A lone cosmos among the towering sunflowers

July 19, 2018 - Thursday evening

67 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Today was one of those that I actually managed to accomplish what I set out to do.

First thing was to start processing the cucumbers from which to make pickles. 

Nine pounds were needed and that's exactly what I had. Perfect!

There wasn't enough white vinegar so we made a quick trip to town. Since Sargie didn't have to be at work until 1 PM, she came with and we actually took our time going back home.

Where else in America does the ice cream truck still drive up and down each block, bell tinkling and music playing? It does in our neck of the woods.

We'd just gotten back home when, on a whim, I tried starting the Blazer. After several attempts, it roared to life. I hopped in and with Sargie following in the Kia, we drove back to town where I left the sick Blazer at the mechanic's.

Sargie left for work once we arrived home. I continued working up the cucumbers. I graduated to a food processor a couple of years ago that really makes the job much simpler. Before that time, hours were spent slicing the cucumbers slices by hand.

After the jars were filled with slices and the brine/pickle mixture, the lids and rings were added and the jars processed in boiling water.





Six and a half quarts were made this morning. Hopefully, there'll be another two or three pickings of cucumbers before the season's over. I'll also make pickles from zucchini slices later this summer.

It was mid afternoon. I put on the hiking boots and walked around our country block, a distance of seven and a half miles.



Sargie wasn't home until late this evening. As luck would have it, she opens in the morning making this a very short night for her.

Other than my morning stroll, I have no idea what's on Friday's agenda. I have a new project to begin in the shop and if the mechanic should call and say the Blazer is fixed, I may walk the ten miles into town. Other than that, there're blueberries to pick and if it doesn't rain, a garden to water.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

This was a first for me. There's a hard to see butterfly sitting on the left side of the feeder surrounded by little hummers.