Every summer, just before the Fourth of July, my mom would get my brother and me ready to go to grandma’s for blackberry picking. On the other side of the barbed wire fence was a huge patch of blackberry canes, loaded with big, fat berries just waiting to be picked. My mother was very fearful (still is) of us getting ticks and chiggers while walking in the weeds, and would make us pull on long pants, socks, and long-sleeved shirts. If you have ever lived in the hot, humid climate of the Midwest, you can understand how very uncomfortable we were.
The drive to grandma’s was wretched, sweat already pouring down our bodies by the time we arrived. Once out of the car, our legs and shoes were slapped with a big, white sock filled with powder insect repellent. When our mother and grandma were satisfied that we were adequately covered…
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Lady of Lavender Cottage 