My camera dried out and is working fine, all except the zoom button, which I use more than I thought I did. I miss my zoom button, but am very thankful that my camera is back to life. Taking pictures during our busy days is something I really enjoy.
After my camera dried out my upstairs computer had a problem and I could not transfer photos into my picture program. Rich fixed it last night so I am taking the time this morning to post some pictures on my blog. Sarah is over in the arm chair looking cute (she can chew on her little hands now) and Rich just brought me coffee and half a bagel.
Anyway.
We made pickles this week!
It all began on Thursday. I was sitting on the couch early in the morning, minding my own business. I was the center of attention:
We were all hanging out together when all of a sudden our neighbor down the road drove in. It was Mr. G, the man who has the huge garden (and the kids helped him plant it). He came to our house to give us 2 boxes of cucumbers, zucchini, and summer squash. He has been selling produce by the side of the road but he had to go away for a few days and decided to give us the veggies.
He told us they would be good for pickles so after he left Ethan came in the house and immediately started rummaging around the kitchen, trying to start making pickles! He didn’t need to think about it, he knew that was what we had to do. Of course, he had not a clue how to make them, but that’s besides the point. He was just gonna do it. Who knows what he would have come up with.
I grabbed my canning and preserving book (see link below) and we went downtown to get our supplies, just me and E and Seth. It was a lot of fun because while we were at the store we also bought those new pretzel mnm’s and ate them. It was a party! We put the groceries in the back of the vehicle and filled our pockets with mnm’s. Then we walked down to the hardware store to buy a canner. Seth turned all the different colors of the mnm’s, I carried him and wiped his chin off with his shirt. It was a beautiful cool morning.
This was the recipe we decided to make first:
When we got home, we went right to work.
After we made the refrigerator pickles, I made pickled summer squash. This recipe involved canning/processing the jars in boiling water and this was the very first time I had ever done it. I was proud of myself.
All the canning made me hot and tired so I flopped on the floor for a minute, with Sarah. Grace took the picture.
Sarah’s sundress has flowers and strawberries all over it, the same color as the shirt I was wearing. Little things like that make me happy. 
When you spend so much time together it’s good to color coordinate.
My brother Isaac came for dinner on Thursday (pickle day). I was so thankful that Jacob and I had made dinner earlier and it was in the crock pot. We made Salisbury steak, a recipe we recently found on allrecipes.com. It is already a family favorite. I just have to say, I have tweaked the recipe. The original calls for a package of lipton onion soup mix, mixed into two pounds of hamburger. I thought it was too salty, so the next time we made it I used 3 beef bouillon cubes and a handful of dried onion in 3 pounds of burger, instead. You could also add herbs and spices, too. We served the steak with hot buttered egg noodles and raw cucumber sticks (with dip). There was NOTHING leftover. Success!
Isaac and I took the kids outside.
Caleb flew his kite.
Caleb canned out on the lower driveway, which is gravel. He came crying to us, showed us two very tiny scrapes (but I am sure they did sting, poor boy) and then went in the house, muttering “NOW I NEED TO PUT BANDAIDS ALL OVER MYSELF.”
He came back out looking like this:
The large bandaids were much too large but I guess that was all he could find.
After a while, the little boys wanted to swim so I sat and watched them while Isaac and Grace walked the dog.
I made more pickles yesterday. Bread and butter. Four quarts of them. By the time I was done chopping and measuring, boiling, stirring, timing, turning my kitchen into a disaster, boiling a HUGE pot of water and worrying about someone getting burned, I decided paying 3 dollars a jar at the grocery store was a steal of a deal.
I am happy that I did it, but it’s time consuming and tiring. And when it’s the first time you try a recipe you don’t even know if it’s worth it! How will they taste? Will they be crispy? Will the children like them? Am I crazy?
I went out on the porch yesterday to get something and found E and G sitting and talking, each with chickens on their laps and the cat right there with them!
Someone special sent Sarah a few gifts yesterday and this morning I put her new tiny legwarmers on her. They are so cute I squealed.
And they have cherries on them. How utterly precious!
Happy Saturday to all my wonderful friends! Thank you for being you.
Much love~ Shanda
Good to be Home 
LOL on pickles being worth the $3.00 a jar. You didn’t just make pickles though, you made memories. I love the one pic where the cat is on her back and looks like she would not mind a tummy scratch 🙂
I just love reading your blog. It’s like you invite us into your home/day. I love your first picture where you’re all just sitting around doing your thing. 🙂 Those pickles look SO yummy! I sure hope they turn out for ya. Caleb with bandaids all over made me chuckle. I’m so glad you take these littls snapshots thru out your day! 🙂
Hopefully when you taste the pickles, all that hard work will seem worth it!{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}
Mmmmmmmmm, homemade pickles. And the blessing from the neighbor of the produce. How wonderful! Just be careful, this is how traditions get started, haha.
I agree you made memories…which are priceless!!!:) Enjoyed all your pictures and words:)
Canning is such hard work – but it’s worth it, I think. Plus, it’s something the children got to enjoy doing with you! I remember canning with my Mom – some really great memories from back then. 🙂 Adorable legwarmers!!
Have you ever read “And Then There Were Five” by Elizabeth Enright? The two sisters decide to do all their summer canning while their housekeeper is away, and it comes very close to being an utter disaster! They don’t think it’s anywhere close to worth it, either, until it’s all done and they see their hard work and know that they’ve provided for their family for an entire year. It’s so sweet, and so realistic!I love Sarah’s little sundress. And she looks pretty intrigued by Seth’s sippy cup there in the second to last picture!
You are brave to make pickles with a new baby and older children too. Hope everyone likes them.
she is just so precious!! I love those little leg warmers – I loved putting them on Hannah this last winter – but they were too big!! baby legs.. 🙂
I LOVE her legwarmers, she looks so cute in them! I bought a pair for each of my girls last winter, and Sophia called them warmleggers thinking that was the proper name. I thought it was so cute, of course that’s what we call them now! Your pickles will be crispy! I worry about that too, and they always taste just fine! And yes, $3 for a jar is well worth it, but there’s just something so cozy about looking at a jar of homemade pickles created in your very own kitchen. Yours look so pretty! I always love hearing about your days! Happy weekend to you too. =)
Yum I can taste those pickles from here:) Such cute pictures.
Oh, but pickles in the store…you don’t know where they COME from. These pickles…there is no doubt. They were grown in your neighborhood, canned in your very own kitchen. I’d say they are definitely worth it!
Such a delightful post!Liked all your pics.Hope your pickles & squash turn out yummy!
A deep friend is like rainbow, when the perfect amount of happiness and tears r mixed, the result is a colorful bridge between hearts.
mmm…mmm…mmm… homemade pickles are favorite of mine!! i have a friend that makes some awesome ones. never tried myself, cause she always keeps me supplied~ but yours LOOK like hers, so i bet they’re good. ;)when i read the title i immediately had that little “pickle jingle” come to mind that Buckwheat sings in The Little Rascals!! Sarah’s leg warmers are adorable.. i just saw some at Target this morning w/ Emma and we were oohing and awing over their little cuteness.hope you’re having a good Saturday. keepin cool. it’s a hot one here & i think i’ve given myself a belly ache from all the popsicles i’ve eaten! 🙂
you know what else is also very tasty?fried zucchini!!!yummers!FRIED ZUCCHINI 3-4 lg. zucchini3 c. flavored bread crumbs2 cloves garlic, crushed1/4 c. grated Romano or Parmesan cheeseSalt and pepperOil – vegetable for frying2 eggs1/8 c. milkWash (do not peel) zucchini. Slice in circles or lengthwise approximately 1/4 inch thick. Beat eggs and milk together in bowl. Dip zucchini in egg mixture, add crushed garlic, cheese, salt, and pepper to bread crumbs in large bowl. After egg mixture dip zucchini in bread crumb mixture coating both sides well. In large frying pan, place oil and fry zucchini until golden brown. Lay on paper towels to absorb oil. Makes a great sandwich!
Yummy! I LOVE homecanned pickles! All kinds! I bet yours will great! cherries on leggings, chickens on laps, bandaids on boys… big smile here!Happy Saturday to you too!
YUM! Your pickles look very tasty and homey too. Love that E went for it with you.Love that little rosebud dress on Sarah. I thought, “that is my favorite outfit so far”, but that is what I thought of the yellow one…so I think I just love all the cuteness She looks so sweet with her brothers and with you! Mary always used to coordinate with Brianna. She said she was like an accessory, as she was always carrying her, and as an artist it bothered her if they clashed! Cute little leg warmers. The chickens and cat are so funny. Happy weekend to you!! Love,Jenny
Yay! I’m so glad you like them! Lydia has WAY too many…it’s becoming an addiction!I love the quote about color coordinating. It’s too true!I posted a new yummy recipe that I made up with summer squash, zucchini and cherry tomatoes. It’s SO good, you’ll have to try it!Summer Veggie Pasta
@shondadiane – I made fried zucchini last week, too. It almost seemed wrong…until I dipped it in marinara. All was right with the world!
way to go on your journey into canning and preserving. what a blessing to not only have had the kids able to help the neighbor with planting but to see the fruits of their labour now and be able to do something with it. We have had home made dill pickles before and they were fantastic. your recipe book looks wonderful. i’m sure it all turned out wonderful. i hadn’t read the part about your brother visiting so when i saw Isaac and Grace walking the dog i was trying to figure out which son that was and how on earth he had shot up in height so quickly..i went back and read and then realized it was your brother 😉 love the picture of the chickens and the cat. looks like the livestock gets along there on your property!! and look how big Seth is getting…aww.
I agree ~ you canned a lot of memories along with the pickles. and I love those cutie-pie little legwarmers ~
Your little punkin is such a cutie! A real little angel!The picture of the children holding the chickens with the cat there is so cool. Also knowing that you came upon them that way and didn’t really pose for the picture makes it extra special. I love seeing the every day moments in your day. Thanks.
Yep. You are crazy! Buttt… What a wonderful and creative mommy you are. Making memories to last a lifetime for sure. I really hope the pickles are yummy. Glad your brother could join all of you too. Thanks for posting the yummy dinner recipe. I think I will give that a try. I love that recipe site too! I like that you can read all the comments and get ideas. Have a blessed Sunday today!
great pics as always. I am in the middle of canning season here. Might I recommend using a steamer canner if you don’t have one? Saves on time but especially on water. Still makes the kitchen hot, but is so much better than the water bath canner. blessings on your next endeavor. melinda
My friend’s family gave us a jar of their pickles, and they were the best pickles I’ve had in my life. They had garlic, fresh dill, and red peppers in them. Spicy and garlicky and delicious.
I always tell you how sweet your children are, how precious your new baby girl, yada, yada, yada. BUT . . . Your kitty!!!! . . . Oh what a sweet fat belly! Loved it!
Shanda You and your Brother sure favor each other–Lying on the floor with Sarah looked liked you enjoyed relaxing for a few moments.–I love Caned food, My Mother caned everything while I was growing up. My wife did quite a bit.Sweet Corn I prefer Frozen Dill pickles are good but bread & butter my favorite–Enjoyed your Post
I like Sarah’s expression in the first picture between her two brothers. Caleb seems to different to me–what a change from last August. Way to go on encouraging Ethan’s taking the initiative–such an important quality in a young man. Hope your week is off to a good start. love,Christie
I’m glad you got your camera to semi-work and the computer too. I love seeing pictures of your family. I love you. Lish
WHEN EVERYTIME I M DOWN, YOUR BLOG ALWAYS CHEER ME UP. IT IS SO NICE TO SEE HOW HAPPY CAN A LIFE IS . 🙂 IT IS BRILLIANT , HAPPY AND FULL OF LOVE.
Shanda I would be very interested in the recipe for the pickled summer squash!
This post is so great! I loved so many things about it: the picture of you as “center of attention” LOL, Sarah’s adorable dress (yes, color coordination is a good thing for the two of you! ), Caleb’s bandaids, the kids sitting around with chicken in their laps, the pickling (especially seeing Ethan taking charge!), the leg warmers, AND my personal favorite – the picture of you with your brother Isaac. You look amazing, Shanda! I just love your hair. And your brother looks so nice. Is he just wonderful, like my brother named Isaac is? We call my brother Ike, and I love and miss him so much. It is so neat that your family lives within driving distance and can come visit for a day or two!
Your pictures make me smile. And those sweet little piggy toes sticking out of the leg warmers make me smile even bigger. Thank you for sharing your precious memories with us, Shan!
looks yum and you did a fantastic job!! looks like your days have been wonderful just being with your family and enjoying doing fun and new things together. Love it
The leg warmers are darling! This post was so packed full! The bandaids were hilarious! I think even if there were other ones he would have still chosen the extra large ones!!! Nice to see your brother and compare how much you two look alike! He has great eye wrinkles! Phil has a big garden this year and he and Juls just made a bunch of pickles, Steve and I were eating so manyh at the last get together. I love canning, but agree..last year I made waaaaaaay too much apple butter and still have too many jars left, steve makes fun of me for being so over zealous! All the apple sauce was devoured though! 🙂