Blackberries!

We have wild blackberries growing at the end of our road and today was a perfect day for picking!!! We loaded up on bug spray, packed up our wagon, and got right to it.

Here's Eva surveying the scene.

Both got the hang of it (after a few thorny episodes)!

Eva did her fair share of eating...

Sophia and Mommy did their fair share of picking...

And here's the finished product!!!
I have fond memories of picking blackberries in my backyard as a kid, and so it was fun to share this tradition with my own girls. My brother and I always looked forward to the muffins my mom baked using the blackberries we had picked. Here's the recipe, passed down through two generations now!

Blackberry Muffins

1 c. shortening

1 1/2 c. sugar

3 c. flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Mix above until crumbly. Reserve one cup for streusel topping.

3 eggs

1 c. milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c. berries

Stir in eggs, vanilla, milk. Carefully fold in berries. Spoon into greased muffin tins. Sprinkle streusel topping over batter. Bake at 350 degrees, about 20 minutes. Yield: 18 muffins