Today Was A Berry Berry Good Day!

I took today off of work, as I had an appointment this morning, and it turned out to be a productive day all in all.  I was able to take care of things that have been in waiting, as I've been working almost every day for a couple weeks now.  Completed a handful of errands, made several overdue phone calls and finished the day out in the yard - my happy place!

Although it's been very hot this month and we've not had any significant rain in the same time, the lawn still needed to be mowed, so I cut it this afternoon for the 13th time this season - yes, I've been keeping track.  This darn OCD...

I also did some weeding, pruning and hand watered all my annuals and veggies, PHEW!

I finished the outside chores by picking a half gallon of DELICIOUS and JUICY blackberries!  OMG, they are to die for, so so so tasty.

AND there's oodles more to come!

If you're in the neighborhood stop in for some blackberries and don't forget to bring a quart of French vanilla ice cream!

#Blessed

Sorry You Can't "Stick" Around

It's blackberry picking season, YIPPIE!

I picked my first batch the other day with oodles of them to come!

While picking I noticed one of the berries had a stick or something stuck to it but upon closer inspection it was no stick, rather a true "Inchworm".  Very stoic for sure, as it was most definitely trying sell itself as anything but a tasty treat for a toad or bird.

After some prodding I was able to get the dude to move, click the link below to watch -

These caterpillars are accordingly called "loopers", "spanworms", or "inchworms" after their characteristic looping gait.

Check it out live - Inch Worm on Blackberry

I eventually removed the critter and placed him in a different area of the yard, then ate the berry!

OMG, they are SO sweet and tasty!

#Blessed

A "Berry" Good Berry Season!

My thornless black raspberries are doing fantastic this year, both, the plants themselves AND the berries!

They just started ripening and I am already inundated with them.  NOT complaining here, it's a good problem to have.

I've been trying to keep up with them and picking every couple of days.  Of course, I am picking and eating them whenever I pass by 🤤 too!

I soak the ones I bring inside to remove any critters that may have been hiding.  I'll then drain them and let them air dry for a bit, then onto a parchment covered pan and into the freeze they go -

Then into a freeze bag -

Suppose I may try my hand at making a cobbler, we'll see.

Rubus Occidentalis or Black Raspberry

Our thorn-less Black Raspberries are ripening like gang busters and tasty as ever!

Always stopping to grab a handful each time I pass, delicious!

What Time Is it?!

It's Cobbler Time!!

Our Tennessee thorn-less Blackberries are ripening and ready for picking!

Hint hint...

I'm Berry Berry Happy!

Thorn-less Blackberries -

Orange Raspberries -

Red Raspberries -

Our Raspberries and Blackberries are DELICIOUS!

Not as many this year as in year past but still plenty to enjoy.

A Berry Pick We Will Go!

 Emilie and I took a nice walk together Saturday morning.  The ball fields, playground and dog park is just up the street, so that's where we headed.  While there look what we happened upon, oo-la-la!

 

When we got home we grabbed a couple of good size bowls and headed back up to our "find"!  In no time we had both bowls filled to the top and overflowing with this black, tasty goodness, yummy!

 

It all worked out to 12 heaping cups full of delicious blackberries!  JoAnne used two cups in a scrumptious pie she made, the rest have been out in the freezer for another time...

 

We'll need to make another trip to pick more, as there were oodles on the cusp of ripeness that we left behind.

Mmmm A Berry Good Time!

YUMMY!

Our thornless black raspberry plants are rewarding us with nice plump, juicy and delicious berries!

We have only (2) plants, which I transplanted several years ago from my folks house, but they've finally taken hold and doing quite well despite the hot humid weather.  These beauties came direct from a famous Tennessean by the name of Faber, Joe Faber.  He's known for his green thumb and rumor has it he's quite the fisherman too!

Hope I can parlay these two plants into about a dozen more.  In the meantime, we'll enjoy the berries we get today.  Bring on the vanilla ice cream!