Berry Picking!

Living in the South comes with its own set of “must do’s” for any Fine Southern Lady. The set of “Must Do’s” is typically handed down by your mother and grandmother.

Well, let me tell you….. some of my “Must Do’s” were handed down by my mother, step-mother, grandmothers (4 of them) and Aunts—OMG the Aunties! I had 2 Aunties and so many Great-Aunties that it would spin your head trying to keep up. The closest Aunties in my life were my Aunt Nell, Aunt Lou and my Aunt Jessie Faye. (I have at minimum 15 more:)) I learned from very young that you go berry picking during the cool of the day and no matter the temperature you wear a heavy flannel so the thorns will not penetrate through the material and poke your body.

The berries were everywhere beside the dirt road and lined Paul Slack’s fence row in the front of our home. Paul was always on the tractor doing something to that field. He never cut the big patch that lined Porterville Road or Benson Road. Mr. Paul Slack and his wife, Bobbie seemed to always have a sense of community and sold eggs from their barn on Kings Corner Road.

When I would pick berries it was always so hard to keep enough for canning after I had eaten through them. To this day—I pick them and try to save enough to can or make jelly from, etc.

My Daddy, Neil Stanford, always made blackberry wine from the ones he would pick.

And…I was always grateful there was not a snake in the bushes!

Now I live in Washington State and still Berry pick! I have taught my dtr-in-law and granddaughters this fine art. After just one Jelly session class with my DIL, she picked it up quickly.

I do not have to worry about snakes in this area and the weather is much cooler.

You can take the girl out-of-the-south but you can’t take the south out-of-the-girl…….more to come on berry prep and recipes for Blackberry jelly!