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 ...
Have a wonderful weekend Dorothy! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy. Same to you.
DeleteHappy New Year for you as well! Enjoy the remaining holidays with love, great food, and surrounded by your loved ones. I'll be here ready for your posts when you return. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd a happy weekend and New Year to you, Carmen.
DeleteHappy New Year to you also, Dorothy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessica.
DeleteHappy New Year Dorothy. Let’s hope it brings more of the good news and less of the bad. We’ve all had our fill of the latter methinks.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Here's hoping for a better 2019 for all of us.
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