Add 2 1/4 cups sugar, 1 Tbsp mustard seed, 1/2 tsp celery seed, 1 tsp turmeric. Bring to a boil and add the cut cukes.

Get your canning jars ready!

Boil water in another large pot and carefully drop in jars and lids. Boil a few minutes then very carefully remove. There are special canning tools, but I don't have any- yet.

When your cucumbers start boiling again & looking like green pickles (about 15 min) they are ready!

Fill jars with a slotted spoon within 1 inch of the top. Then, add liquid brine to the top, add cover & screw on lid tightly. You are done!  If you are planning on canning a lot and not refrigerating the cans, then do one more step. Put filled & lidded jars back in the boiling water and boil 10 min more. Water should cover jars by 1/2".  Yum!