Purple Fingers
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This week, we'd like for you to write about your favorite fresh fruit or vegetable. Share a memory of when you first tasted it, where it came from, when you last had it, a favorite way to prepare it, and such.
Word limit: 700 My count: 369
He squealed as the berry burst in his grasp, a spray of dark purple marking his tiny fingers. He laughed with glee as it came off in his hand, and popped in his mouth, a smile spreading across his already juice-stained face.
Watching Max on that lovely August day took me back to my own first blackberry-picking experience, some 25 years before.
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As one of the youngest kids at camp, having only turned eight a week or two before, I wasn't sure exactly what I was in for when the older girls from my cabin pulled me off the path as we all hiked through the woods to the swimming pool.
“Psst! Come over here! You have to see this!”
Not wanting to get in trouble, but also not wanting to be labeled “uncool,” I followed timidly behind the older girls, these 11 and 12 years olds with several summers' experience at St. Dorothy's.
“This is the coolest part of St. Dot's!” one of the girls whisper-yelled… it became obvious that whatever was about to be revealed to me was generally a poorly-kept secret.
We stepped carefully across a little ditch that ran alongside the trail, and then I saw it. Or them. Blackberries everywhere!
They were all in various stages of ripening; being the end of July, there were more that were ripe than not… I could see some bright magenta ones, not yet ready, and big, juicy dark ones, so fragile to the touch that they burst when I tried to pick them.
I'd never seen blackberries on the vine before, tucked amongst the thorns, a delicious little jewel being protected by these prickly guards. We picked as we ate and ate as we picked, until our hands, lips and chins were varying shades of pink.
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We took Max to the u-pick-em berry farm last summer, to pick blackberries and strawberries for the very first time, and with him I once again reveled in the joy of finding The Perfect Berry; just the right number of drupelets, each one filled with memories of sunshine and that dark pink juice. As they pop on your tongue, a glorious combination of sweet and tart, they are the epitome of a summer day.
What great imagery in your writing. And I love the "juicy" photos to go right along with it. Picking your own fruit really is THE best!
Sooooo love this! There are so many gems in here, especially, "I'd never seen blackberries on the vine before, tucked amongst the thorns, a delicious little jewel being protected by these prickly guards." And I adore that pic of all of your stained hands…definitely one to cherish! :>
I remember driving to certain spots along country roads with my mom, stopping the car and dragging out an ice cream bucket. We'd pick blackberries until exhausted.
So many of those roads are developed, the berry bushes torn up to make way for houses and commercial buildings.
I miss those carefree days
Oh those berry stained hands: Love them! I really liked the shift in times in this post. And, of course, its reminder that summer is coming soon! 🙂
Ohhh I took the boys to pick berries last year too, their faces were stained for 2 days!
What a great memory!
Lovely piece! Really put me right there in the sticker bushes, plucking berries and gorging on them!
You brought that adorable picture to life with words beautifully! Happy picking!
I loved the connection to your own childhood, and the photo is priceless.
Mmmm, blackberries!
TRDC
I love how you brought this back to your son, and the photo finishes it off beautifully. How fun!
Great post – switching back and forth. I love taking the kids berry picking. Cute picture to capture the memory.
Those pictures are wonderful! I too loved those summer days as a child picking blackberries and sharing that joy with my daughter (we have several brambles on our property).
Now dammit, late summer can't get here fast enough!
I love your writing and love love love that picture at the end.
Blackberry season was my favorite time when I was a kid. I could hardly wait to go out, find and eat them. So yummy!
What a great memory!
Love the juicy descriptions and the beautiful pictures
The descriptive writing and the photos combined to make me hungry for some blackberries. Very nicely done!
What a great memory! I liked the link between your past and your son's present (and of course the pictures are perfect.) Your writing is so very descriptive 🙂
I loved the connection between past and present.
The memory of sun warmed blackberries is one from my childhood as well. And there's nothing better.
I love this!! I hope you didn't get in trouble at camp. hee hee.
As they pop on your tongue, a glorious combination of sweet and tart, they are the epitome of a summer day.
I liked that line.