Wash cucumbers, blossom, ends removed. Use the littlest ones you can find!
FIRST DAY:
In the afternoon, place cucumbers in large bowl and cover with boiling water; let stand 6 hours or overnight.
SECOND DAY:.
In the morning, drain cucumbers and cover with fresh boiling water. Let stand 6 hours.
In the afternoon, drain cucumbers; add salt; cover with fresh boiling water.
THIRD DAY:.
In the morning, drain cucumbers; prick with fork. Combine 3 cups of the sugar, 3 cups of the vinegar, herbs, and spices (except vanilla extract) in a pan.Heat to the boiling point and pour over cucumbers.
In the afternoon, drain syrup mixture into a large pan; add 2 cups of the sugar and 2 more cups of the vinegar. Heat to boiling and pour over cucumbers. Cover and let stand.
FOURTH DAY:.
In the morning, drain syrup mixture into a large pan; add 2 cups of the sugar and 1 cup of the vinegar. Heat to boiling and pour over pickles.
In the afternoon, prepare jars. Drain syrup mixture off pickles into large pan; add remaining 1 cup of sugar and the vanilla extract (if using) to syrup; heat to boiling. Pack pickles into clean, hot jars. cover with hot syrup leaving 1/2 inch head space; seal. Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
