Pickling at Flamingo Terrace!

As some of you know, one of my favorite places to go when I have some extra days to travel, is to Little Rock, Arkansas, to visit my friend since childhood, Kay Allen.  Kay and I usually start my visit by going to our hometown, Beebe.  This trip was no exception.  We went to Beebe on Monday to help celebrate our dear friend, Sandra Garrett's, birthday along with our other good friend, Carolyn Lovelady. This was followed by a great visit with "Teresa Anderson" and her husband at Sandra's home. We then did our "roaming" to revisit our childhood landmarks and eventually headed back to Little Rock.

The rest of the week was filled with "hanging out" with her wonderful friends, a little walking, estate sales and watching every night of the Republican Convention Circus, I mean Convention.  Kay and I are proud of the fact that we can make our own fun doing anything with very little effort.

However, the big event of this trip (that is taking place as I write)  is that Kay and a few of her closest friends (she only has a million; another thing we have in common) are in the process of canning garlic bread and butter pickles that they estimate will make up around 160 pint and quart jars.  This all began with around 125 pounds of cucumbers, 50 pounds of onions, and on and on and on.

It is a two day process so this writer has been pretty impressed with how it has all evolved up until now.  I actually was "allowed" to slice a few cucumbers myself so that I would be able to take part in this "experience".

The cool part about all of this is that not only will there be pickles all over the place, but also, that there has been two days of people doing their part to make something happen and having a blast doing it.  It isn't easy to have "many cooks in the kitchen" with something like this, but I have watched it happen with much love and laughter among everyone.

I am sharing pictures with you that began at the beginning of this process and hopefully will end with it.  The weather is threatening to send thunderstorms and since a lot of this is set up outside, it could be a factor.  However, there is NO doubt in my mind that these ladies will prevail.

This is a small example of the 125 pounds of cucumbers that were sliced.

Post food processor.

King Jerry at the food processor.

Vicki got the short end of the deal by peeling the onions!

Selma seriously slicing! (how is that for alliteration!)

                              Moppy was on her perch doing her slicing amid the vast number of jars!

Cack is holding up the first sliced finger of the night.

Kay and I pretending to look like we are making a contribution.

Once the cucumbers and onions are sliced, they are iced down overnight with added rock salt for crispiness.

Right before the pickling begins, spices are arranged beautifully in bowls for convenience during the prepping.

The "recipe" is conveniently taped to the umbrella pole because there will be at least two batches per ice chest and by the end of the day, some of the cooks could get forgetful!

Ice chests full of cucumbers and onions are ready to go!

I wish I could describe the awesome aroma of this pickling taking place!  It takes about 20 minutes per batch.

Pickles are then poured into pint and quart jars to begin the canning process.

A few examples of what was necessary to get this job done!

First batch done!!  Many more to go.

They definitely know where their feet have been today!

Okay, so the pickling process has been going on for about four hours at this point with probably one more hour to go!  I am hoping to take one last picture when all the jars have been filled.  This has been quite an experience to behold.  These girlies have worked very hard.  All I did was wipe the sticky off the outside of the jars.  I wanted to "do my part" so some of these pickles will make it back to Texas!

Just look at how much fun these gals are having after being on their feet all day!  However, I did hear one of them say and I quote, " I don't ever want to see another pickle again!"