Blackberry Season!

 Hullo!!! It was blackberry season in early-mid August!! And we went blackberry picking... several times.

Well... this little bear technically "supervised" blackberry picking because: (a) blackberry juice and bear fur do NOT mix and (b) blackberry canes are prickly!!

Ooohhh... look at them all!!!

So big... so ripe... (this was the first crop)... so juicy!!

We were out in the early morning and started picking and...

Within 20 minutes... our 2 litre bucket was full! Enough for what we have planned.

We are going to make blackberry liqueur... or blackberry cordial if you prefer (did that just rhyme?)... We are going to make 2 batches...

First you need a ridiculous amount of sugar (3 cups)...

Then you need 3 cups (750 ml) of good Canadian (*cough*) vodka.... We read labels you know...

You pour the vodka on top of the sugar, add a cup of water... We use 2 litre jars...

Then you add 3 cups of blackberries and pray the whole thing doesn't overflow (it did not)...

Then you set it in a dark place and turn it once or twice a day so that the sugar dissolves... See... it's already changing colour!!!

Stay tuned for updates..

Tipsy Bears

Soooo... you know all those blackberries we picked well... we are making blackberry liqueur with them... just some blackberries, vodka and sugar. Mix well and let sit in big jars for 8 weeks. It won't be ready for a while yet. Sigh...

Jerry and Ben have never had blackberry liqueur but then... I remembered...

We still have some from a few years ago!!!

We got out the shot glasses... blackberry liqueur is pretty potent stuff you know.

But we couldn't pour it all that well so Mama helped... Mmmm... nice colour!

Mmmm... beary tasty!!

Oh yes... this is good stuff!! (hic)

"I like it beary much (hic)" agreed Jerry...

 Oh, the glass is empty... I think we need some more!

Whoops... looks like Jerry has already had a bit too much!

We'll just cover him up with a pot holder so he can sleep it off!

Fill 'er up!! What, what do you mean, we can't have any more? But...

Our glass is empty!! And it was sooo yummy...

Oh, what's this... we can't have more blackberry liqueur but we could have some...

Mead!!!! Oh yes!! I remember this - we bought it in Gloucester at the cathedral there... Mead is made from (shhhh....) honey!!!

Pour it out and let's see!

Oooh... I like the colour... it looks just like honey...

Hmmm yes, and it's not quite as sweet as the blackberry liqueur...

 "I suggest a toast!! To Jerry... for falling asleep!"

"Hear, hear!! I suggest a toast to absent stuffie friends who we would have invited if we'd known about the Mead! (hic)"

 "Hear hear!! (hic)... I suggest a toaster... er... a toast to... (hic)... uh... a toast to... what's your name again... oh yes... (hic)... to Sandy... for toasting us... no... wait... for HOSTING us! (hic)..."

"Sandy? Ooops..."

"Looks like Sandy is having a (hic) nap... I think that's a beary good id..."

(face plant)...

(Snores reverberated through the house)