Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Chokecherry Days


Choke- cherries play a special role in the life of Dry Creek, Montana. Mrs. Hargrove-Nelson (or Edith as she's often called) used to think she resembled the tart, resilient berry. All Montana farm women did, in her opinion. They had to be tough to survive the hard work and the harsh weather. In several of the Dry Creek books, Mrs. Hargrove makes chockecherry jelly and her special soda biscuits. I remember as a child picking chokecherries (they're small and it takes a lot to make jelly). My mother had planted some bushes that grew in the trees by our house, but we also picked berries on the wild bushes by the coulee that led down to the river. There's nothing like picking berries as a child (although these berries were too tart to eat from the bucket). Did you pick berries as a child? What kind?

6 comments:

  1. Blackberrys my mamaw makes the best Blackberry Jam.. Okay they may just be my opinion but it is awesome... Umm Umm Umm. I think I would like some of that. I wonder if she has any stored away?

    We were starting to miss you here Janet. We thought you had forgot about us.

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  2. Jessiecue -- I didn't forget everyone; I've just been swamped. I pledge to do better though as I love talking with you guys. You've all given me some good ideas. By the way, how's summer going for you? I always think of berry picking when it's hot out like this.

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  3. It is going woderful. I meant to stop in over at the Chat tonight but my aunt flew in from Dallas and well I wasn't home! It has been go go go. My daughter starts school back on August 7th so for us summer is about over. How is everything going on your end?

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  4. Jessiecue -- Aug 7 does make for a short summer. I plan to spend a month with my parents in Montana beginning Aug 6 so that will be nice.

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  5. I remember picking grapes, here at my grandparents' place, and also behind the old house that was our church building in RI. And then there were the mulberries from the tree in my great-grandmother's yard. It's strange that I don't remember picking blackberries until this year. They're all over the place now, but I guess my grandfather kept them at bay when he was living. We had an apple tree and a plum tree. Wish they'd survived. My mamaw made the best apple pie! (I only got a very few blackberries, as the weather was too strange for me to get to them while they were at their peak.) Those chokecherries look delicious, but I know they take LOTS of sugar! They must be stuffed with antioxidants and polyphenols, to be so bitter, which makes them good for you! :-)

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  6. Hope -- How wonderful! If I understand correctly, you live in your grandparent's house? I can only imagine that gives you a great sense of being connected to your family's past. And all the berries and fruit! How delicious in summer.

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