One of my most favorite things to do that we've turned into a tradition each year now, is to go pick our own strawberries. Each year we've been going to a little strawberry farm pretty close by... This year, we got all dressed up (I've learned you really need to wear red when you're picking strawberries), and talked it up, and drove to ... a closed field-- closed for the season. Oh it was so sad! Oh the pouting in the back seat. Oh the whining. So, we looked up where there was still a place open with berries and went out the next day. We drove out with friends Nancy and Jonathan--who we've converted into berry pickers! Well, not only did this place have strawberries, they also had blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and onions. You could pick your own onions. It was a very cool place! I would have liked to have picked some blackberries but we were worn out after filling FIVE buckets of strawberries and TWO buckets of blueberries. I took four of the strawberry buckets home (three to keep and one to pass to Jamie's mom) and one bucket of blueberries. Nancy took home one of each bucket.
I'll tell you, there is just something empowering about picking your own fruit. It is hard work. It is hot work. We were all sweating. A lot. But it is so very rewarding. As the kids tend to go off further and faster down their rows than I do, I found myself alone, watching the kids at one point, I had backed up and started down a second row where I spotted "better" berries... I found myself just thanking God and praising God and praying aloud quietly for the beauty around me, for His blessings He alone gives, for His protection, for the children He's gifted me with, for life, for love, for peace.... It was such a sweet time. Then, when we were picking berries, it was neat, Nancy and I were talking about Ruth from the Bible... how we were actually picking the first fruits of those blueberries because many weren't even ripe yet, and you had to work hard to find the blue ones, and how Ruth would have been walking like we were, but taking what was left over. It was interesting. It was just a good day.
I've already washed and handled the fruit. A gallon bucket of blueberries is a LOT! We'll have "fresh" blueberry pancakes for many weekends in a row! And let me tell you-- three buckets of strawberries... I can't wait to make some jam! I have a big container of crushed berries ready to go. I am sure there will be strawberry cupcakes in my kids' future too. ha ha.
Oh and one random funny--- I didn't realize until just now looking back at last year's strawberry picking pictures... that Mark has on the SAME exact outfit-- same hat and all. Yes, he hasn't changed clothing size in OVER a year. He's still in 24 month clothes. See?
Thanks Nancy for going with us (and driving)! I'm so glad we've got this tradition to do each year together!
