Icicle Pickles

3 pounds 4-inch pickling cucumbers

6 to 7 small onions, peeled, quartered

6 to 7 (4-inch) celery pieces

1 Tablespoon mustard seed

4 cups white vinegar

2-1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup pickling salt

1 cup water

Wash cucumbers, cut lengthwise into eighths. Soak in ice water 3 hours. Drain, pack into clean jars. Add 1 onion, 1 piece celery and 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed to each jar. Combine vinegar and remaining ingredients, heat to boiling. Pour vinegar solution over cucumbers to within 1/2-inch of top, making sure vinegar solution covers cucumbers. Cap each jar at once. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath. Makes 6 to 7 pints.