They had some blackberries in the supermarket, $1 per 6oz package.
They're pretty good for January (product of Mexico it would seem) and a
reasonable price. I've just been eating them so far, might have some on
vanilla ice cream.




Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

Default User wrote:
> They had some blackberries in the supermarket, $1 per 6oz package.
> They're pretty good for January (product of Mexico it would seem) and a
> reasonable price. I've just been eating them so far, might have some on
> vanilla ice cream
>
> Brian
>

I've been buying 2 pound flats of blackberries at SamsClub for $3.88,
IIRC? Really gooooooood with other berries and some very slightly
sweetened creme fraiche.

In article >,
"Default User" > wrote:

> They had some blackberries in the supermarket, $1 per 6oz package.
> They're pretty good for January (product of Mexico it would seem) and a
> reasonable price. I've just been eating them so far, might have some on
> vanilla ice cream.

> Brian

Good on you, Brian! LaTwerp and her mom love blackberries. Beck puts
them in yogurt, I think; LaTwerp just snacks on them.

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
http://gallery.me.com/barbschaller/100041
-- a woman my age shouldn't
have this much fun!

In article >,
Melba's Jammin' > wrote:

> In article >,
> "Default User" > wrote:
>
> > They had some blackberries in the supermarket, $1 per 6oz package.
> > They're pretty good for January (product of Mexico it would seem) and a
> > reasonable price. I've just been eating them so far, might have some on
> > vanilla ice cream.
>
> > Brian
>
> Good on you, Brian! LaTwerp and her mom love blackberries. Beck puts
> them in yogurt, I think; LaTwerp just snacks on them.

LaTwerp has the right of it.

Blackberries grow wild here, and some bright spark has recently thought
of putting six in a little plastic box and selling them for some
outrageous price. Boy howdy, what some people will pay for something
that's readily available free!

Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME, not that that's
difficult) and her gorgeous dad went for a walk yesterday. They found
one perfect wild blackberry within their reach so the Agent ate it. She
said it was so good, and much stronger than the ones they gathered at
school camp.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

Miche wrote:

> In article >,
> Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
>
>
>>In article >,
>> "Default User" > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>They had some blackberries in the supermarket, $1 per 6oz package.
>>>They're pretty good for January (product of Mexico it would seem) and a
>>>reasonable price. I've just been eating them so far, might have some on
>>>vanilla ice cream.
>>
>>>Brian
>>
>>Good on you, Brian! LaTwerp and her mom love blackberries. Beck puts
>>them in yogurt, I think; LaTwerp just snacks on them.
>
>
> LaTwerp has the right of it.
>
> Blackberries grow wild here, and some bright spark has recently thought
> of putting six in a little plastic box and selling them for some
> outrageous price. Boy howdy, what some people will pay for something
> that's readily available free!
>
> Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME, not that that's
> difficult) and her gorgeous dad went for a walk yesterday. They found
> one perfect wild blackberry within their reach so the Agent ate it. She
> said it was so good, and much stronger than the ones they gathered at
> school camp.

Blackberries saved my life once. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration but
it sure felt like it at the time.

I'd loaded my mountain bike in the back of my van, along with my bike
shorts and camelbak all that and planned to head straight to the trail
after I got off work. Tt was the only way to be sure I'd have enough
daylight to finish the 8 mile loop.

But it was a busy day and to make sure I'd get out on time I worked
through lunch. Then when I got to the trail I left the main loop to
follow a trail I'd never noticed before - one of the logging roads that
crisscross the interior. And I got lost.

I had plenty of water but no gatorade, no powerbars, not so much as a
single packet of Gu and my blood sugar crashed, making it hard to think,
to stay calm and pay attention. I was off the bike, pushing my way up a
steep slope covered with loose rock when something penetrated the mental
fog.

The thorny branches I'd been slapping aside were covered in ripe
blackberries. I dropped my bike on the rocks, tore off my gloves and
used both hands to strip berries from the canes and stuff them into my
mouth. They tasted like pure, sweet, seedy sunlight.

After a few minutes of dedicated gobbling my brain finally rebooted and
the anxiety started to recede.

....Okay. Maybe a half hour of full daylight left. Fifteen minutes of
half-light after that. No matter where I am in the loop I can't
possibly be more than 4 miles from the trailhead. That's do-able. Now,
which way? Can't climb a hill to see where you're at, when you're in
the forest the trees get in the way. So close your eyes and listen...

And for a couple of minutes there was nothing but the wind, the rustle
of leaves, the hum of insects. And then, the low growl of a dump truck
leaving the quarry out on the highway that fronted the trailhead parking
lot. THAT way! And at each fork in the trail I'd stop and listen. And
after no more than three turns I found myself back on the main loop.

I've eaten many fine things in my life but I'd put those berries, warm
from the sun, dusty, possibly pooped on by birds, right up there in the
top ten.

In article >,
Kathleen > wrote:

> Miche wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
> >
> >
> >>In article >,
> >> "Default User" > wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>They had some blackberries in the supermarket, $1 per 6oz package.
> >>>They're pretty good for January (product of Mexico it would seem) and a
> >>>reasonable price. I've just been eating them so far, might have some on
> >>>vanilla ice cream.
> >>
> >>>Brian
> >>
> >>Good on you, Brian! LaTwerp and her mom love blackberries. Beck puts
> >>them in yogurt, I think; LaTwerp just snacks on them.
> >
> >
> > LaTwerp has the right of it.
> >
> > Blackberries grow wild here, and some bright spark has recently thought
> > of putting six in a little plastic box and selling them for some
> > outrageous price. Boy howdy, what some people will pay for something
> > that's readily available free!
> >
> > Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME, not that that's
> > difficult) and her gorgeous dad went for a walk yesterday. They found
> > one perfect wild blackberry within their reach so the Agent ate it. She
> > said it was so good, and much stronger than the ones they gathered at
> > school camp.
>
> Blackberries saved my life once. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration but
> it sure felt like it at the time.
>
> I'd loaded my mountain bike in the back of my van, along with my bike
> shorts and camelbak all that and planned to head straight to the trail
> after I got off work. Tt was the only way to be sure I'd have enough
> daylight to finish the 8 mile loop.
>
> But it was a busy day and to make sure I'd get out on time I worked
> through lunch. Then when I got to the trail I left the main loop to
> follow a trail I'd never noticed before - one of the logging roads that
> crisscross the interior. And I got lost.
>
> I had plenty of water but no gatorade, no powerbars, not so much as a
> single packet of Gu and my blood sugar crashed, making it hard to think,
> to stay calm and pay attention. I was off the bike, pushing my way up a
> steep slope covered with loose rock when something penetrated the mental
> fog.
>
> The thorny branches I'd been slapping aside were covered in ripe
> blackberries. I dropped my bike on the rocks, tore off my gloves and
> used both hands to strip berries from the canes and stuff them into my
> mouth. They tasted like pure, sweet, seedy sunlight.
>
> After a few minutes of dedicated gobbling my brain finally rebooted and
> the anxiety started to recede.
>
> ...Okay. Maybe a half hour of full daylight left. Fifteen minutes of
> half-light after that. No matter where I am in the loop I can't
> possibly be more than 4 miles from the trailhead. That's do-able. Now,
> which way? Can't climb a hill to see where you're at, when you're in
> the forest the trees get in the way. So close your eyes and listen...
>
> And for a couple of minutes there was nothing but the wind, the rustle
> of leaves, the hum of insects. And then, the low growl of a dump truck
> leaving the quarry out on the highway that fronted the trailhead parking
> lot. THAT way! And at each fork in the trail I'd stop and listen. And
> after no more than three turns I found myself back on the main loop.
>
> I've eaten many fine things in my life but I'd put those berries, warm
> from the sun, dusty, possibly pooped on by birds, right up there in the
> top ten.

That is fantastic. Thank you for telling us!

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

In article >,
Miche > wrote:

> In article >,
> Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
(Brian's snipped)
> > Good on you, Brian! LaTwerp and her mom love blackberries. Beck puts
> > them in yogurt, I think; LaTwerp just snacks on them.
>
> LaTwerp has the right of it.
>
> Blackberries grow wild here, and some bright spark has recently thought
> of putting six in a little plastic box and selling them for some
> outrageous price.

Isn't that the truth! I'm willing to consider them at about $2.50 for a
box for a special occasion or a special visitor; they're usually about
$4 for a 6 ounce plastic box.

> Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
> Miche

You're lyin', Miche‹you know you are!! NO WAY!!
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
http://gallery.me.com/barbschaller/100041
-- a woman my age shouldn't
have this much fun!

In article >,
Melba's Jammin' > wrote:

> In article >,
> Miche > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
> (Brian's snipped)
> > > Good on you, Brian! LaTwerp and her mom love blackberries. Beck puts
> > > them in yogurt, I think; LaTwerp just snacks on them.
> >
> > LaTwerp has the right of it.
> >
> > Blackberries grow wild here, and some bright spark has recently thought
> > of putting six in a little plastic box and selling them for some
> > outrageous price.
>
> Isn't that the truth! I'm willing to consider them at about $2.50 for a
> box for a special occasion or a special visitor; they're usually about
> $4 for a 6 ounce plastic box.
>
> > Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
> > Miche
>
> You're lyin', Miche‹you know you are!! NO WAY!!

So totally tellin' the truth, Barb -- the Weasel can look me straight in
the eye.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

Miche > wrote in message
...
[snip]
>> > Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
>> You're lyin', Miche >
> So totally tellin' the truth, Barb -- the Weasel can look
> me straight in the eye.

Daughter-units Alpha and Beta are also at that
look-me-straight-in-the-eye stage... <sigh> They're lovin' it,
and never miss a moment to point it out to their friends. I,
OTOH, find it totally discouraging.

I do understand how my Sainted Mother(tm) felt the day Little
Brother and I pointed it out to her...

The "Dwarfed" Ranger

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:50:14 -0600, Melba's Jammin'
> wrote:

>In article >,
> Miche > wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
>(Brian's snipped)
>> > Good on you, Brian! LaTwerp and her mom love blackberries. Beck puts
>> > them in yogurt, I think; LaTwerp just snacks on them.
>>
>> LaTwerp has the right of it.
>>
>> Blackberries grow wild here, and some bright spark has recently thought
>> of putting six in a little plastic box and selling them for some
>> outrageous price.
>
>Isn't that the truth! I'm willing to consider them at about $2.50 for a
>box for a special occasion or a special visitor; they're usually about
>$4 for a 6 ounce plastic box.

I have been getting Mexican blackberries at Costco at $3.99 for 18
ounces. I just bought some not more than an hour ago.

I have blackberries every day. I take them for lunch with plain yogurt
or cottage cheese, or I section a clementine and toss it with a bunch
of berries into a cup and have a nifty fruit snack.

Boron

The Ranger wrote:
> Miche > wrote in message
> ...
> [snip]
>>>> Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
>>> You're lyin', Miche >
>> So totally tellin' the truth, Barb -- the Weasel can look
>> me straight in the eye.
>
> Daughter-units Alpha and Beta are also at that
> look-me-straight-in-the-eye stage... <sigh> They're lovin' it,
> and never miss a moment to point it out to their friends. I,
> OTOH, find it totally discouraging.
>
> I do understand how my Sainted Mother(tm) felt the day Little
> Brother and I pointed it out to her...
>
> The "Dwarfed" Ranger



About the same way I felt when our younger child, Dear Son,
stood next to me and announced "Now the only one shorter than
you in our house is the cat."

Hey, I didn't ask to be (almost) 5'2". It's the fault of those
darned short Portuguese genes.

gloria p

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:37:05 -0700, Gloria P >
wrote:

>The Ranger wrote:
>> Miche > wrote in message
>> ...
>> [snip]
>>>>> Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
>>>> You're lyin', Miche >
>>> So totally tellin' the truth, Barb -- the Weasel can look
>>> me straight in the eye.
>>
>> Daughter-units Alpha and Beta are also at that
>> look-me-straight-in-the-eye stage... <sigh> They're lovin' it,
>> and never miss a moment to point it out to their friends. I,
>> OTOH, find it totally discouraging.
>>
>> I do understand how my Sainted Mother(tm) felt the day Little
>> Brother and I pointed it out to her...
>>
>> The "Dwarfed" Ranger
>
>
>
>About the same way I felt when our younger child, Dear Son,
>stood next to me and announced "Now the only one shorter than
>you in our house is the cat."
>
>Hey, I didn't ask to be (almost) 5'2". It's the fault of those
>darned short Portuguese genes.
>
>gloria p


I'm 5'6" and I'm the dwarf around here.

Boron

On Jan 24, 2:37*pm, Gloria P > wrote:
> The Ranger wrote:
> > Miche > wrote in message
> ...
> > [snip]
> >>>> Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
> >>> You're lyin', Miche >
> >> So totally tellin' the truth, Barb -- the Weasel can look
> >> me straight in the eye.
>
> > Daughter-units Alpha and Beta are also at that
> > look-me-straight-in-the-eye stage... <sigh> They're lovin' it,
> > and never miss a moment to point it out to their friends. I,
> > OTOH, find it totally discouraging.
>
> > I do understand how my Sainted Mother(tm) felt the day Little
> > Brother and I pointed it out to her...
>
> > The "Dwarfed" Ranger
>
> About the same way I felt when our younger child, Dear Son,
> stood next to me and announced "Now the only one shorter than
> you in our house is the cat."
>
> Hey, I didn't ask to be (almost) 5'2". It's the fault of those
> darned short Portuguese genes.

I blamed mine on those damned Leprechauns' genes. The females in Clan
Ranger are usually tall, slender Celts with fiery tempers to match;
not so the men-folk. We tend towards human beachballs with stubs just
long enough to get a pint from table to mouth or to waddle from pub to
castle. Of course, adding to the heritage, all males have started out
with solid mops of blond atop but ended in a blindingly shiny plate by
50...

On Jan 24, 3:05*pm, Boron Elgar > wrote:
[snip]
> I'm 5'6" and I'm the dwarf around here.

They passed SWMBO's height in July 2008 with, "Gma! GMA! We're taller
than Mom today!"

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:19:28 -0800 (PST), The Ranger
> wrote:

>On Jan 24, 3:05*pm, Boron Elgar > wrote:
>[snip]
>> I'm 5'6" and I'm the dwarf around here.
>
>They passed SWMBO's height in July 2008 with, "Gma! GMA! We're taller
>than Mom today!"


I warned my kids that even though their mom had to reach up to wag a
finger at 'em, not to get too smartass. They have behaved admirably,
but make sly jokes when reaching things down for me from high shelves.

Boron

Boron Elgar > wrote in message
...
[snip]
> I warned my kids that even though their mom had
> to reach up to wag a finger at 'em,

How's that workin' for ya? I know my Sainted Mother(tm) used it
but notsomuch SWMBO. She stops 'em both with the
I'm-so-disappointed-in-you head-wag.

> but make sly jokes when reaching things down for
> me from high shelves.

LOL!

It's gotta be a right of passage! Daughter-unit Alpha often
quips, "Here Dad. Let me get that for you. You might throw your
back reaching so high..." Daughter-unit Beta only tried, "Don't
put them up so high and you won't have to ask for me to reach
it" once. (I didn't ask. You volunteered.)

The Ranger

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:47:25 -0800, "The Ranger"
> wrote:

>Boron Elgar > wrote in message
.. .
>[snip]
>> I warned my kids that even though their mom had
>> to reach up to wag a finger at 'em,
>
>How's that workin' for ya? I know my Sainted Mother(tm) used it
>but notsomuch SWMBO. She stops 'em both with the
>I'm-so-disappointed-in-you head-wag.

Truth be told, they are adults now, but as long as they live under my
roof, I retain finger-wagging rights.

>> but make sly jokes when reaching things down for
>> me from high shelves.
>
>LOL!
>
>It's gotta be a right of passage! Daughter-unit Alpha often
>quips, "Here Dad. Let me get that for you. You might throw your
>back reaching so high..." Daughter-unit Beta only tried, "Don't
>put them up so high and you won't have to ask for me to reach
>it" once. (I didn't ask. You volunteered.)
>
I am still capable of climbing up on a chair or kitchen ladder.
Balancing a mixer as I jump down is another matter.

Boron

The Ranger wrote:

(re stature)
>
> I blamed mine on those damned Leprechauns' genes. The females in Clan
> Ranger are usually tall, slender Celts with fiery tempers to match;
> not so the men-folk. We tend towards human beachballs with stubs just
> long enough to get a pint from table to mouth or to waddle from pub to
> castle. Of course, adding to the heritage, all males have started out
> with solid mops of blond atop but ended in a blindingly shiny plate by
> 50...


But at least you had it while it counted. ;-)


gloria p

Boron Elgar wrote:
>
>
> I warned my kids that even though their mom had to reach up to wag a
> finger at 'em, not to get too smartass.

I had a couple of comebacks:

"I may be small, but I'm MEAN."
"I had the chance to be tall, but I turned it down."


> They have behaved admirably,
> but make sly jokes when reaching things down for me from high shelves.


Yep, but mine have outgrown the put-downs.

gloria p

The Ranger wrote:
> Miche > wrote in message
> ...
> [snip]
>>>> Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
>>> You're lyin', Miche >
>> So totally tellin' the truth, Barb -- the Weasel can look
>> me straight in the eye.
>
> Daughter-units Alpha and Beta are also at that
> look-me-straight-in-the-eye stage... <sigh> They're lovin' it,
> and never miss a moment to point it out to their friends. I,
> OTOH, find it totally discouraging.
>
> I do understand how my Sainted Mother(tm) felt the day Little
> Brother and I pointed it out to her...
>
> The "Dwarfed" Ranger

LOL you shouldn't have fed them so well))

In article >,
Miche > wrote:

> In article >,
> Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > Miche > wrote:

> > > Agent Weasel (who is 10 1/2 and as TALL AS ME,
> > > Miche
> >
> > You're lyin', Miche‹you know you are!! NO WAY!!
>
> So totally tellin' the truth, Barb -- the Weasel can look me straight in
> the eye.

Could be worse. My niece is 9 and looks *down* at her mother! Her
mother in Chinese and quite short. My niece got a lot of her looks from
her mother, but got her size from my brother, who is even bigger than I
am.

ObFood: We have a lot of wild blackberries in this area, but for some
reason, they aren't growing right now.

:-)

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

Dan Abel > wrote in message
...
[snip]
> ObFood: We have a lot of wild blackberries in this area,
> but for some reason, they aren't growing right now.

Does your county spray to keep them contained? I was totally
psyched when I saw a huge bramble along 1 but then SWMBO
pointed out the tanker truck spraying the roadway ahead.

The Ranger

In article dth>,
"The Ranger" > wrote:

> Dan Abel > wrote in message
> ...

> [snip]

Actually, you snipped out the first half of my joke. Miche is posting
from New Zealand, and it's the height of the blackberry season (in fact
she mentioned getting a big fat one last Friday).

> > ObFood: We have a lot of wild blackberries in this area,
> > but for some reason, they aren't growing right now.
>
> Does your county spray to keep them contained? I was totally
> psyched when I saw a huge bramble along 1 but then SWMBO
> pointed out the tanker truck spraying the roadway ahead.

The blackberries aren't growing because it's the dead of winter here!

Well, *I* thought it was funny!

We have a creek a long block away, with lots of blackberries and fennel.
There is no road running along the creek, but there is a bike/pedestrian
path. I don't think they spray, but they bring in weedwhackers. I love
to walk there after they take down the fennel, it smells so good. The
fennel grows about ten feet tall.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA