My little explorers and I like roaming the fringe of woods and tromping overgrown paths. I like to think we keep a keen eye out poison ivy and snakes, though in truth, we’re as easily distracted as squirrels. I have the calamine stock to prove it. Crop duster planes, sassafras and baby birds take us down rabbit holes I would never expect, but our adventures aren’t always outside.
Our latest wilderness has been the candy drawer at church. The typical ho-hum Dum-Dums were replaced with an array of treats by a benevolent, mysterious benefactor. For two weeks, my kids have been good as gold at church with the promise of a pick from the Drawer of Plenty.
Maybe it’s because of the whole global pandemic thing, but we’ve really embraced simple pleasures. Prior to the candy drawer change-up, the greatest anticipation around our house was that of the sun-ripened blackberries. Well, second only to frog-gigging. Wade had to introduce that one and completely trump my romantic visions of sunsets, stained fingers, and over-flowing baskets. Now that the day’s heat is good and unbearable, and some of the evening’s thunderous bullfrogs have been hushed (poor things!), the berries are begging to be picked.
When I’ve braved the chiggers and have that basket full of blackberries, I’ll be ready for my grandmother’s cobbler. The ingredients and instructions for this simple recipe are sure to rank high on any summer dessert list… unless Wade intervenes yet again in a Tommy-Topper fashion.
In honor of the church candy drawer and Sunday’s National Ice Cream Day, Wade made sure homemade Nerds milkshakes made their way into the kitchen…and all over my table, chairs, couch, and floors. I guess when we jump into those rabbit holes, we go all in.
Nan’s Blackberry Cobbler recipe can be found here.
If you want the Nerds milkshake recipe, I hear the delicacy is top secret.
**Feature photo by Michelle Tresemer on Unsplash
