home made pickles

I went out in to my garden and found 3 huge mystery fruit. I say mystery because I planted cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, and pumpkin all in the same garden, but I failed to mark which was which. They were just too big to be cucumbers. I finally decided they must be summer squash and cut 1 open and found it was a unmistakeably a cucumber. I really figured there was no chance it would be good. Usually cucumbers that are left too long and get large are bitter. But this one was sweet and yummy, and I don't even like cucumbers.
I am not a pickler or a canner but I thought it would be fun to try and pickle them. don't ask me for a recipe. I totally read the Vlassic jar and just threw stuff in. I did google a refrigerator pickle recipe to get an idea of how long to leave it and if you cook it or not.
Because I don't know if they're good yet, I am not going to give any details about the ingredients. I will let you know how that goes in four days. But aren't they pretty?
Ok, here's the update! After I reduced the vinegar by 1/2 they were excellent. And they only had to sit overnight. Over a sliced onion and cucumbers I poured a warmed (not simmered) brew of white vinegar, salt, fresh dill, minced garlic, mustard seed, and celery seed. Then later I diluted the vinegar because it was seriously too strong. Next time I will go heavier on the salt. They are yummy, and well worth experimenting with!

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Wall Art Garden Blooms

This room was decorated for my mom's 2nd grade Sunday school class. Their theme is "in the garden". The back wall is a large branch that we cut from her back yard. She stained the branches and we secured them with strapping. Quick, easy and beautiful.

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