Judy P's Tickle Trunk

Before.

I was just reading about a fellow who dove into an active volcano in Vanuatu. Ha. Sure what does he know about risk and drama? If he wants real action he should try blackberry picking on the riverbank behind our barn. Earlier today I found myself balanced precariously with one foot an a piece of wet slippery river shale, the other on an eighty degree slope of loose gravel with my right hand holding a cup three quarter filled with blackberries, the other hand nothing to hold but thorny blackberry canes. Why do I put myself through this when I can buy big plump blackberries at Costco? Like any extreme sport, my dears, I do it for the adventure. And because the fruit tastes like real berries not some fridgy tasting facsimile. It was a good day; I only got one foot wet and there was no blood shed. At least I think there was no blood shed – I won’t know for sure until I get the blackberry juice washed off my hands! As I was plucking these precious globs of purple juice I was reviewing my mother’s rules of berry-picking:

– Don’t wear your best clothes. Don’t wear any clothes you ever plan on wearing again. Epoxy work has got nothing on the havoc picking berries wreaks on a good pair of pants. Indeed I was reminded of that line in the Newfoundland song The Squid Jiggin’ Ground: “Now, if you ever feel inclined to go squiddin’ (pickin’),   then leave your white clothes behind in the town, And if you get cranky without your silk hanky,  you’d better steer clear of the Squid Jiggin’ (berry pickin’) Ground.’

– Cover your hair. This is why bandanas were invented. Berry canes have claws which just love to snag your tresses.

Blackberry canes are pure evil.

– All dropped or spilled berries shall by pursued relentlessly. I discovered today that blackberries float, which was quite helpful as it also helped rinse off the tiny black ants and spiders.

– Do not eat the berries you are picking, nor any berries that you aren’t picking, no matter how pretty and juicy they are.

Atropa Belladonna, or poisonous deadly nightshade berries, grow all around the blackberry canes.

Yes, it was worth it even though there were only a couple of cups of berries they went to good use. Here’s the haul:

They made it onto the supper menu. Still feeling adventurous I went out on a limb and added Lance’s fresh yellow tomatoes and basil to the macaroni and cheese:

and while it was baking made a kind of cottage pudding based loosely on the recipe for Blueberry Dreams I found on a website called Stuffed at the Gill’s.

Blackberry Pudding

Seconds. Would have greatly benefited form the addition of caramel sauce and whipped cream.

And what of the boat, you might well ask. Day 17. I got the glass and first coat of epoxy on the hull and she’s looking mighty fine. I snapped this picture from the berry patch:

Boat in a barn by the river.

‘Twas a very productive day but oh, me hips.

© Judy Parsons 2014