Last night, I got to do one of my absolute most favorite things—pick wild black raspberries, or blackcaps as we always called them. I have so many memories of doing this at my grandparents. I'd get up really early, since Grandma said you had to get there before the birds got them all, and dress in long sleeves and pants. You would take an ice cream pail to hold them in, both because it was convenient with the handle to hang over your arm as you picked, as well as it was pretty large and would hold a lot. And then, the hunt was on. The thing is, the ones you find easily are never that ripe or full. You have to really dig down deep to find those beautiful clusters of berries hiding underneath the leaves and vines. Once you start, you just can't stop. I'm sure she wondered what she would ever do with all of those berries once we picked them and I guess we really didn't think much of that, we just wanted to pick them.
I didn't expect to find too many ripe ones yet, so I was surprised when I was able to fill up this bowl:
I was assaulted by mosquitos ( I have about 20-25 bites— right through my pants!), brushed against nettles, earned purple fingers, got a sliver and stuck by more thorns than I can count, and sweated like a pig in that hour, but man, was it fun.
On tomorrow's to do list—make freezer jam. Don't I sound like a country girl now?
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Was that the jam you gave me when we were up there? YUM! I tell ya, nothings spells fun like being devoured by mosquitoes, slivers, thorns and sweating like a pregnant nun. Where so I sign up? ;)
ReplyDeleteWow! Did you get these from your bushes in the back yard? Try putting a bounce dryer sheet in your pocket; sometimes that helps with the mosquitos; or Avon Skin So Soft. Might be worth a try! It is blueberry season down here; bushes are loaded!
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