The Blackberry Patch

     It was a beautiful day at the Lake, perfect for picking blackberries.  My family, a few intimate friends and their children had been promised a warm berry cobbler topped with fresh vanilla ice cream.  We loaded up the boat with our picking buckets and fired up the engine. The air was warm as we raced out across the lake, under the bridge and down the river to the familiar hidden berry patch.  With the engine slowed to a quiet idle, we raised the motor and glided onto the shore right up to the blackberry bushes.  Much to our surprise, the bushes near the water were nearly picked clean.  But did that stop us?  NO!  Off we jumped, with our water shoes, right into the mukity muck, and reached through the thorny vines, for our treasure.  After dodging garden spiders, and slipping about in the mud, we scavenged just enough berries to return in triumph with our pickings!  It was just enough fruit to prepare the perfect afternoon treat!  After all, what’s vanilla ice cream without some type of topping, right?  

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