Blackberries

PSA: You know those blackberries you buy from the grocery store? They’re not supposed to taste like that.

Wild blackberries are so different. They’re sweet and tart and full of flavor.

Lately, we’ve been picking them every couple of days as they ripen around our property. Our hands are stained purple from the juice and each of us has little scratches on our arms and legs from reaching through the vines, but it’s entirely worth it. We’ve had blackberry muffins and blackberry cobbler and I’ve been making jam like it’s my job in order to stock us up for the year.

Anything worth having takes a little sacrifice, right?

Blackberry bushes are everywhere in Oregon. They’re invasive, and if you’re not careful, they take over. Last week my fella spent an entire day cutting them down in a perimeter around the house. He’s been working weekends all summer and it was the first time he’d had the chance.

Just in time, thankfully, because fire season seems to have started early this year. Making sure the vegetation around the house is gone is just one way we prepare for the worst.

Outside, the air is filled with smoke and ash. The sun looks neon orange through the haze and frankly, it stinks. But, worse is the fact that the closest fire has slowly been making its way toward us. Still far off, but too close for comfort. We were evacuated in 2020 and the memory of deciding what we would take with us is still pretty fresh.  

I have so much empathy for the people who are evacuated now and waiting to hear if their homes have made it through and my heart breaks for those who have already lost their homes.

The world is on fire, literally, and I’m ready for the rain. I’m ready for the fall. For pumpkins and school and hot coffee in the morning and sweaters and candles that smell like desserts.

In the meantime, I’m making jam. I’m getting projects done. I’m plotting and daydreaming and writing.

I have to tell you guys, I’m so happy that Curtis and Teddy’s book was so well received. I knew that many of you have waited patiently for a long time, and it wasn’t quite what you expected. Life happened, and the cross-over book with Madeline didn’t, and I worried that would color your opinion on the story. But, you’ve seemed to love Curtis and Teddy almost as much as I do.

His story came to me in bits and pieces, but as soon as it did, I knew that he needed to be home for it to happen. He needed to grow up before he could settle down.

I’m working on something new right now, but I’m not quite ready to tell you guys about it. I think you’ll be stoked, though. Writing about the Aces is such a joy for me. There’s something so comforting about crawling back into that world and perching like a fly on the wall to see what happens. It’s never boring and always surprising.

Keep an eye on my socials for news of the next Aces announcement over the next couple of weeks.

In case I haven’t said it lately, I’m thankful for you. I hope you’ve had a good summer and the last month of it is even better.

Take care of each other. Take care of your neighbors. Be the village.

Nicole

Blackberries in the hazy sunlight.