“One day you turn around and it’s summer
Next day you turn around and it’s fall
And all the winters and the springs of a lifetime
Whatever happened to them all?”
One of my favorite song for many, many years – since my teens … my “dad” always played it – think I connected to it because of my birthday are in September. I use this song because September is also when my friend, Margurithe, makes her pickled cucumbers – she makes the best in world – and she supplies my years with them.
The recipe she inherited from her dad Carl and it’s over 45 years old. Margurithes and her brother, Sten-Inge lost their mum when they were very young – and her dad took on both parts as mum and dad – Marguirithe has always said that we she knows of housekeeping, washing and cooking she have learned from her dad.
Carl’s sweet pickled cucumbers, 45 years old recipe
2kg/4.4lbs cucumbers
1kg/2.2lbs sugar
100ml/3.38oz fine salt
0,5ltr/1pint malt white vinegar 12%
0,5ltr/1 pint water
5cm/2inc fresh horseradish root
1 bag (26gr/0.92oz) yellow mustard seeds
Dill crowns
Wash the cucumbers, slice and layer them with the dill crown in the jars. Boil water, vinegar, salt and mustard seeds until sugar has dissolved –pour the pickle warm over the cucumbers – cut the peeled horseradish in put a couple of piece in each jar. This recipe makes the cucumbers much crisper and they get a longer life span.
4 days and 3 nights with Margurithe also means good food, laughter, bad jokes and shopping plus more shopping – but I was good this time. Only bought food items.
We visit a little village market in Lövestad, where we bought tasty sausages, green plants and orchids – we were invited two evenings for dinner to her neighbors and friends, of course not only hers .. they also belong to her partner, Bengt. We visit my “cancer sister”, Solveig, that lives close by – 85 and still so young at heart and soul. Doing great so fare, the only “sister” I have left. Bodil’s funeral is today and I will of course be going.
Monday was just curtains and more curtains, all mine. 6 hours in total it took – with me on the iron board and Margurite on sewing machine – that was with cutting and measuring include. When she starts nothing can to stop her.
Some photos from Margurithe and Bengt’s garden, not very big – but very nice and we were so luck with the weather everyday. The evening were chilly, but the days was summer blessed. Monday lunch we had on the sundeck and we had lamb sausages that we bought on the market with dill stewed potatoes; boiled potatoes in béchamel sauce full of chopped dill.
Driving over to Solveig we pasted “Sövde Lake” – there they have a sauna boat .. that you can rent and take out on the lake while taking your sauna. Very popular for office parties and bachelor parties.
Late on Wednesday afternoon did I board bus 6 for Lund and … 1,5 hour later I was home. My bag was so heavy with all the curtains and my memory bank had got some more deposits of pleasant and fun memories.
“Cucumbers are like virgins, they do not keep long”
Dutch Proverb
Your life seems so full and appreciated. I’m sorry for the loss of one of your “sisters”.
Thank you so much … Bodil’s funeral is this afternoon. Talked to her husband this morning – and he sounded okay. I think the family is relieved that her pain is over and that she has come to rest.
I hope for peace and comfort and joy in her memory for you all.
Thank you … so much for your warm thoughts.
I love how you associate your memorises with your good times today
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Margurithe and .. I go back a long way – and days with her always gives great memories.
the making of the pickles brings back so many good memories of when my grandma was young and did this every summer. so glad you got your curtains finished, and had such a good time on top!!!!!
Yes, it was fun to make curtains – even if I only did the measuring and ironing.
Your friend Marguerite sounds just so lovely! Imagining you making curtains together brings a smile to my face.. that’s a lot of work, so I know she is a best friend:) What a lovely time you had together.. and now you have pickles each day to remind you! xx
Yes, we always have a good laugh when together – but she are the boss *smile Her pickles are so tasty and so crisp – and they last just exactly a year.
Your pickle recipe sounds very similar to one my mother has made all of her life. Yummy. It sounds like you and Marguerite had a wonderful time together. I can’t imagine making curtains. I can’t sew a straight line.
Sorry about the loss of your “sister.” Bodil must be a common name. I knew a Bodil from Sweden when I lived in Hawaii.
se.wikipedia tells me that we have 9.000 in Sweden just now – thought it was more common. Plus 3 that has it as surname. Margurithe is an expert on curtains and there is nothing too difficult for her. Plus her pickled cucumber is very special. So crisp and they stay crisp.
Lovely post, with lots of colorful emotions… Great friends, good food, laughter and shopping
Beautiful photos as well. Thank you for your visits and kind comments Viveka. Enjoy your september 
Thanks .. doing my best of my September, today I said goodbye to a good friend and sister … so today is a bit heavy – otherwise I love September. Thanks for your thoughts!!! A pleasure to come over to your world.
Homemade curtains and pickles. How perfect. I’ll save this recipe for my summer harvest next year:-)
Please, do … it’s so great. They stay so crisp.
Love reading about your deposited memories.
Thanks … Lori *smile
Great pics and great music selection, our think our Dad’s have the same taste!
Thanks … that means you dad has good taste. *smile .. maybe we’re from the same generations.
Dear Viveka, I am so sorry for your best friend. These are so beautiful photographs and always your selected songs are amazing. Always finds a place in my heart and in my memories… Thank you, love, nia
Nia, thank you for your kind words … really appreciated! I love my music …. and loads of it.
You have been busy!
Viveka, so sorry for the loss of your “sister”. You and your friend have a wonderful relationship and it sounds like you have so much fun together. I know that you both worked hard on your curtains. I can’t wait to see what they look like when they are up. The crispy pickles sound very good with the horseradish.
Yes, life give and takes … and at least Bodil don’t feel the pain anymore. Margurithe is such great person to be around, she are so positive – and always on the go. Thank you so much, Karen, for your support.