Thursday, August 2, 2012

Picking Blackberries



Hello!
I hope you are all enjoying your week!
We are lucky and have a lot of blackberry bushes here in Gold Country....
They grow like weeds...
We hadn't ever picked blackberries until we moved to Amador County...
We have a couple of large bushes on the ranch as well as on the two ranches that border us....
Every year we pick and pick blackberries while they are in season and make a lot of blackberry pies...
I thought I would share a few images I shot of the kids picking blackberries....
I tried to capture real moments...
You will see quite a few images of Rambo (our great dane mastiff cross, a.k.a. as a daniff)....
The kids were having him do tricks for berries.....
Rambo LOVES blackberries and will eat them right off the bush...
Not quite sure how he does it, if you have ever picked blackberries before then you know how prickly blackberry bushes are....







I had the boys put on their newsboy caps...
I think they look so cute in them....
The kids also wear cowboy boots when picking berries...
We have way too many rattle snakes around here...


Austin kind of helped pick berries : )







Rambo waiting patiently for his berry...


The kids have taught Rambo to speak for treats....

He was having a hard time not drooling....


Dustan had to safeguard the berries we had already picked from Rambo : )









Rambo sitting with a berry on his head....




Rambo shaking for berries....


Rambo jumping for berries....







On another note...


I recently shot these images of my blackberry and blueberry galettes for the summer issue of Souvenir...
I have made so many of these this summer...
They are a family favorite and honestly it is hard to not eat the entire galette...


You can find the recipe and more images in the summer issue of Souvenir,
I also shared a couple of other family favorite recipes in this issue...


If you have already purchased the magazine and decide to 
make the blueberry muffins.... You will also need 2 cups of flour...
Somehow I forgot to list that one important ingredient....
You can see a generous free preview below before deciding to purchase the digital version, which is only $3.95, it is filled with inspiration....



Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite blackberry recipe??
if so and the recipe is online please feel free to leave a link to your favorite recipe in the comment section...


Take Care,
Maria 

42 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post! Our Great Dane also loves the berries!

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  2. Could your photos be anymore beautiful Maria?
    You are so inspiring to me! I hope to be a photographer one day, and I always look to your talent for inspiration.
    Your family is just lovely!
    Hope you have a great night.
    Sincerely,
    Melinda

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Dear Maria!

    You have beautiful children, and the pictures are very beautiful, too.

    Edit from Hungary

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  5. Hi Maria,

    I always adore your photos! This post is one of my faves! I showed your pics to my 4 yr old who just LOVES berries! The photos of your kids picking blackberries are just adorable!!!

    Wishing you a beautiful night.


    Hugs,
    Jessie

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  6. The photos with your son and your Frenchy pup are solo adorable! And the blackberry galette is giving me a late night craving right now. Always always love your photos Maria.
    Hugs,
    Lara

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  7. I mean SO adorable, not solo. Eek. Getting used to typing on this IPad. :))

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  8. Love the pics, especially when the dogs are in them (I´m ever so fond of handsome dogs)! :-)

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  9. I always come here to enjoy the photos. You have a lovely family (including pets) and it seems that you had fun time together picking blackberries.

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  10. A beautiful documentary with a tasty end :)

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  11. Hi Maria,
    really wonderful pics from your ranch and kids, the shot from Rambo with a berry on his head is so cute.
    Take Care,
    Bine

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  12. I love blackberries, I don't know where can I buy here in Catalonia

    Your cake seems so yummy!


    xoxo

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  13. sheepyhollowAugust 03, 2012

    Beautiful...right down to the smallest detail! Such family fun! We had a German Shepherd who also loved/picked raspberries oh soooo gingerly, right from the bush!

    Hugs to your family!

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  14. Beautiful post, gorgeous photos!

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  15. ok. i love rambo.
    but don't tell brinkley ;)

    beautiful shots maria!!

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  16. What beautiful photos
    Rambo is amazing thought I had a big dog St Bernard. We too are surrounded by Blackberry bushes not ripe for another month here in Ireland, my favourite is blackberry and apple crumble oh yum

    Best wishes

    Denise

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  17. I know these are your children and your home - but honestly, a stylist could never capture the things you do with your lens.
    Your kids are naturals - because they don't seem to notice the camera,so kudo's to you.
    It all made me smile.... and look twice!

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  18. Your pictures are beautiful. How wonderful your children get to grow up so close to nature. That is a gift!

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  19. Looks scrumptious! And what a cute family!

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  20. oh dear maria!
    your photos are always so fantastic.
    wish you could shoot for my family. :)
    xoxo
    that dessert looks divine!

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  21. Maria your photos are absolutely beautiful!!!!!! You are blessed with truly beautiful children, adorable pics!

    xo

    :) T

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  22. Woow! Love your blog! :)

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  23. What a beautiful blog! Great and inspiring pictures!

    Jenny

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  24. Hello Maria

    So happy to have found your beautiful blog... I LOVE the ethereal lightness of your photography...the post is adorable, the children, (so cute in those little hats and boots), your sweet dog and the blackberries...thank you for sharing, I can't WAIT to read more!

    Lovely weekend!

    Fiona xx

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  25. Piękne zdjęcia, a ciasto! Jedna porcja dla mnie proszę :)))))

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  26. Hi, those photos are so cute. I love the vintage look. What nice photography.

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  27. it is always a pleasure for me to visit you here.
    thank you
    amelia

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  28. Gorgeous as usual Maria :) A Great Dane Mastiff that eats berries?! Too cute.
    We are big fans of blackberries over here. My son makes Pioneer Woman's cobbler with them. Super easy and yummy. Its a family hit :)
    Enjoy the rest of summer my dear!!
    XOX

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  29. Maria, I love these photos! I used to pick blackberries just like this out on our family acreage with my sisters and cousins...it sure reminds me of wonderful times!
    Maria

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  30. How wonderful to have such plentiful blackberry bushes nearby! I have never picked blackberries, but we always make time to go pick strawberries and blueberries every spring and summer. Your galette looks amazing and your photos are gorgeous as always. I always look forward to your posts.

    Here is one of my favorite recipes for blackberries... we have been enjoying them this summer from the farmer's market:

    http://keepingitcozy.blogspot.com/2012/06/summertime-berry-crumble.html

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  31. Hi Maria,
    first of all it was so nice to read and see that you and your family love blackberries too :) I totally love them as you get them for free when they grow wildly... :)

    I translated my favorite cake recipe for you:

    http://le-sel-de-la-vie.blogspot.com/2012/05/financiers-au-mures.html

    and maybe you'll have a look and like it :)

    Have a wonderful weekend with your family and thank you for your wonderful blog!

    Many greetings from Germany, Linda

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  32. I just love your beautiful photos. My sweetest memories growing up are picking berries. What a perfect day you spent with your family picking. That desert looks to die for. I almost see it still bubbling from the oven :) Yummy.

    ~Shanon

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  33. What a beautiful day! Lovely children, crazy dog, and luscious berries! I'm off to check out your recipe Maria.

    Ciao bella,
    Suzanne

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  34. You have beautiful children! And your photos are always gorgeous!

    Vera

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  35. this could be a simple little coffee table book!!
    just as sweet as those berries.


    my biggest giveaway ever going on now.

    miss u girl

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  36. Everyone is put to use for dessert very appetizing ...
    See you soon. co

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  37. This is such a lovely post! Looks like you guys and the pups had a great time berries picking :)

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  38. I loved every single pic of this post, very nice!!
    Nice blogg :)

    greetings from Brazil

    Cintia ( tin) Fumagalli

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  39. Not sure where exactly to leave my comment on the giveaway so will leave it hear and hope you find it. I have a daughter that is not in good health and if I were to win I would use it to purchase wonderful items to fill her home with beauty. Something that will bring a smile to her face. Things that she is unable to afford as I am. The things that surround you are the things that bring you joy. So I would use it to bring great joy into her life. My beautiful daughter is in need of a liver transplant and is handicapped and not able to get out much. So spends a lot of time in her home. She now is having serious problems with her not only her liver but her bladder. We have found out she has numerous cysts in her bladder and may end up losing part of it. She is only 41 this next month and so deserves to have beautiful surroundings in her home to bring her hope and joy. This is what I would do with this 300.00 gift card. Thank you for sharing your beautiful ideas and pictures of your wonderful children.

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  40. When we used to have access to blackberry bushes we made jam so we could enjoy the flavor again in winter. There is nothing prettier than jars of fruit jam in Mason jars lined up on a shelf!

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  41. The good side about ranches is you'll feel livelier than you ever are in the city. You'll get the chance to breath-in fresh air, have fun in a sunny day, and stay healthy because of fresh food and drinks. You know what, I envy the part that you have lots of blackberries. Our farm ranch only has vegetables to crop, and livestock as a source of our livelihood. By the way, be very precautious of those rattle snakes.

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