My mother was a farm wife and a prodigious canner. She canned fruit and vegetables from the garden, even occasionally meat. But the best thing that she canned, in my opinion, was blackberry jam. Even as I type those words my mouth waters! Of course, before she could make that jam, somebody had to pick the blackberries. And that somebody was quite often named Dorothy. I think Seamus Heaney might have spent some time among the briars plucking those delicious black fruits as well, so he would have known that "Once off the bush the fruit fermented, the sweet flesh would turn sour." They don't keep; you have to get that jam made in a hurry! Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney Late August, given heavy rain and sun For a full week, the blackberries would ripen. At first, just one, a glossy purple clot Among others, red, green, hard as a knot. You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust ...
Happy Birthday to your daughter. I hope she knows what an amazing mom she has!
ReplyDeleteI'll pass along your wishes. Susan shares a birthday with a lot of outstanding people including Abraham Lincoln and one of her favorite writers, Judy Blume. And she's pretty outstanding, too.
DeleteEnjoy your daughter's special day
ReplyDeleteWe did! Thanks, Martin.
DeleteHappy belated birthday to your daughter! I hope you enjoyed the celebration. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe had a wonderful day at the park - her favorite place to celebrate.
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