A Spring of Joy

“The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.” (~Old Proverb)

I promise I didn’t cut my hand. Although I did ruin my manicure. I’ve washed my hands numerous times, and I still have a purple outline around my nails. Perhaps I could start a new trend?

We picked 4 cups of black raspberries yesterday from our yard. Then we posed for cheesy photos with stained fingers and bare feet and red lips smeared with juice.

This morning, she crushed some to a pulp.

I don’t know if you can see, but that is Sally and Finn McMissile in the background. They kept us safe while we worked.

Then we simmered the berries with a bit of sugar and water. Just a bit. (And that crockpot you see? That’s full of applesauce. Warm applesauce with a hint of pumpkin pie spice is so delish. I can’t wait until we’re using apples from our trees.)

We strained them and made syrup. (Oh, look at all that delicious coffee in the background. I do love my coffee. Coffee will go well with the black raspberry muffins I’ll make this afternoon.)

Tonight we will sit with dear friends. We will squeeze fresh lime slices into a glass filled with ice. Then we’ll add some fresh black raspberry syrup and sparkling water, and we will share in God’s goodness together.

“This special feeling toward fruit — its glory and abundance — is, I would say, universal. We respond to strawberry fields or cherry orchards with a delight that a cabbage patch or even an elegant vegetable garden cannot provoke.” ~ Jane Grigson