Wednesday, April 21, 2010

That Time of Year

Tonight, dinner was "Blueberry Pancakes for Dinner Night". I'm almost to the end of the '09 blueberries that I horded in the freezer.

As Fin helped himself to the blackberry syrup he asked, "When do the blackberries bloom?" I replied, "They're blooming right now." "Oh good" Fin answers, "now we don't have to be stingy" (with the syrup).

I pointed out that we won't have blackberries until May (the end of May). He then pointed out to me that it was a good thing it was the end of April.

Of course, although I tell Fin that we have to use the syrup sparingly because it's only a renewable resource once a year, the truth is that each time he (or I) spoons out a big pancake swallowing helping I flashback to weeks on end of coming home from work and then out to the blackberries to wrestle those luscious little berries out of the bramble. I remember the countless scratches, blackberry canes trying to eat my hat, and then the hours of processing berries, boiling juice, heating the water for the water bath, and getting jars and rings ready. When the last blackberry was processed and put away last summer, I knew that I might never give any of that syrup away. After all, I'm the only one that will ever be able to truly appreciate the value of one of those little jars of syrup.

7 comments:

  1. I am selfish about who gets my pear-ginger jam, but I do have enough (like TONS) to give away. Plus it's a lot easier to make than blackberry syrup.

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  2. CF, I did manage to give some away(not much). This year looks like a big crop so maybe I'll be able to suck it up and farm some more out (but only to the appreciative).

    Fin, thanks. This is one of those cases where it would be okay to lick your plate. :)

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  3. I've never had blackberry syrup but that sounds heavenly especially on blueberry pancakes.. Both are two of my favorites.

    Raises hand- I'm VERY appreciative haha..

    Mom always made blackberry and dewberry jam and it was SO good. Now they have hybrid blackberries that are huge and so sweet.. They freeze them and I enjoy when I come home. I can't wait.

    Cobbler is also GOOD- with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. MMM

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  4. Wiz, picked the first dewberries yesterday. Yummy! I freeze my blackberries too. I've just about finished last year's. This year, I've planted a thornless variety that should yield some of those huge blackberries for next year. :)

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  5. I know that if I ask nicely you'll make me some pancakes and some of that fabulous syrup :)

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Please play nicely.