Happy 4th of July weekend! I hope you are all having a good one. Mine is filled with Sugarwings, boating, yard work and pickle making.
This is my first ever attempt at canning, and it seemed to be way too easy. There must be some botulism lurking somewhere in these jars, because it just seemed too simple to do.
My biggest problem in canning was getting the labels right. These are too big, I’ll need to make more if I do more pickles this week.
And what do you do with a baby while you are trying to make pickles and she wants to help?
We sat up her art table in the kitchen and gave her some cucumber stump "stamps". 
I cut the end of a cuke, carved a design in it with a knife, then let her ink it up with her washable markers.
They really made pretty stamps, with a watercolor effect. And it kept the fairy grand baby pretty happy while her daddy and I chopped and pickled.
This year, fireworks were shot off over Lake Clinton where we keep our boat. The air was cool, the stars were out, and the water was calm, a perfect evening for watching the exploding colors in the sky.
We parked far away from the dozens of boats tied up together, so it was like a private light show of our own.
Now, off to do some yard work and take advantage of this unexpected mild weather, not typical at all for July in Kansas!
You have got to be one of the most fun Grandfairies every!
Homemade pickles? YUMMY! I would love to be the one to try them to make sure you didn’t get sick and die. Just send me a jar and I’ll test them for you. LOL
I’ve never had homemade pickles but I’m a big pickle fan!
I think your labels are darling!
Hugs,
Joanne
Yjm your pickles look yummy! Happy Fourth to all of you!
Wow is there anything you don’t do??? My mom and dad canned for years, but I never paid much attention to it. My how I wish I would have picked up so many things my mom did before she passed. That baby is too cute!
Pickles! You’re ambitious, hon. I would not take on pickles, as I’m a klutz in the kitchen anyway. A can of black beans and relish with salsa and a side of crackers is more my style! But I do admire you folks who take on such endeavors! And she is a sweetpea, isn’t she? Full of spark!
Brenda
Hi Karla
Looks like you had a great 4th. I’m so patriotic that in 1977 I went into labor at the fireworks and gave birth to our daughter on the 4th. I guess I get the Uncle Sam Award or something:)
Great idea with the pickle stamping. I have a problem with tossing all the dye at Easter so get the brushes and paper out and paint with my grandbabies.
I’d like to invite you and all your readers to my new blog that Darcy designed at http://pamwardenart.blogspot.com
Hope to see you,
Pam
where oh where did you get those adorable labels from??
Your pickles look great and I love the labels.
Karen
Wow – you sure do get a lot accomplished!!! I just LOVE the picture of Sugarwings looking like she can’t believe the neat things she can do with pickles! Ah, such sheer joy! You surely win the best Granny Award (and loved the ballerina/dancer pictures too!-grin!)
Hugs from Michigan – Diane
Karla, what kind of pickles did you make? I have an aunt that made the best pickles, but she just isn’t able to do it anymore. I need to get her recipe so that we will always enjoy her pickles. I like the concept of pickling being a family affair.
I love homemade pickles! Yum! It looks like sugarwings had a great time pickling too. We used to watch the fireworks from the boat too, but our lake got too crowded! Brings back some fond memories though. What a great fourth!
I’ve never tried to make pickles. My grandmother used to preserve everything but pickles, I don’t know why because I love them. I love those labels too and of course Sugarwings is adorable stamping.
Have a nice Sunday!
Thanks for stopping by my site! You have a fantastic one here, you are oh-so-creative!
Even your pickling is a work of art.. love those labels!!!!
Did I read that you just got back form St. Augustine? You were in my neck of the woods!! It is one little town I will miss once we move in a few days!!!
Silver Bella too??????? Do you do the Prom and everything???
Sugar*Wings is growing like a flower!!!
I love it! The hardest part being the labels! This is the artist! If there’s one thing we want right, it’s the graphics! (They look delicious — you remind me I should dig out my mom’s pickle recipe!)
It reminds me of when my Mother tried to make pickles, I was about eight or nine, she was so proud of herself. But when it came time to eat them the inside was gone. Poor Mom put too much pickling salt in them. She did not make any more for a long time. The grand baby fairy looks like my little Munchkin Liberty. Have a great day.
Hugs;
Alaura
What a fun family project! That is a great idea to keep Sugarwings busy. I will have to remember that!
speaking of seeing the world through a childs eyes! Look at that sweet little face! Oh what a treat to share these moments with her! The boating sounds wonderful!
I have never made pickles either, but am mmaking my own mincemeat for mince pies this year for Christmas
Happy Fourth Of July to you Karla xxx
Those labels are great! You are really inspiring me. I want to leave the yucky office right now and go home, throw open the windows and make things! Alas, I will have to wait a few more hours. Sugarwings looks like she was having quite the time – great idea with the cucumber stumps.
Karla
I think sugarwings has the artistic part down just right, sweetpea!! LOL Look at that adorable expression on that cutie patootie! In Calif. this week doing lots of thriftin’ and posting pix of finds! Whooohoooo, it was so much fun. Out again today in S. Calif to find what I can!!!
Smoochies,
Connie
Hello!
It wounds like a wonderful Holiday weekend! Fireworks over water seems perfect!
My favorite have been in Petosky, Michigan… looking out over Lake Michigan from a bluff…of course with my kids and hubby!
I hope your pickles turn out for they look greeeat! What nice gifts they could make!
Hugs,
Mary
I love those labels! When I was little my mom canned, preserved and juiced. My favorite was her grape juice…that she rarely let me have because she was always freaked out about them being tainted (even though she boiled everything!! and there was ever anything wrong with them). So I could have some after the neighbor lady had some first…too funny.
I made pickles too! But I made a different kind. You can see on my blog: http://make–do.blogspot.com/2008/07/three-little-jars.html
A.D.
Oh my goodness, is there anything you can’t do woman?! The pickles look delish!
Joy
These pictures are just adorable and wow…if your biggest problem with canning was label size, then I say you must be a natural. I canned some strawberry jam last night…it was a first!
I love your blog, the flowers, dogs and all the fun you have. And yes watching Sugar Wing.