Looking for an activity the whole family can enjoy this summer.  Not your usual summer craft,   but a great idea for a rainy day.  Who doesn’t love pickles, and you can make your own in 24 hours. Make it a family assembly line, there’s a job for everyone in the process.  My daughters used to do this with Grandma when they were just kids.  Being nostalgic the other day, my daughter and I got out the old recipe and whipped up a batch. We went through them quite quickly.  So we made more, everyone is always so amazed that they are home made.  We’ve been giving them away to friends, only problem with that is we don’t always get our jars back, hmmm how do we solve this problem. Got it…a stand up barrier zipper pouch, fill the bags and zip them up, since they aren’t for retail no real need to heat seal them. I’m giving you the recipe and I hope you will start your own family memories.

24 Hour Pickles  makes 3 Quarts  or 6 Pints           about 8-10 cucumbers peeled

1      cup white vinegar

5      cups water

1      Tablespoon sugar

1/3   cup kosher salt

Bring all of the above to rolling boil. Then set aside and cool completely.

Fill Jars with cucumber spears or slices.

In each jar put:     5 to 6 heads of fresh dill

                              2-3 cloves of garlic sliced  

Cover spears with cooled brine and put in refrigerator  for 24 hours.

Must be kept refrigerated.

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You can help by returning clean, dry, empty plastic, paper and non-woven bags  to recycling drop off centers or as I recently found out throughout many National Parks in the USA

Zion National Park (in Utah) is just one National Park that began its recycling program in 2000. Since that time the program has expanded to include over 20 different types of materials and over 50 tons of material diverted to different landfills each year. As a visitor to the parks this summer, look for the recycle drop off centers…You can make a difference too!

Now that school has ended and summer is here the big question for many parents still remains – “What am I going to do with my children this summer?”  The answer to this question will vary depending on the age of the child.  Some kids their bags and head off to a sleep away camp for the entire summer camp.  Others will get dropped off at their local day camp with their packed lunches each day!  However your kids will be spending their summers, hopefully fun will be had by all.