"They miss so much who do not know
The Simple joys of long ago.
The quiet hour, the easy pace,
A path to walk, a day to face.
A small white flower, a bird that sings,
The happiness in little things.
The patience for a task well-done,
The gift of rest at set of sun.
The thankful heart, the lift of care,
A friend nearby, a time of prayer.
How much they miss who do not know
The simple joys found long ago."
By Amy Perrin
I have been wanting to learn how to embroider for quite a while. I just love embroidered pillow cases, hankies, and dainty feminine things of that sort. I picked up a few instructional books from our local library book sale, but I haven't gotten around to buying the supplies. What a lovely suprise when my Grandma called and asked if I would like a bunch of embroidery thread. Of course I said yes. So she mailed me a box loaded with thread and patterns. Thank you Grandma, I think I will be set for a very long time. I thought I would store it all in this pretty container, but that was wishful thinking.
The garden is so pretty in bloom, buzzing with bees. I just can't help sharing pictures.
Have a seat and enjoy the pictures.
These are Armenian Cucumbers, growing up a eucalyptus trellis.
Fennel blossom
Lavender Mint
I try to make use of whatever I can find around the yard. The cement pile has dwindled since I made my garden.
Eucalyptus entrance.
Perennial sweet peas
The Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate is just starting to bloom.
Borage blossom
California Poppies
I picked the blackberries from the canes my mom planted along the fence. I managed to get enough from the small amount of plants to fill a large bowl. So I decided to make blackberry syrup.
The syrup turned out wonderful, and is good for a lot more than pancakes. Add a Tablespoon to a glass of water or tea for a refreshing drink. Drizzle a little on your ice cream for a tasty treat. The options are endless.
Blackberry Syrup
6 cups fresh berries
1/2 cup water
sugar
In a saucepan, crush the berries with a potato masher. Add water. Bring to a boil over med-high heat, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer until the berries are very soft and juicy, about 5 minutes.
Set a sieve over a bowl. pour the berry pulp into the sieve and allow the juice to drip through. Press the pulp with a rubber spatula to extract as much juice as possible.
Clean the saucepan. Measure the juice and then pour it into the saucepan. Then add an equal amount of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the syrup is viscous but still runny, about 1 minute. Skim the foam with a spoon and pour the syrup into the sterilized jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
Process in a hot-water bath for 10 minutes.
* My 6 cups of berries made 2 1/4 cups juice. This recipe made 1 1/2 pints syrup. 1 pint canned and 1/2 pint for the fridge. I will definitely make a larger batch the next time I make this syrup.
I hope you enjoy and try this recipe.
Kimberly
