Monday, July 14, 2008

July = Blueberries

We spend every 4th of July in Savannah with Nana, Papa, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Bonnie. And, every year we go out behind Nana and Papa's house and pick blueberries. Lots of blueberries. This year it was about 25 pounds of the little blue beauties.




Before I share any more photos of the blueberries however, I should really clarify something. Just a moment ago I said that we go out and pick blueberries. I am using the term "we" very loosely. "We" usually means Razor. July in south Georgia is very hot, humid and buggy. And, I have this delusion that there are venomous snakes perched in the trees and blueberry bushes (or slithering around in the underbrush) just waiting for the likes of me. Waiting to offensively attack me like a B grade horror movie from the 1950s. Now, the rational side of me knows that snakes no more want to see me than me see them and would high-tail it out of there long before I arrived. But . . . well . . . I'm not all that rational when it comes to snakes. In fact, last week I was mowing the grass (on a riding lawn mower mind you) and a rattlesnake slithered out from under the burn pile and I started screaming bloody murder. Razor ran out in his bare feet. I'm screaming. He's bare footed. I'm then screaming that he needs shoes and he needs shoes fast. And, he grabs the hoe and takes care of the snake like it's no big deal. Bare footed. ::Blink:: ::Blink::

I digress. I think what I'm trying to say is that Razor gets all the credit for the 25 pounds of blueberries that we brought home.





And, yes my oven is an absolute mess this time of year. But then my mother would say that it is a mess all year long. Eh-hem.

-dana

P.S. I'm shooting to start the quilt giveaway tomorrow but it may have to be Wednesday. I have to finish binding it, wash it and photograph it. Plus, I have to have a proper ceremony to relinquish it from my grips.

27 comments:

sarah, rsm said...

A rattlesnake? Did you say a RATTLESNAKE? OK, I live in the north and the only snake I've ever seen was at the zoo or in a pet store, neither of which I frequent. A rattlesnake? Outside of a cage? Freely roaming in the grass? YOUR grass? Oh! my! God!

I'll be over this afternoon for some of that scrumptous pie! :p

P.S. I still can't believe you're giving away another beautiful quilt! Well, yes I can ... that's who you are and it is beautiful.

Elissa said...

love your site.. found you from blue yonder. um, razor may have credit for the blueberries, but i am assuming YOU put them in that delicious strainer that i am drooling with envy over?? (can you drool with envy?) anyhoo! enjoy the pie because it looks delicious. wishing i had some with my coffee right now. and good luck trying to give the quilt away. i saw the fabric, so i can't even imagine! i'm sure i'll try my luck at it, but can't see putting myself on you tube even for a hundred shots at it! :-) lovely, i'll be back to visit!

Dandelion Quilts said...

Dana- I would not like Rattlers in my yard either. I think you are perfectly sane. Blueberries look delicious. Good job, Razor. Have you have tried baking atop one of those pie pans that sits under your pie plate and has big hole under most of the pie tin???

Christina Joy said...

Your pie is BEEEEAUTIFUL. Seriously. I'm jealous and I fear that I must now go get eaten up by chiggers again to collect more. Wish they grew wild around here! In my backyard... :)

Annie said...

We must be related! I loathe wandering past my neatly mowed lawn. There's no telling what's lurking in that innocent looking hay meadow, just waiting to devour me! Ticks are the worst!

I remember picking huckleberries when I was a kid and I hated it! I'd love to find a patch now, so long as the exterminators went in ahead of me! :)

So, my piece of pie is in the mail? Yes?

Kelsi said...

I am so thankful you wrote of your experience with the snake. I am petrified (!!) of snakes ... the husband and I will be walking in the woods here is a typical conversation:

Husband: Oh this is just wonderful, being out in nature and all.
Me: Right.
Husband: What are you thinking about so hard? You aren't talking which must mean you are thinking because we know you can't multi-task.
Me: (After punching husband in the arm) I am focused on making a plan of safe escape for when a snake falls on my head or jumps out at us or blocks the path.

Now he laughs everytime and thinks I am completely irrational. But I always respond that if any of the above horrors occur he will be glad I have a plan.

I continue to LOVE your blog!!

Emily Cole said...

Oh, I LOVE blueberries - that pie looks SO DELICIOUS! My mouth is watering looking at those pictures. I really need to plant some blueberry bushes in our yard... my kids eat blueberries by the bowlful, and we really need to stop buying them at the store!

Dandelion Quilts said...

Dana- I found one of those over flow pans, so you can see what I mean. I hope it pulls up alright for you when you cut this and paste it into your browser.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001330TIG?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=dealtime-kitchen-20&linkCode=asn

Angie said...

Hi Dana,
I found your blog through down-to-earth. I've been reading it all afternoon, great stuff! , I enjoyed it so much that I sent a couple of comments and put you in my side bar along with my other favorites.
You would not like my "Sparky" (that's my husband), he once brought a very, very large rattle snake home in a pillow case just so all of us could check it out. The boys thought it was way cool, I on the other hand stood a good distance back. I do have a glass snake in my garden but he's allowed cuz he eats bugs. Nice snake.
How about a pie bird? I bought an old one online a while back but I haven't tried it, it's old and I'm still mad at Sparky for throwing the box away! Yep, he said it was old and falling apart so he threw it away. Imagine the look on my face. BUT I forgive him, poor little man didn't know any better. Bet he knows now. The pie looks soooo yummy. I need to go apickin' this weekend.
Anyway, love your blog!! Feel free to stop by and visit mine@ http://angiepie30.blogspot.com

Tootles!
~angie~

Lene said...

That pie looks totally delish! But I had a hard taking my eyes off your colander. My Mom had one like that when I was a teenager.

I am soooo excited about the quilt giveaway. Doesn't the person who guessed the fabric was for a quilt give-away get extra entries? :P

susan said...

can not wait until my blueberry bushes really start to produce. the three i planted last year are loaded but that is only three bushes. the ones i planted this spring are so small, no wonder they cost so little.
did you get your fabric yet? did you like it?
your new camera takes great photos but the subjects photo so well :-)
my gammill arrived today and mark got it all put back together for me. tomarrow i will play around with it to get the feel of it again, its been a while. sounds like your summer is humming along.
razor is da bomb...a men among men and i am sure a huge fan of that lucious looking blueberry pie!

susan said...

ah.........that was supposed to be man among men :-)

Chickenbells said...

We have tons of rattlers here, only you don't see them too often. I saw a couple last year out hiking...but not at the same time. The do make you jump high when you see them...

The blueberry pie looks awesome! I love blueberry season...

Amy said...

i just picked three gallons of blueberries in hot south georgia. no snakes, but i did find a baby mockingbird!

Salem Stitcher said...

We used to have a little green snake that would sun itself on the front step of our porch. I didn't mind him very much because he was little...and green. But rattlesnakes...I hate those guys. But...blueberries are worth it.

Lissa Jane said...

snakes? we have the worlds most poisonous ones here, but lucky they know I dont like them and hide from me! LOL
I love love LOVE blueberries, but at $7US for basically 1/2 cup of them, I dont buy them too often! they are yummo..

to save messin' up the oven.. I put pie dishes on an oven slide, with a wee bit of water on it.. just enough to cover the oven tray.. makes cleaning up a WHOLE lot easier! hope this handy hint helps!


Lissa
Australia

Bloggy Mama said...

Awesome. Razor sounds like a handy guy! Love the blueberries. I think I'm going to try to find womewhere to pick 'em soon...

Pony Girl said...

Are you kidding me? That looks SOOOO yummy!!! Love the antique (?)strawberry colander, too!

And- there are snakes in blueberry bushes? Well I've never been blueberry pickin' but I sure ain't gonna now, honey! ;)

Tine said...

YUM! Blueberry-pie!
I think it's only fair that Razor picks the berries and you do the baking! That's sharing the work-load :-D
I don't mind snakes so much -picked up a rattle-snake as a child, not knowing it was dangerous, luckily nothing happened!!
I do sympathize though, I am that way with spiders. And they don't have to be dangerous or even big.... just a wee little spider makes my heart pound and I break a sweat. And call for help.
And remeber, I live in Denmark!! We don't have big bugs here! LOL!

Meg said...

I would have lost my mind, I am TERRIFIED of snakes.

WhiteStone said...

Oh, Wow! That blueberry pie looks the absolute BEST! I can smell the kitchen!!

RG said...

Dana, you make me laugh!!!
I live in Oz and we have snakes a plenty, although it's winter here now and they're technically alseep...lol (I don't need them close to me either...like the next suburb or farm is fine with me)...
Oh yum, your pie looks so good too!! I love cooking, looking at and eating pie...maybe a pie swap, do you think?? tee hee
Glad I found your blog.
Robyn xx

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

Pies (especially blueberry) are only pies when they ooze out and destroy your oven :) Love this post.

Anonymous said...

I can't even imagine what 25 lbs. of blueberries must look like! I don't like them, but my mother would have swooned from joy. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oh, the first thing I noticed is the not-a-pie-dish pan! Isn't it the deep dish baker? How much did this monster pie weigh??!!! How many pounds of those precious blue gems got used in this monster pie? Is each crust (bottom and top) doubled for that pan? Do you triple the berry mixture, or more? My blueberry season is starting here in the next week or so and I can't wait!! We are just now finishing the fresh apricot pie I made earlier this week.
Blessings,
~Evelyn Mae

Ruth said...

Oh YUM! That pie looks awesome!!

tricki_nicki said...

Ok, it's no coincidence that I just happened upon your blog right after I bought this! It's a non-stick oven mat, and it fits in the bottom of your oven. I can't wait to go to the farmer's market Wed to get more cherries!! You've got to check it out - and then tell me if you bought it!

Hi, I'm Nicki, btw. ;)

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail.jsp?id=6595