SPF (Sun Protection Freak)

Pale and freckled, I do my best to avoid the sun but the reality of living in the Hill Country is that the sun is gonna getcha, girl. I never leave the house without sunblock. The one time I did, I panicked and pulled a bag over my head and shortly thereafter a new neighbor came by to introduce himself and I'm standing there with a canvas grocery bag (I'm "green"!) on my head (the purple handles did create a stylish flair, though). I've tried a variety of products, but Neutrogena just came out with my current go-to SPF, their Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF 70. I've been using it for about two weeks and while July and August will be the true test, I have done some sweaty yard mowing and rock hauling and, so far, it hasn't done the usual burning lava run into the eyes. I read one review where the woman said she quit using it because it left some white streaks and she had to check the mirror after she put it on to make sure she had rubbed all those in. Oh the humanity! Not that! I've had several skin cancers removed (most courtesy of a spectacular chest burn received at a Red Hot Chili Peppers outdoor concert) and a little white SPF white streak should not be a deterrent. You should put any SPF on at least 15-20 minutes before going outside and give it a chance to soak in a bit. Check the mirror then. The Age Shield can give you a bit of a mildly kabuki appearance initially, but once it's had a chance to mellow for about 15 minutes either it goes away or, pehaps, I've ceased to care. All in all highly recommended.

Oh deer!

I have dewberry patches all over my property and the dewberries are starting to get ripe (more on that later). I picked late yesterday and went back this morning to pick some more and as I went to pick in the biggest patch I almost stepped on a brand new fawn! It had to have been born last night. It's about the size of my 14 pound my chihuahua mix all curled up. After quietly backing away, I ran to where my sister was working nearby (kindly) planting some plants for me and I (quietly) freaked out. She went all National Geographic and crept over and snapped a photo with her phone. I've circled where the fawn is on the attached phone photo. but it's really hard to see it -- those spots work! I need them for my thighs.

First Agarita Berry of the Season: Initial Visual (Interior)

First Agarita Berry of the Season: Initial Visual (Exterior)

Spotted! First Agarita Berries of the Season

The Agarita Chronicles: An Introduction to the Chronicles

When I purchased my home on 2 acres in Dripping Springs, Texas, in December of 2006, I was concerned by the abundance of wild thorny bushes crowding against my live oaks and poking me on strolls across my newly acquired land. "Agarita is agarivating" was my cry. I vowed that all would be removed.

However, work and interior renovations took priority and, thankfully so. Before I had the opportunity to begin systematically removing these holly-like bushes, I read an article in edibleAustin about how the author's ancestors used berries from the agarita plants to make wine.

Whoa, Nelly. Now you have my attention.

She went on to say that the berries can be used in jelly and pies. Oddly enough, I like wine and jelly and pies. In doing some research, I found that most people make jelly. I did find recipes for agarita wine, but even popular dictionary definitions tend to limit it to being "used in jelly". I believed in my culinary gut that agarita berry could be so much more, but by the time I read the article, the berries from my agarita were gone. However, my determination to harvest those berries the next season and make something delicious with them remained. So, for the past year, I have waited. And waited.

Until now.

Agarita time is almost upon us. I spotted my first berries yesterday. Just a few, but enough to get my agarita juices flowing.

The last time I was this obsessed with a berry was when I lived in the Netherlands as a child and I was infatuated with currants. I rode my bike to the fruit and vegetable-monger and purchased "een kilo, alstublieft".

As it turned out, one kilogram of currants is quite a lot of currants when one is 9 years old has absolutely no idea what to do with 2.2046 pounds of tiny red berry. But they were a lovely color. Until they rotted and my mom threw them away.

But, currants are no longer my obsession au courant and my culinary skills have grown since then. The question is what will I make with my agarita berries? All will be chronicled.