Summertime in the Kitchen

Hello everyone... 

Happy Weekend !

How are you all making out this summer?  

We are having a beautiful but somewhat dry one!

As it seems to be in so much of the land.. 

Anyway..

I decided to do a little August post for you.. 

It is that time of year again that I love!

Pickles... I love pickles... Did you know that is a song?  😅

Well, that is what is playing in our kitchen this week!

We have not had very much rain in the Maritimes and the gardens are not all producing what they normally do because they are so dry.. 

The farmer that I buy my pickling cucumbers from called to say that he had some fresh in on Tuesday morning so I hurried down and bought 50 pounds!

That is what I usually start out with so.... 

That is what I spent the rest of this week doing... 

I hope this post doesn't bore all of you... 

I always start out by making my dill pickles first.. 

My friend Maxine gave me her recipe many years ago and it is my fave!

I always turn them upside down for ten minutes after they are filled and sealed to help secure the sealing.. 

They do this in Europe and I have found it helps a lot..

I only made 13 litres of them.. 

Terry 's fave are the sweet dill so they were done up next and there are 14 pints of them... 

I will have to hide them as he can consume most of a jar in no time.. 

lol..

They look lovely too although they tend to float if you don't pack them in.. 

I had them made before I remembered that fact so have to make a note on the recipe for next time.. 

Then I sliced up Bread and Butters to sit for awhile.. 

These are a fave of the grandsons as are the dill, of course... 

Then I managed to get the Sandwich Pickles done but probably not enough... 

I had to make the Kosher Dills so this was all I could spare for sandwiches.. 

A big bucket of kosher dill that will ferment for 7 days then I will can them for winter.. 

I love these.... 

And that is fifty pounds worth finished up.. pretty well 

A bowl is left over for salads which we love.. 

Sliced cucumbers, a small onion thin sliced and chopped dill.. 

lots of salt, hot pepper flakes, a spoon of real mayo and a cap of cider vinegar.. 

shake shake shake.  

Better then chips.. lol..

So that is my pickle journey thus far... 

We will come across some more small ones and little batches will appear.. 

I still have a couple of recipes I want to make.. 

We do not consume all of these pickles on our own.. 

I love them for my gift pantry and of course Christmas!

We are all a pickle family and they like to receive them.. 

Then any party or gathering I usually show up with a jar.. 

Do you girls make pickles... 

I am so thankful that God has given me strength and desire to keep doing these each year.. 

Another August joy are the Queen Anne's Lace flowers!

One of my all time faves..

So elegant!

I know I tell you the story every year of how this flower received her name.. 

Queen Anne was making lace... 

She pricked her finger while she was working on it and so..... 

Every Queen Anne's Lace flower has a speck of red in the middle!

That is how you recognize it and make sure you have the proper flower.. 

Especially, if you are going to consume it!

I made my batch of jelly and it turned out lovely!

If you look really hard on the pic of all of the pickles you might see a couple of jars in back.. 

I did a whole batch but it doesn't last long as it makes such a sweet gift.. 

I think I may make one more batch ... ❤ 

This is a vase like thing I made from the dollar store.. 

They had boxes with four spaces in each and packages of 4 clear bottles.. 

So...

I bought 2 of each and painted the boxes and put the jars in for vases.. 

One of my fave projects.. 

So sweet on the table too with just one flower in each... 

Not a great pic but it was so lovely early mornings with the sun shining on them..

I tried to get Terry to go for a drive tonight to pick a few more different kinds but he had to mow the lawn and told me I should do a blog post.. 😏

So I obeyed!  Always... grin..

The above are just wild chamomile I think that is what they are called.. 

they make the perfect bouquet and last for at least a week.. 

Then I take the scissors and cut them off and add to my wild flower potourri pot... 

I thought I would share our chicken story.. 

We bought 20 meatkings and they are doing so well!

Thank the Lord.

Terry and I processed 6 on Monday and are hoping to do more this coming week.. 

So wonderful for the winter.. 

A bit of work for him but he enjoys them.. 

I didn't include any food pics or projects.. 

But I am working away at stuff on these hot days.. 

Sitting in front of a fan and cleaning a cupboard or such.. 

Having lots of precious company, too!

Cousins and friends... 

Oh, I bought a beautiful sectioned thick notebook with pockets.. 

I am writing down project ideas I get off of Instagram and such, 

recipes for salves, lotions and herbal medicines, ideas for my gift pantry and such.. 

You know as I told Shonda, I think..... 

I could lose my phone or such and where would I be?

Lord forbid.. 

I just got it paid for.. smile.. 

Well, sweeties this is all for this Summer's Friday evening.. 

Where did date night go, I ask?

Just joking ... he took me out to dinner last night.. 

It was lovely.. 

So... 

Saying good bye for now as my Momma always used to say.. 

Trusting God and thanking Him for a transformed life.. 

He really performed a miracle in my life when he saved my soul.. 

Gave me a life worth living and a hand to hold no matter the storm or days of joy.. 

He is my everything!  

God bless you dearies and I look so forward to hearing from you all and what is keeping you busy.. 

Take care of yourselves and hold tight to your precious families.. 

Hugs from New Brunswick...

Summer's Dream

Hello there loveys.... 

Here we are midsummer... mid July!

It has been a lovely summer thus far here in New Brunswick.. 

a bit too hot some days for me but still so much loveliness going on.  

I love flowers and every day there are new ones blooming in the fields and roadsides.. 

Poor Terry is getting quite famaliar with the ditches! 😏

Just so many bouquets to be had, eh!

How are your days going? 

The long gentle days of summer are to be embraced so I am doing my best.. 

Definitely not a hot weather lover.. 

Today is wonderful! 

A nice dreary rainy day.... 

Anyway... 

Canadians never fail to find something to chat about because we all love the weather talk.. 

Last week the lavender harvest was done.. 

It was so lovely this year! 

A really deep purple and so fragrant!

All tied in bouquets and hanging from my spinning wheel in the livingroom.. 

I love using the wee bunches for gifts and to hang in our closets.. 

And all the toiletries and salves and such...

do you see the bumblebees up above...

Lots of roses this summer... 

Terry has many bushes along our drive and they are growing wild everywhere.. 

I have jars of dried petals and am putting some in oil to infuse for Wild Rose and Yarrow Soap... 

That is the plan anyway... 

The country drives are beautiful this time of year..

The Bay of Fundy as beautiful as always... 

And a lovely B&B to be had in St. Martin's...

Our grandson and granddaughter in law are such wonderful hosts... 

A sweet wild turkey family we came across on one of our drives.. 

seven babies...

Baked an old fashioned banana bread in an old pan like Gram used to have... 

And I think 7 batches of strawberry jam.. 

and our favourite strawberry rhubarb... 

Spending a wee bit of time at the farm...

Hopefully we will spend a bit more time there next month.. 

Our chickens are growing like crazy... 

Oh and I made a batch of rhubarb pie filling to can.. 

Hopefully, I will start getting a bit more creative soon.. 

I felt like I was in a limbo as we couldn't decide where we were going to spend the most time at this summer.. 

Here or the farm.. 

We are here and I am fine with that.. 

Just need to get some painting and other work done so here we are... 

Shonda and Dave spent two and half weeks in Europe but are now safely home.. 

Thankful to the Lord for that... 

They brought me back some beautiful fabric from Portugal, a bag of very fragrant Earl Grey Tea and other gifts.. 

I love them all.. 

I have a sweet bunting almost finished for the deck... 

I will show you next time if I get it all done.. 

Thank you dear girls for stopping by.. 

I love your visits and I did respond to the comments last time.. 

I didn't realize I could just do it on my phone and not sign in to Google..

Now I know why everyone almost is all anonymous... 

So much easier.. 

I do love it though when you leave your name...

Take care of yourselve and your sweet families.. 

Keeping the Lord first in our lives sure gives a peace in this chaotic world... 

May God bless and keep you.. 

Hugs from New Brunswick. 

The last of our Spring days....

Hello dear hearts.. 

Thanks for dropping by on this rainy Sunday.. 

The wind is blowing, my window is wide open and the sound of the wind chimes here beside my bedroom window is enchanting.. 

Every time I come in my room and hear it's sweet clunky woody sound,  I smile.. 

a sweet present from my son...

I so love the wind!

 Anyway, how are you all?

We have been doing the Spring things, I guess..

Always making a loaf or two of bread every couple of weeks for ourselves or a bit to give to someone... 

Also a few country drives of course.. 

One of the most endearing sights to me are these old farm houses with their barns and chicken coups and such.. 

The long lanes and lace curtains are just so dear.. 

Don't you think?  💓

The country is beautiful this time of year in New Brunswick.

So lovely and green and flowers growing everywhere..

my wonderful husband as always stopping to pick me a bouquet or two..

I know I mention flowers every blog but they are such and always were such a big part of  my life.. 

Our mother loved and knew them and passed her passion along.. 

I just wish I had as green a thumb as she had.. 

Here she is here with her prize sunflower.. 

As tall as her house... 

I miss her!❤

One wonderful gift we received was this bunch of fresh caught trout that a dear neighbour left for us one early morning... 

They were so delicious and we had two suppers with them. 

So thankful!

Then we have been visiting the farm and puttering the days in... 

Terry with the garden and me with the house..

I have been unpacking so many totes of stuff from our old cottage and shop.. 

It has taken several summers but I am about finished... 

Thank the Lord.. 

A lot of treasures were found though and that was fun!

Washing and packing and giving away or if they were too precious I found a place for them there or here.. 

Trying to get it all back together will probably take most of the summer.. 

But it is work I enjoy... 

We just didn't get to do much the last several years so we are really hoping to catch up this summer.. 

Prayfully!  ❤

We are trying to get things accomplished so we only take short lunch breaks and sandwiches are just so easy.. 

Terry had roast beef this day but I made one of my faves.. 

As I mentioned on Instagram.. 

My sister in law showed me this idea way back in the 70s and I have always loved it.. 

We use thin sliced bread if it is not home made.

So you just spread butter and put on egg salad on the first slice then cover and on that top slice you add mayo and sliced tomatoes then mayo on the top slice and season... 

Cut into threes..

And I love the kosher pickles I made last fall.. 

so good...

We still always take time for a cup of tea though and perhaps a wee nap.. eh!!

Picking herbs and so enjoying their fresh taste in everything. 

Especially, in salad dressings and egg salads, soups, potato and macaroni salads and so on.. 

Oh, I forgot to take a pic of my chive vinegars.. 

They are so pretty.. 

Next time... 

A couple of suppers.. 

Or lunches... 

The above is a soup made with delicious broth.  You add ginger, garlic, green onions, cilantro, lime juice and soy sauce to chicken broth.

Add some veggies and serve over rice noodles.. 

Sooooo good!!

Oh.. this was lunch because you know who doesn't like it.. 😏😙

He loves this meal though everytime.. 

Fried Fish Fillets, a big baked potato with sour cream and chives and a cucumber salad.. 

He doesn't know it is healthy... lol... 

Just kidding... well.. not really.. 😆

So loving my herbal window sill.. 

I should go and plant them outside but they are just so convenient!

A snip here... a leaf or two there.. 

Basil Thyme Parsley Oregano Mint... 

I may have shown you this before... sorry... 

Decided to raise some tasty meat king chickens again.. 

It has been awhile but I am really looking forward to having homegrown chicken in my freezer this fall.. 

So worth it!!  To us, I mean..

We have as always been doing our town days... 

Terry is someone you wait for... 

I guess I am too but he is as patient as Job with me and I always assure him to take his time.. 

It is not hot here much yet.. but will be then I am not so patient.. 

I just tell him this when the weather is good...

Yup.... 

Guess I am not the only one.. 

My fave author besides Louis L'Amour is Laura Franz... 

A wonderful Christian historical writer with some romance but the daily lives of the characters are excellent!

Anyway.. she has a new book coming out in July.. 

so excited!!

I read her books several times.. 

One of the nice things about growing old is I can't remember the books like I used to so I get to read it all over again.. 

Haha!  True story... ❤

Well, my dear readers this is all for today..

I think I have been quicker this time with my post and so it is thankfully not so long.. 

I just wanted to connect... 

The world is getting to be a scary place the last few days, especially!

I was sitting in church this morning and it was mentioned about what is going on in our world and I just looked into my heart..  

And thanked the Lord that my anchor is secure.. 

I know who holds my hand and I can trust in that Unseen Hand..

He holds today and He holds tomorrow.. 

He is our Refudge... 

2 Peter 1:10

This verse encourages us to make our calling and election sure... 

This verse means to actively and diligently pursue a relationship with    the Lord..

If you don't have a personal experience with Jesus please seek Him while He can be found.. 

thank you my sweet friends for dropping by and as always I love your dear comments.. 

Thanks for reading here and on Instagram.. 

Have a great summer and just enjoy your home and sweet families.. 

Or if you are just the two of you like we are then create a life of joy with Jesus as your source!

God bless and hugs from us to you..