Back from our summer vacation,

back in fall, I got to go to the farmers' market again. The same old one (the new one mentioned two years ago did not quite make it), with the same abundance of produce. This time I got some carrots, broad beans, and parsley for dinner on Saturday, cucumbers, dill stalks, and currant leaves for a project on Sunday, and cute little potatoes for Monday. Those purchases were planned but I could not say no to ripe peaches for my dessert and a bouquet of sunny flowers for the table.

So today's project was pickling. I used to help my mother and grandmother every fall, artfully arranging cucumbers in rows in jars or keeping a watch on a big cauldron, adding firewood when necessary. Today Mike and I stuffed those greens into two jars, a bigger one for New-Mexican inspired hot pickles, and a smaller one for spur-of-the-moment ginger(!) flavored pickles. We'll meet again in a week and see how they turned out. We should still have the time and means then to tweak the recipes if needed and fill the rest of our fridge for the winter.