Potholders and Blackberries

Insul-Bright as it comes from the store.

Squares of Insul-Bright waiting to be made into 8 potholders - 2 per potholder

My first potholder; waiting for a square of batting to be added to the center before I close it up and stitch around the edges.

I am really enjoying making these potholders and yes one will be for ME. Perhaps I will make one to match the project for my friend as well.


This morning I decided to move a raised bed that wasn't producing a thing by the fence next to the driveway. I've moved it to the front yard and filled it so I could plant the blackberry plants that I got from Gurney's in that Grab Bag. I think the Blackberries look quite happy now...

Along the front of the bed I transplanted some straggly looking mint that was growing in this bed when it was by the fence. As soon as I can I want to add a top dressing of more dirt and manure but I will wait a bit to give the blackberries a chance to settle in.

I just call it BERRY PICKING!

Scott and I did what is now being called "Wild Crafting" this morning... I just call it "berry picking". We are planning to go back tomorrow after I get off work at 10 (yes; I'm having to work on a Sunday - INVENTORY STINKS). We just scoped out a berry patch along the 12th Street Extension; parked the car off the side of the road and started picking. People were slowing down; honking; staring; and one guy hollered, "HEY! Get outta dat berry patch!" - like his lazy butt was planning to come pick berries there in a road right of way. 

I don't know what got picked more - the berries or us as Scott was pretty bloody by the time we called it quits and I have several small scratches and I'm sure my clothing contains some thorns as I kept getting caught trying to bully my way through the patch. I was thankful to have on jeans and my steel toed boots (YES - I have a pair and wear them). We have one berry bucket full (5 pounds) and I'd like to get at least another full bucket - two if possible to make up a bunch of jam.

Too Early

We went to try to pick blackberries but as you can see they aren't quite ready. We did find enough to make a batch of Blackberry Muffins. I just use the same recipe as I do for Blueberry Muffins but use the Blackberries instead; I've even used Strawberries in the same recipe. 

So we will wait a couple weeks and go back to pick berries. Since we couldn't pick today we scoped out a LOT more patches and have plans to pick a bunch - some for jam and some to freeze for pies and cobblers later in the year. While we  were looking for berry patches we spotted some other interesting things along the way. Here is a pictorial tour....

On the way home I felt something under my right arm... a tick... YUCK! I could hardly wait to get home so we could check for others. They just creep me out SO BAD!

Don't forget to visit yesterday's post to join in a fun give-a-way