Wednesday Wisdom - Life Lessons from the Blackberry Patch Par Three

LIFE LESSONS FROM THE BLACKBERRY PATCH
Part Three

 
 

I'm back one more time with three more insights that came to me while picking wild blackberries, plus a little bonus at the end.

7. I'll double my efforts for some blackberry cobbler with ice cream.

 

I've found that I can work twice as hard if I keep an image of the anticipated reward in mind as I pick. For me that's a big bowl of warm blackberry cobbler (see recipe below) with a couple of scoops of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream. Mmm, mmm, good! As with other parts of life, having a clear vision of the fruits of our labors keeps us going when things are tough. It assures that we don't give up short of our goals. When we can picture it in our head - or taste it in our imagination - it motivates us to finish the job, no matter how hard.

8. Save the shady spots for the heat of the day.

The heat and humidity are intense during the Harmony blackberry season and the picking process can be pretty steamy. Some parts of the blackberry patch are shady and others have full sun. I've learned to pick the sunny spots early and come back later to the ones under the trees. There's no need to be a hero when you don't have to be. Pick your battles. Use a little common sense. Don't make your job or your life any harder than it has to be.

9. When you're picking last, pick the sweet berries first.

Late in the season, when many blackberries are fully ripe, they fall off the vine easily. When you pick one berry in a ripe cluster, the movement of the branch can cause the rest of them to fall off and get lost in the briars below. In that case, go for the sweetest ones first, then turn your attention to the others. Setting priorities is crucial, both in picking blackberries and in life. Some jobs and some relationships are more valuable than others. Some projects must be done in sequence. Some tasks must be tackled first before addressing the others. Don't squander important opportunities by doing the wrong things first.

 

10.  The reward: a delicious and simple blackberry cobbler recipe!

Blackberry Crumble

 

4 to 6 cups blackberries

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Juice of ½ lemon

2 cups flour                                    

1 cup sugar                          

1 cup butter                                                

Put blackberries in a 9 x 13 glass pan. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over berries, and squeeze lemon juice over berries. Mix flour, sugar, and butter together until mixture is crumbly. Pat flour mixture evenly over berries and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.