Blackberries grow wild along the treeline in the park behind my building. And they are just now getting ripe.
This afternoon I sprayed myself with insect repellant and braved the hordes of mosquitoes (the bush is very swampy and with all the rain this past month the mosquitoes are having a great time!) to pick a few.
Those brambles really grab onto your clothes and skin. But, oh, the result is so tasty! I cooked these berries with just a little maple syrup and thickened them with tapioca starch. Then I treated myself to chocolate frozen yogurt with blackberry sauce. Delicious!
I wonder what my Amish grandparents would think of my Catholic ways?
For several years now I have listened to the Jesuits’ Pray-as-you-go podcasts on a daily basis, usually part of my bedtime routine. As well, I have started reading through the Carmelite’s Lectio Divina every morning with my first cup of coffee.
Growing up I never heard of “Seasons of the Church,” or Advent or Lent, yet now they are celebrated in our worship.
This week I decided to make a set of “Anglican Prayer Beads” (what’s the difference between a rosary and Anglican Prayer beads, I wonder). I’m not sure I will follow any formulaic pattern for my prayers — that just isn’t how I have talked with God all my life. But the idea of having something in my hands when I pray, if it is just to give each bead a person’s name, or to give a thanksgiving to each of the beads in one “week”, a petition to each bead in another or some other pattern, I look forward to finding a way to deepen my relationship with God through yet another Catholic practice.
This is the end result: I used 4 battery-run tea lights to light it. I’m quite impressed with how long they last — all night for several nights already.
Mina has been asking for a Barbie doll lately and her mother has been resisting. Mina has many dolls already!
Gramma has a box of Barbies at her house. They are mostly dolls I bought very cheaply at Value Village back in the days when I was running a community centre. One evening, while on FaceTime I showed them to Mina. Of course, she wants them!
In order to stay as close as possible to her mother’s good side, I decided to give one doll to Mina, Skipper – this doll was her favourite when I showed them to her. Her Uncle Simon and Auntie Chrissie will be carrying it to California for her birthday.
I did a little research online and found that this model was created in 1967. She is in pretty good shape for such an old girl, wouldn’t you say?
Another special doll in my box is the one I bought myself. My parents didn’t have money for buying toys so I saved hard and finally had the $3.50 or so that she cost back in about 1967 or 8. I believe she is a “vintage standard” model – http://www.fashion-doll-guide.com/Vintage-Standard-Barbie-Doll.html.
Here is Barbie wearing the crocheted dress I made for her a number of years ago:
This afternoon I sprayed myself with insect repellant and braved the hordes of mosquitoes (the bush is very swampy and with all the rain this past month the mosquitoes are having a great time!) to pick a few.
Those brambles really grab onto your clothes and skin. But, oh, the result is so tasty! I cooked these berries with just a little maple syrup and thickened them with tapioca starch. Then I treated myself to chocolate frozen yogurt with blackberry sauce. Delicious!
The joy of summer.
