Wild Blackberries

Yesterday was a decent day so I went to the garden to weed eat the back fence and  the weed eater was broken.  I tried to fix it but couldn't so I had to find something else to do.  I gathered up what squash I could pick and put the kids on the four wheeler and drove to town to sell squash.  Not much luck I only sold $5 dollars worth so then I decided to pick black berries because they are ready.

We got on long sleeves, pants and boots. I left the baby down the hill at Grandpa's house and we went back up to pick the berries.  The first bush we came to had huge berries.  I think we ate more than we kept. Emily started crying to go home so I loaded everyone and took them to Grandpa's too.  My husband was so impressed with the berries him and his daddy went back with me.  

  My bucket was full and by this time Kyle was putting in to go home. So I loaded him and took him to Grandpa's emptied my bucket and went back for more. I picked one more bucket before calling it a day. Buddy picked a gallon jug.

  When we got home I started washing the berries that we didn't eat.  I put them in a colander and submerse them in water.  Most of the debris comes to the top to be scooped off. I then drain the water and start again until the rinse water is clean.  Then I drain the berries in the colander and put them in a single layer on cookie sheets. Then into the freezer until frozen.  I did this before bed so I just left them till morning.  Then I put them in gallon bags.  The berries are not frozen together so I can measure them out as needed. I prefer it this way because I never know what I am going to make so pre-measuring them would be impossible.  We got a total of two gallon bags frozen yesterday and another bowl in the refrigerator for cereal in the morning.