Tales of walking, eating, watching and playing. Vintage treasures and simple pleasures ... the things that make her happy.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Blackberry Sunday

They needed to get out and blow away the cobwebs in their minds.  To inflate their lungs with the gusty air.  They joined up with the Slovaks and tramped across rutted fields to brambly hedges.  The blackberries were fat and juicy, the spiky whipthreads laden with fruit.  There were sloes, rosehips and plump damsons.  
The wind grew colder, signalling oncoming change.  The sky became low and heavy.  She felt as though she could push a finger through the silken grey barrier and release the rain.  Before cover could be reached the deluge soaked them.  They huddled and watched the cloud heave over. 


Purple berry stained lips and hands, they headed home.  They saw a lone football sized puffball nestled in the grass.  A present for Mr Slovak, famed mushroom hunter, still at work, carving oak and elm.  In the bean field, a sleeping doe, awakened, startled, ran.  Passing at speed in frenzied state, the little ones screamed as it ran close enough to touch.  Hearts hammering, they laughed and shook.

Back at the Slovak house,  Mr Slovak joined them and they dined on the best smoked ham EVER.  Made by the Slovak grandpa, from his own pig.  Slowly cold smoked in his little smokehouse and matured at length.  Slivers of pure deliciousness, VJ could live on good bread and this ham alone.  
Wholesome bread, fat bacon, sweet pepper and paprika dip, fat gherkins and a bacon pate, all home produced.  The squished freshly picked blackberries, swirled with yogurt, soured cream and a dusting of icing sugar to finish.  Perfect. 

14 comments:

Eleni said...

Good lord! What marvellous friends to have :)

Jen said...

Oh my! That sounds amazing. I thought I was in a Nabokov tale for a moment there.

Vintage Jane said...

Jen - If only I could write as well as he! Reminds of when I first read Lolita as a very young teen - I was utterly gripped and shocked, hiding it under my bed every night!!

M x

RDA Pony Tales said...

Your description of food always makes my mouth water! A beautifully written post.
Abby x

*Maristella* said...

Hi Jane....le more(Blackberry) inglesi sono meravigliose, giganti e dolcissime....l'anno scorso le abbiamo mangiate, in Inghilterra....che nostalgia!!! ;o))
Un caro saluto, *Maristella*.

Used-to-Bees said...

I'm drooling now, even though it's past eleven o'clock and I'm not remotely in need of food!
x

greenthumb said...

What a lovey post, that ham looks so good.

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

This is such a wonderful time of the year to go looking for berries. I associate September with food.
Isabelle x

sarah-jane down the lane said...

How beautiful. I am off foraging this afternoon, I cant bear to let the hips and berries go to waste and later in the winter when there is nothing, I shall be glad.

Sarah x

Hen said...

Golly, sounds heavenly and beautiful pics, thank you.
Hen x

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

DELICIOUS!!!!!!YUM!
~Debra xxx
capers of the vintage vixens

Shaheen said...

What a fantastic post. I am envious and want that puffball, or a slice of it at least. Fab pictures too.

mrs cheese said...

Oh how lovely!
It all sounds so scrummy
xx

Lorraine Young Pottery said...

Seeing that blackberry reminded me of how my mother, brother and I would go blackberry picking. Returning home with a buck of berries and my mother would make blackberry jam, which filled the house with yummy smells and finally being laid across freshly baked bread!