Sunny with blue skies so we decided to ride down the road to Yellow Hill Farm to pick blackberries. 
The sun felt warm and the breezes were soft across our backs. As we stood next to the tall fences covered with blackberry vines the air smelled sweet. Jim reached in deep picking the berries and his arms came out without a scratch - these are thornless vines - no brambles.The berries are just beginning to ripen. In another week the clusters will be darker and heavier - and sweeter.
Jim loved it and he picked a bunch.
Queen Anne's Lace grows wild along the road. I love this old fashioned flower for the delicate beauty it adds to rough spots and for the memories it carries.
Queen Anne's Lace grew wild in Granny's side yard. I picked it and brought bunches into the house. Then my aunt showed me something fascinating about the lovely flower head. She stuck a stem into a bottle of green ink and left it over-night. The next morning - magically the white flower head had turned green. She explained it was because the stems are hollow and they suck the colored ink of water into the head as it drinks the water. Later in Girl Scouts I learned that her trick works with food coloring too. I loved to color those flowers green, red or blue.
The Nat King Cole song - The Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer - is one of my favorites. That's how this afternoon felt. Slowing down. Enjoying being - just being.
Like kids do.
2 comments:
Ellouise,
Queen Anne's Lace reminds me of my Daddy' mother, Nanny. She loved pretty things and always had flowers in the house. I vividly remember her coloring Queen Anne's Lace and I've done it as well. It's a beautiful filler in flower arrangements, too. I also remember the chigger bites my brothers and I got from picking blackberries, with thorns. Those were the days! This brings back some of the best memories of my childhood---my grandparents and their unconditional love. THANKS!
Diane, Isn't it wonderful how a oicture or a small thing- like Queen Anne's Lace can reconnect us to our memories! Thanks for sharing your memories - and adding them to this summer day. Ellouise
Post a Comment