When does a stone sculpture become just a pile of rocks? The answer is when the weeder woman makes the dahlia bed into a rock garden. Sigh, there is a lesson to be learned here.
In case you are stuck in the recipe mode, blackberries are at their peak. My long-ago planted, thorn-less berries are still producing. Here is my favorite, easy, berry cobbler recipe. It is also wonderful made with peaches.
Blackberry Cobbler
For the filling:
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water or fruit juice
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 3 to 4 cups of blackberries
• 1 tablespoons cornstarch
• Nutmeg or cinnamon
For the topping:
• 1 cup flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons Crisco
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
1. Cook all filling ingredients in a heavy skillet until thick (my blackberries are very juicy and so don’t need extra juice.)
2. Pour in a casserole dish.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients, and spoon onto top of berries.
4. Sprinkle with sugar.
5. Bake at 400 degrees F until lightly brown.
Never mind solarization, recipes, and gardens. It is the people in life that make it worthwhile. (Well, solarization has its place. By the way, my solarization blog missed an important step. After smoothing the soil, you need to water to a depth of 12 inches before you cover with plastic.)
Recently I attended a baby shower, and I was captivated by the people. Especially the little people. The little tyke with bobbed haircut, straight from the 30’s. The darling little boy who helped unwrap the packages: diapers, plush elephants, and rabbits. The eight-week-old baby with her hair band in place. The hungry child crying for her bottle. The child who lived at the home, sharing her playroom.
Three mommas-to-be, stomachs bulging. The young mothers with children in tow. Lots of them.
The great grandmother, attractive with short, stylish, grey hair. I’ll bet she had stories to tell.
The honoree, beautiful and full of life, ah-hum.
Life is good.
Until next time.
Photo by Fotolia/Shmel
