My mom and I picked blackberries together which is no easy task. Before we even started, we made sure we were well protected by wearing long sleeves, jeans and socks and shoes. Blackberries have strong, thick thorns and once they grab hold of you, they don't like to let go. They will even go as far as tear your shirt if you're not careful.
But how I love blackberries and look forward to visiting my parents in August when the berries are ripe. They have huge bushes around their place and I love to pick and taste the sweet juicy sun ripened berries.
So it's worth it to me to wear protective clothing in the 90 weather and ignore my hot sweaty skin screaming at me, "Are you crazy, I dying under here! Seriously socks and shoes? You're gonna chip my French tipped pedicure." But I do it anyway because It's those blackberries I want.
My mom brought some shears along to clip and trim away the branches so we can get closer to the berries, it seems the best berries are the ones surrounded by the long thorny arms. They hang over, dangle and sweep the bottom of the bush so no matter what angle you approach the berry, the thorns grab you. I suffered the misfortune of not paying attention to the bottom of the bush while reaching high above my head for a berry and the nasty branch grabbed my pant leg and sunk its thorns into my flesh. I did get my berry but not without suffering the consequences.
After a while, my mom went in to start dinner as I continued to pick. I was determined to clean the bush of every available berry that I could reach. As I was fighting off the thorny branches to get to the sweet yummy berries I began to liken blackberry picking to that of life. I'm sure it was just the heat getting to me and my body suffocating.
But in my delirium I began to think this is just like life's journey. If we can endure all that life throws at us, the trials, tribulations, sacrifices, thorny branches, scratches and scars and continue to wear our protective clothing and not give up, in the end we shall have the sweet reward.
14 comments:
No wonder they are so pricey! It's like berry warfare!
I know what you mean, it is trecherous to get to those little beauties but it is so worth it. When people come to visit outside of this area they cannot believe how blackberries grow so wild and plentiful, they are everywhere.
Does your mom live on the west side of the Cascades? The terrain looks familiar.
A blackberry pie looks like it might be in your future...yummmmmmmmmm!
Yes Connie my parents do live on the west side of the Cascades, you know your terrain well!!
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a pie to bake! :)
Yummy,If you need to get rid of some pies, I know a family with really cute girls that would love to have blackberries smeared on their faces :)
You are a wise woman.
Blackberries are the BEST! Do I have to wear long jeans to eat them?
Wow, you got a TON of berries. What are you going to do with them all?
Note to self - "Do not mess with things with horns like steer, cars, and BLACKBERRIES!!" Like Kristina said, I have a new respect for why they cost so much at the market. I don't think I will gripe as much now. Your big steel bowl is worth at least $50 at retail prices! Nice post! W.C.C.
Amen. Totally. Love your analogy.
You're making me hungry for blackberries!! But now I want the delicious, home-grown, ripened in the happy sunlight berries. Not the packaged, sour little lumps we get in the store.
Lucky!
We used to pick them down South and I don't remember the thorns, but I remember getting chiggars(sp.) Itching as I type that. That which is worth having is worth working for. :)
I live west of the Cascades, too, and man...blackberry thorns can be nasty! (Our blackberries aren't quite ripe yet. I wish they'd hurry up.)
I like the metaphor for life. Very true.
My daughter has blackberries growing on her land and she needs to see this post! Cutting back the bushes to pick the berries. Pruning and picking. Also a reflection of life and finding the rewards.
I'm visiting from Mormon Mommy Blogs' Post of the Week. If you find time to check out my post and leave a comment, I would be delighted. Mine is #23, When You Choose What You Got.
I did not know about the thorns. Blackberries aren't something that I see much here in the midwest, but it does look like fun and delicious!
Ha! Remember the blackberry containers dad made out of cardboard milk cartons cut in half, with holes punched in the top with a string neck strap so we could use both hands to pick blackberries? Then he would freeze our pickings on cookie sheets. We had quite a storage of berries in his freezer for his cereal (and our ice cream!)
Those berries look quite delicious!
I am green, no no, black, with envy! I've never gone blackberry picking, but I love them! Seriously, I'm so jealous.
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