Black and Blue

Hullo Folks! This morning we all woke up with a start at 6:30, scrambled around getting younger children dressed and prepared to load up in the van. Benjamin manned the toaster and toasted something for us all, I cut cheese and cantalope, and put some water in jars, and then joined the van full of half-asleep people. Actually, it wasn't too bad, and in less than half-an-hour after waking up, we were on the road to Drewry Blueberry Farm. We met the T. family there, and picked thornless blackberries (for sissies) and blueberries. There is something so old-fashioned about berry-picking. We were saying that we've always wanted to dress in white dresses and pretty hats and go picking, but that is decidedly impractical! It was alot of fun! Blueberry bushes are so beautiful! I love the coloring of the berries in different stages- they are the prettiest shades of pink and purplish, and finally light blue, until you rub the bloom off, and then they are such a lovely midnight color! :) We hope to make jam at some point, and I hope to make a blueberry crisp for dessert! :P Oh the summertime is SO great! Berry-picking is one of my favorite things to do! The only real way to do blackberries is to pick them in the wild, become lacerated by dozens of thorns, and come home hot, sticky, and purple with berries! :) Yay! I thought of the scene is Wives and Daughters when Molly Gibson is picking berries- you see her eat one, but when she comes home, she is absolutely covered in juice! :) Do you all like picking berries? What are your favorite kinds? Leave a comment if you love berries! :) -Rachel