In a Pickle

superhealthylivingjourney

Pickled Cucumbers

Treasures In The Garden

Today, I was finally able to make time to Prepare,make and bottle my pickled cucumbers.I  made 3 large jars which hold about 15  sliced up cucumbers.. It was quite an easy recipe, and took little time to  to bring to fruition. The longest time was the cooling process. But I still have loads of cucumbers coming on the vines. So I am going to have to find another recipe use them up. And yes, I have given loads away and still they keep coming.

This is my recipe.

Ingredients....

Home grown cucumbers

Apple Cider Vinegar

Mustard seed

Coconut sugar Water

Method.... Put jars in the dishwasher or on low in the oven to warm.

 Pick, wash  and slice the Kingaroy (they can be left whole if whole if wanted)

Pour 600mls apple cider vinegar and 600mls of filtered water into a a saucepan with 2 tablespoons of coconut sugar and bring to the boil (this makes 1.21 of pickling mixture which is enough for 4 x half litre jars of pickled cucumbers). My jars are larger than a half litre. That is why I only got 3 jars of pickles.

Take the jars out of the warmer and pack the sliced cucumber  tightly into the jars.

Bring a separate large saucepan of water to the boil.

Sprinkle a teaspoon of mustard seeds over the cucumbers in the jar.

Pour the pickling mixture into the prepared jars covering the cucumbers completely. Then seal the jars.

Then place the sealed jars in the saucepan of boiling water and leave them for 5 minutes.- this is done to ensure that the pickles will keep for a period of time on the pantry shelf.

Once opened store in the fridge. 

Pretty easy hey!

I didn't taste test this time. But the look pretty yummy!

 Can't wait to have with salad or cucumber sandwiches.

ENJOY.... the making and the eating.

  

Pass It On



A piece of driftwood with depth of character 
 that graces my garden 



 

 

   From My Garden

When I give to others from my heart,
I know that God gives me a refill
from His heart.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
 I have 100% of the rest of my life to live.







 Yesterday did  turn out to be a really great day. After My first 2 phonecalls of the day , then a visit from my brother- in -law, I received mail from my sister, whose husband is struggling with his health, to say that his surgery for a stomach aneurysm is happening soon. They have been waiting for such a long time. And another letter from my friend's (who has dementia) husband to say that things have been progressing well and my friend has had no more falls and no more injuries in quite a while and she is talking to him more.

And.... then later in the afternoon, a phonecall from my brother... That too in itself was a reward. He has been struggling with mental illness. I hadn't heard from him in ever so long.  Some wonderful people have come into his life and things are progressing well. I can't believe how well he sounded, even joking. I am hoping and praying that these trends will continue for all of our friends and relatives who I pray for every day. Every small step is another reward for them and for me.

I finished my day  in the garden again. Seems the best way to spend the end of the day. Each little bit I do now, of course, improves my garden, but it also improves my inner self.

So on to today . I am facing this in anticipation of another positive outcome.

I hope you too with be rewarded with extra love in your heart from God for all the good things you do, get, and pass on to others. C

 If I am going to participate in the game of life, I must continue to appreciate every special moment of it.

Setting realistic goals

Here is our gorgeous visitor again tucking into some bird seed
We are getting a visit most days.

From My Garden

I  am trying to avoid self imposed stresses by not loading myself with unrealistic deadlines, and goals, that are beyond my personal capability.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
I have 100% of my life left to live.









Today is another crisp day- sunny, cold, exhilerating,  even inspiring, and motivating. 
I am hoping that the day will  be as rewarding as yesterday. It has started well.  I had a phone call from our nephew Craig. We haven't spoken to him in such a long time. It was so good have a conversation. Eventhough things are not going as well for him as we hoped, we are looking positively to the future, and hoping that very soon there will be a turn around for him. And now my brother- in law has arrived. So two nice things happening within a short while spells good for the rest of the day.

Yesterday, I managed to complete all my projects for the day. That was a really good feeling. I ended my project day in the garden, which is how I wanted things to go, so my soull was singing for the rest of yesterday.  So obviosly I chose wisely and did not try to do more than was attainable. I am gaining wisdom in my "living longer" years.

And I arose from my slumber on this beautiful morning, in anticipation of another great day - positive, peaceful and enthusiastic.

 I wish you peace and happiness and someone to share your joy of living with. C.

If I am to participate in the game of life I need to grab hold of and cherish every precious moment.

Praying for peace for the world



With love from my garden



        From My Garden

There has always been a longing within myself
 that is only satified when I am embraced and
 wrapped in the love of my Creator.





Each day when I make my daily prayer
I ask that each of my friends and all of my family
be wrapped in the loving embrace of God.
I ask him to wrap each person in the world in his love,
to make the world a better place for all of us to live in,
help the leaders of the world to make to right decisions
for the benefit of all of us,
and let their be world peace.

Please join me in my daily prayer.
Maybe if all our prayers are joined
together we can make a difference
for the suffering peoples of the world. Thank you. C 

What is Success?



                                         

A relaxing space where I sometimes
read, write eat, or think.

From My Garden

Success in my life is found in loving and  giving,
 Not in winning or owning THINGS.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
 I still have 100% of the rest of my life to live.

Lasting happinss does not come from what I can GET.
I find lasting happiness in what I can GIVE.

And that giving is not always gift giving, but it can be something like that...... like when I have shared something from my garden, or something I have cooked with my garden produce.
 But the best giving of all is
A friendly smile,
 an enquiry about a persons health or that of a loved one,
an offer to pray for someone in need,
 a card to wish someone well when they have been ill,
 a postcard to a lonely person when I am on holiday.

And...
these are the kind of things that I too appreciate.
There is nothing more special than a phone call from someone I haven't heard from in a while,
 or a visit from a friend I haven't seen in ages,
 a sharing of conversation about the happenings in our lives.

I've found age brings wisdom
 And with wisdom comes the appreciation of thoughtfulness and friendship and LOVE.
 Money can't buy any of these things.

 So.... today I pass these thoughts to you to share around and hope that you too can find lasting happiness.... and can PASS IT ON! C



If I am to partipate in the game of life I will need to appreciate each precious moment

especially those that have come from the heart.



Positive productive and peaceful

In the chook house

From My Garden

Each day I plan what I need to do for the day.
I don't always follow my plan exactly but I have it.
I will save myself from two enemies - hurry and indecision.

Optimistic Attitude

An asparagus fern growing in a hollow stump

      From My Garden

All the problems in my life can become smaller. I have the confidence and inner strength to find a solution.