Tuesday, August 30, 2011

First Blackberry Harvest


We enjoyed our first blackberries from the berry garden this past weekend. 
To say that I was ecstatic would be an understatement.

My sweet Graham joined me for this festive occasion, although we only picked a few berries together before he started grabbing fistfuls of vines and leaves (with a readied open mouth).

There were enough ripe berries that morning to serve with our breakfast -
mmm mmm, so sweet.


I also picked the very last of our blueberries. 

A colander of sweet summer berries made my heart sing.

We enjoyed our fresh picked berries over whole wheat pancakes. It has become our weekend tradition for Mike to make us pancakes on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

He makes them mostly for me, I'll admit it. Although I do know that he enjoys them, it is mostly I who think it's perfectly acceptable to have them two mornings in a row... 

Although sometimes, I go out on a limb and request french toast...I know, I'm unpredictable. 


Pure organic maple syrup completes our weekend breakfast tradition.

xo 

at

46 comments:

  1. JennAugust 30, 2011 at 2:03 AM

    Gahh at 22 I'm a little past prime adoption age but, please, consider it will you? I'll live in the guest house/sauna. I come with bachelors degree and credentials.

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  2. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 2:24 AM

    I've just discovered your to drool over blog. It's beautiful, scrumptious and addicting!
    Not to mention we might be neighbors. I live an hour from Portland, OR.
    Love knowing there are beautiful places in this {as some say} boring state.
    Can't wait to keep reading and pouring over your gorgeous pictures!

    Vera at Oh! Baby Designs

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  3. DawnAugust 30, 2011 at 2:28 AM

    So wonderful! Blackberries are my favorite. They have such a compley, dark, sweet taste. My favorite is blackberry pie.

    We make pancakes on Saturdays...sometimes french toast. I love little family traditions.

    Thank you for your hug, I needed it!

    Lots of love,

    Dawn

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  4. TeresaAugust 30, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    Os sigo desde hace meses ,y os felicito por vuestra magnífica granja,los frutos y flores y sobretodo, por vuestros ¡¡ preciosos bebes !!.

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  5. bolso.meAugust 30, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    You are doing wonderful things with your babies. When I think that others don't spend a second even to read a story to their own children...
    By the way. If the garden continues growing so much you'll have enough production for making marmalades.
    Regards

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  6. leahAugust 30, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    Would love to be sharing brekki with you!! Yum! Love the gorgeous photo of Graham and his first touch of blackberries!

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  7. Mel's Designs from the CabinAugust 30, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    Yummy! I love both blueberrys and blackberrys...fresh fruit...awe....I remember picking strawberry's with my young grandsons, and the youngest wanted to talk about each strawberry he picked...he was about 4 at the time...I brought him and his brothers to help me pick more strawberrys, but my idea didn't work....lol...we had a fun day together picking strawberrys....Mel's Designs from the Cabin...Mel

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  8. Simply LKJAugust 30, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Those look delicious! Our blueberries are done for this year (our season is late June-early July). I would love to try growing some blackberries. We love them on cereal, pancakes and in yogurt parfaits as well. Graham is adorable. How wonderful they are growing up learning to eat such healthy foods.

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  9. My Little BungalowAugust 30, 2011 at 7:17 AM

    Beautiful photos! I love the syrup pitcher with the Bakelite handle -- at least it looks like it from the photo. I have a lot of Bakelite pieces but no syrup pitcher. Graham is so sweet and growing so quickly! I'll bet you can't wait until he can taste his first home-picked blackberry.
    Claudia

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  10. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Such a special moment.

    What is the adorable embroidered shirt he is wearing?

    Kellie

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  11. CatherineAugust 30, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    Hi Kellie,

    His shirt has a red printed giraffe on it. It's a hand me down from my nephew.

    Hi Claudia,

    The handle is bakelight, my dad gave me the pitcher. He also gave me a much larger one that looks exactly like the smaller one. We use that when there are more people.

    Trina ; )

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  12. Ami at A Sierra HomeAugust 30, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    Just beautiful. I read this early in the morning and now have a crazy yearning for pancakes. I planted my first ever berries this year, but only raspberry. I can't get a bowl full because my boys eat them off the vine the second they're ripe! Do those blackberry bushes have thorns? My raspberries have some mean stickers! Thanks for the lovely, lovely post. It's a treat to read.

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  13. Pinky at Designs by PinkyAugust 30, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    Sweet, precious pictures. The berries look good too:):) I just had some cereal with blueberies, as I do EVERY morning!!! XO, Pinky

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  14. A Hint of HomeAugust 30, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    What a sweetie you have for a helper! There's nothing like home grown fruit or veggies.
    Have a great day!

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  15. HeleneAugust 30, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    I have been reading this blog for quite a while and have been searching for similar blogs to read, but I havent found one blog that could compare to yours. Thanks, Trina, for sharing beautiful pictures, tips, recipes and stories! Keep it up :)

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  16. Mary BergfeldAugust 30, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    You have createda beautiful home for your family. It sounds like you've also fashioned a beautiful life together. It is always a pleasure to visit here. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  17. Boho Farm and HomeAugust 30, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    Just love this post! Oh how I wish we could be harvesting blackberries in August! Delightful.
    xo
    Caroline

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  18. GailAugust 30, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Yummy! Your berries look so pretty and delicious. :) I could eat pancakes 2 days in a row too!

    Hugs,

    Gail

    P.S. Do you have a good resource where you buy your maple syrup? We like it with our pancakes too but its so expensive here. We use it VERY sparingly. :)

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  19. house of earnestAugust 30, 2011 at 12:39 PM

    This looks fabulous! I would love pancakes on a weekend morning with those fresh berries on top! But we have so much wildlife, our crops always get ransacked! How do you keep the deer away from those beautiful plants?

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  20. CatherineAugust 30, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Hi Gail,
    Unfortunately, we don't have a very good resource for our maple syrup. We buy ours from our local grocery store so a 16 oz bottle is around $15 - on sale! It's a special splurge of ours.

    House of Earnest,
    We do have deer and in fact, we woke up to some 'pruning' this very morning. But they only ate the vines and left both the ripe and pink berries, so that was a relief.

    Trina

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  21. 24 CornersAugust 30, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    The berries are beautiful! I love how Graham was so 'ready to harvest'! All of these amazing 'first' are so special and I love that you're sharing them with us, they always put such a huge smile on my face!
    Oh, and I *just* gave my mom a little white collander as a gift this morning...she loved it and is going to use it for berries...so funny!
    xoxo J~

    (the pitcher is fantastic!)

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  22. Notes From ABroadAugust 30, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    That would definitely get me to eat breakfast ! or would I ? it is so pretty :)

    What sweet memories you bring back with Graham and his "readied open mouth " ... babies just grabbing Everything and Anything and sticking it in their mouths lol ... give him a big kiss from me please.

    Candice

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  23. bjAugust 30, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    Oh, the berries, the pancakes, the syrup...all look sooo good..but when that sweet Graham is in the picture, he IS THE STAR. So adorable.:)

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  24. ElaineAugust 30, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    The pictures of the black berries sure brought back memories of homemade pies. The field behind my home used to be full of these until the city graded the land up. Years ago my husband and I had over three acres of blueberries that we tended to ..They can be work but are delicious in pies and muffins or just fresh.

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  25. MimiAugust 30, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    I just want to reach out and eat those berries! Mimi xx

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  26. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    I love this tie of year when there are fresh berries everywhere! enjoy~

    I have an earring Giveaway ending tomorrow you should try to check it out!

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  27. CatherineAugust 31, 2011 at 12:24 AM

    Hi Ami,

    No, the blackberry bush is thornless. It's a non-invasive variety we thought we'd try - so far, we've been quite happy with it!

    Trina

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  28. UnknownAugust 31, 2011 at 3:21 AM

    that is such a sweet post ! literally !
    yummy

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  29. Bokcaféet i bynAugust 31, 2011 at 3:26 AM

    Good morning Trina,
    Such beautiful photos you are showing us! Your home and garden is so inspiring and gives me ideas for our garden in the bottom south of Sweden.
    Have a wonderful day!
    Kindest regards,
    Anna

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  30. Reginas CottageAugust 31, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    hi trina
    your blackberries looks great.i have also blackberries in my garden,my family and I we like blackberries jam.great photos and a wonderful blog
    have a nice day,
    regina

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  31. Meine Dinge FrankaAugust 31, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    Sweet berries
    sweet baby!

    Greetings from Germany!
    Franka

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  32. The Country CardinalAugust 31, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    I know... it's so rude of me to keep inviting myself, and thus far, nothing has worked. All this beautiful sweetness -- berries, Graham, first tastes -- is simply impossible to resist, so I thought I'd try this...

    My parachute is ready; when can I drop in?

    I'll bring some fresh-from-the-tree northeastern maple syrup... cases and cases and cases of it.

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  33. A New England LifeSeptember 1, 2011 at 8:17 AM

    Tell your husband to make extra pancakes this week-end because we'll all be there ; )

    YUM!

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  34. DianneSeptember 1, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    You mention that your husband does most of the cooking/baking, that is wonderful. Does he work from home that he is so accessible to help?
    You have a wonderful blog, and I love your beautiful home, garden and babies!!!

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  35. CatherineSeptember 1, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Hi Dianne,

    He works from home (since the babies were born), two days a week. He's busy! He comes home from work, gets started with dinner and then most often works late at night.

    Of course, there's also the baby care!

    He's wonderful and all three of us are very blessed to have him as husband and father. xo

    Trina

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  36. the brown shedSeptember 1, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    Hi Trina,

    I really enjoy your blog. I love to see the beauty and simplicity of your home.

    Here in Texas our blackberry season ended quite some time ago, but we enjoyed them from our small potager when they were producing. We have to beat the birds to them at times. --- We are planning on planting a few blueberries next season. --- It is such a joy to feed your family from your own garden, don't you think!

    Alway a delight to stop and see what you have here.

    Christi

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  37. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2011 at 11:28 PM

    Graham is so cute! Glad to hear you all enjoyed the harvest!
    Have a great weekend.
    xo E + J

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  38. MariaSeptember 2, 2011 at 5:06 AM

    You're making me cry! I was supposed to be in USA right now enjoying blueberries and yummy blackberries. I could have come visit you! But alas! I am stuck here in Oz, planting blueberries, watching our wild blackberries take over the side of my property. Summer is on its way here and I can look forward to gloating soon to you! Hee hee.

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  39. littlekarstarSeptember 2, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    I love your home - soorheous, fresh, welcoming and cosy. Your berry garden sounds a delight

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  40. TriciaSeptember 2, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    Oh, that looks so tasty! How nice to be able to pick all those berries fresh from your own garden. I'm always on the look out for wild raspberries, but the ones I find never seem to amount to a whole lot.
    Tricia :)

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  41. Paula Jo @ Home and Garden DecorSeptember 2, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    Those blackberries look delicious and I bet they are. Graham was having a good time, and I bet his eyes were open wide with wonder. I wish my hubby would make pancakes for me every weekend. Enjoy those berries!!

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  42. MGSeptember 5, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    Hi,

    I recently found your blog and really enjoy reading! My husband and I are starting our farm here in Hawai'i. I'm in charge of gardens while he's taken care of animals. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Aloha from Hawai'i :)

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  43. savvycityfarmerSeptember 5, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I simply MUST get to the family farm and start picking ...

    bought a griddle today for our fall pancake weekend fest
    heheee

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  44. KatSeptember 5, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    Oh, I adore blackberries!!! Those look heavenly!!!

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  45. KelleySeptember 5, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    Yum!

    xo kelley

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  46. My Garden DiariesSeptember 5, 2011 at 11:46 PM

    Sweet picture of you and your little guy...love the harvest...Good stuff!

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Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine