Mt. Olive, NC

Home of the very fine olive and pickle factory here in NC--they are "picklicious".
http://www.mtolivepickles.com/MtOlive/History.html
We wanted to go there last New Year's Eve to see the "big olive" drop..but didn't make it--there is always next year.
Anyway, this time of year makes me think I want to can tomatos, or put up preserves, or make pickles--yet--I don't trust my skills in the kitchen at my tender age--and I'm afraid of spreading botulism throughout the land.
Stumbled across this recipe from Southern Living http://www.southernliving.com/?source=RelacheSpa
and gave it a whirl today--I used jalepenos, and couldn't bring myself into putting two full cups of sugar into it.
1 48 oz jar of dill pickles (we chose Mt Olive brand)
2 cups sugar
2 jalepenos, sliced (save the seeds for planting later--and don't rub your eyes)
1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar (I used red wine vinegar, because that is what I had)
Ok:
Drain jar of pickles--save juice for a pickle slush for Quinny ;)
Cut pickles into 1/4" slices
Slice jalepenos (or peppers of your choice, or none at all)
Layer pickles and peppers back into the jar.
Add sugar, tapping the jar on the counter so that it drifts downward.
Add vinegar.
Replace lid (important)
Leave on counter for an hour or so, shaking the jar every so often.
Place in fridge for 8 hours.
Viola!
We are still waiting for the 8 hours to expire--I'll let you know how they turn out...
As always:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXiBgiFzKio

Walter

Rest in Peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CjWbemTNcw&NR=1

pop, soda, or coke...

Where I come from a carbonated bev (not to be confused with my sisters mother in law, Bev), is called a pop.


Boring you say--probably--but I have always gotten a kick out of the names of the generic pop--you know, Yee Haw, "7 down", and, many others that you can find at Aldi.


Mike brought a 12 pack home of this stuff last night--and for some reason, it caught my eye:
Blame it on the "Food Lion" (that's where he purchased it) marketing folk if you want--but I think it's quite hilarious.
http://www.foodlion.com/

I'm not sure if I should sneak it into Mike's coffee, or hide it somewhere.
At any rate--here is a "perky" song, as always....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aceAe36TdAE

I don't like spiders and snakes...

I do like Jim Stafford...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lYdD9DdLNY

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=spiderman+theme+song&search_type=&aq=9&oq=spiderman

and I like the entire StRafford family next door to my mom and dads...

I like Ike, and I like Mike...

I was so proud of Mike for getting up off his wallet and paying someone to take away brush and whatnot---who knew it would be (one of) Mike's lucky days--when the guy found a copperhead snake in the weeds...

Quin was scared silly....Oscar and Joe may never be the same...

Deep cleansing breath...they won't hurt you--I don't think...
sigh...

I leave you with this...

but don't look too close....

Good advice, take the stairs....

unless you are frightened of heights...like me and mike...

Quinny took all of these pics...because we were too scared!!

she ran around the top of this lighthouse like it was a snap--, and snapped this pic.

me and mike on the other hand were hugging the inside to save our lives...at least we thought....we walked down, thankfully--

214 steps....

as always...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81eSIwsLcWg

G, as in George

give me an "i", and "r", and "l"!

We just got that fantastic news yesterday, and the fantastic news that all things are normal and good and healthy!

Something--as always:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRnbtRPC6v4