Blackberry Monday

I made it up to see My Boy yesterday. It had been a week since I'd last seen him. I haven't gone that long since last winter! I felt like a neglectful mother. He seemed happy to see me (it was feeding time) and ate carrots and let me catch him on the first try. Other than fuzzier hair and a slightly rubbed out tail, he looked the same. I brushed off the dried mud and then took him up to the arena. We did a lot of circling at the trot. He moved out fairly well and I could tell the weather change had him feeling the Autumn frisk. The arena was a bit slick from the recent downpour or I would have turned him loose and free longed him.

Afterwards, I let him graze. He was content to munch on the late summer grass in the fading afternoon sun. Then I fed him his supplement and hay and said goodnight.

Before I left the Painted Creek, I checked on those blackberries I've been eyeing all summer. To my surprise many of them had ripened. I fetched a Tupperware and began to pick. Let me tell you, it was a risky business. I tried to avoid disturbing spider webs, and got bit and grabbed by giant thorns several times (luckily I wore long sleeves.) Goodness, many of the berries were so plump and ripe they fell into my fingers at the suggestion of a touch. A lot of the berries are still red or green, so there is promise of more to come. I have cousins visiting this Labor Day weekend, and I am hoping to throw together a pie. I say "throw together" because I will be mixing the berry filling but pouring it into a pre-made pie crust. Despite many pie-making talents that run in the family, this pony girl will not be making a crust from scratch. Or should I try?