Use large cucumbers (they can even be a little yellow). Enough cucumbers to make 2 gallons of rings.

2 c. lime
8 1/2 qts. water
1 c. vinegar
1 tbsp. alum
1 sm. bottle red or green food coloring
2 c. vinegar
2 c. water
10 c. sugar (about 5 lbs.)
8 cinnamon sticks
1 1/4 c. red hot candies

Peel cucumbers with vegetable peeler very thin and slice 1/4 inch thick and remove seeds. Soak for 24 hours in lime and water. Drain and wash well. Cover with cold water and let stand for 3 hours. Drain well. Combine 1 cup vinegar, alum, and food coloring. Add enough water to cover rings and simmer all this for 2 hours. Remove from heat and drain well. Discard liquid mixture. Heat and pour over cucumber rings the last 5 ingredients: 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and red hot candies. Let stand.

For the next two mornings, drain juice and reheat it and pour back over rings. On 3rd day reheat whole mixture. Put into glass jars and seal.