When you stop doing, then you stop doing. These are just a few of Grandma Clem’s words that I took to heart. I mulled them over today as I trekked back to the cattle to move them to a new grazing lot. My coat and boots were heavy, as was the reel of poly wire in my hand. Inclement weather is upon us here in Missouri and I’m not keen on doing chores in a biting wind. Hence, I thought about Grandma Clem and the inspiration of her words. I thought about my strong legs that take me to my work and my strong arms that perform the work. My winter gear that protects me. The opportunity to be outside in fresh air and about being a good steward of what is in my care. Without these things, I might find myself sitting in a chair, becoming inactive and weak, and letting quality of life slip away from me. I’d like to encourage you and other cattle folks to look positively on your winter chores and caring for livestock. Don’t just do it because you have, do it because you can. Like Grandma Clem says, when you stop doing, then you stop doing.

Don and Elizabeth put our granite canner to good use these past few weeks. The last part of July, they canned peaches and made peach butter and peach jam. The following two weeks, Don and Elizabeth made blackberry jam. I must say, they did a delicious job.

We live thirty miles from the nearest farmers market but only six miles from an Amish community which serves a similar purpose. For instance every Wednesday in July, one of the Amish businesses has peaches trucked in from south Missouri. People line up bright and early to purchase peaches by the box. A choice is given between the number one peaches which are uniform in size with pretty peals and the other option, number twos, which are of varied sizes and have a few blemishes. Number twos are by far the better buy, however there are those folks who can’t resist a peach peal with pretty eye appeal. In the Bryan kitchen though, we peel, slice, cook down, pack and can the peaches therefore we aren’t seduced by a pretty peal. My tip for peaches: If they aren’t fully ripe, put them in a paper sack and sit them on the counter. Also, because we buy in large quantities, I break down the boxes that the peaches come in, place the peaches in a single layer on the broken down box, then slide them under a table out of the way until they ripen according to need.

The blackberries came from our garden. Again, we don’t let looks fool us. Just because the berry has turned from green to red to black doesn’t mean its ready to be picked. I typically walk along the trellis gently pulling on the clusters. If the berries come off easily in my hand, they’re ready to be picked.

I have a confession to make. My skills are lacking when it comes to pruning and training our blackberry plants. It seems that the brambles grow faster and faster each year. I usually end up bending them around in large loops and tying them to the trellis. You know what? Now that I have voiced my burden, I have been inspired. I will square off my shoulders, walk out to the garden and pick myself some sweet, ripe berries. After all, does it really matter if the plants aren’t perfectly manicured? It’s the end result that matters.

I do have one useful tip for training blackberry plants along a trellis though. Don’t purchase string, save the string from dog food, cat food and mineral bags instead.