Monday, July 16, 2012

Berries and Buggies

We went to pick berries at my cousins.  He and his wife live on the farmstead where my Maternal Grandfather was born and raised.  I always call it Great Grandmas place..because she was the one that farmed there.. for many years she also took care of my Great Grandfather who had rheumatoid arthritis.  He died before I was born so I always associate Great Grandma with that farmstead.

Picking berries in one of my Great Grandmother’s fields I always listen for sounds.  Sounds that she may have heard..the Red Winged Blackbirds..children laughing..then there was this clop clop swish swish sound and then an aroma.  I was intent on picking my containers full as fast as possible in the midday sun.  Sweat was rolling off my nose in huge plops.  I held the container almost at arms length so I could pick with one hand and steady the container with the other and not ruin any of the berries with sweat.  I want to eat them next winter!

The clop clop swish swish with aroma..that aroma is what my cousins children call “buggy poop.”  It was the Amish and their every other Sunday…they were either going or coming from church.

I wished that I had brought my camera into the raspberry patch…I didn’t ..but I did get some photos on the way home.

The Amish

The swish swish sound was the buggy tires on the loose gravel that was on one side of the road.

The berries were plentiful.  I am not convinced that we have enough for the whole winter yet.  I may have to go back again on a cooler day.

The berries

I don’t make jam and I don’t make sauce.  I freeze them in single layers on cookie sheets and then package them up into servings.  They will be great next winter:)

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19 comments:

Gail said...

Beautiful berries and what soothing sounds while you pick.

Cathie said...

Beautiful berries!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos of the buggy and the berries. I freeze berries the same way and we enjoy them on cereal. Have a good Monday.

Pauline Persing said...

I know people who freeze strawberries on cookie sheets. I didn't know a person could do the same with raspberries. Sounds like your weather has been HOT. So has ours.

linda m said...

Beautiful berries. I tried to pick one up and eat it - the picture was that good. There is nothing better than fresh picked berries. Loved the picture of the Amish buggy.

linda m said...

Beautiful berries. I tried to pick one up and eat it - the picture was that good. There is nothing better than fresh picked berries. Loved the picture of the Amish buggy.

DJan said...

Those berries are perfect. I saw some at the market the other day and practically fainted at the price.

Beth said...

The berries are gorgeous. You are lucky to be able to have some to pick.

Muffy's Marks said...

Looks like a great berry season!!! I just love listening to the clomp, clomp, of the horse's stride as he takes the family where they need to go. We have an Amish family north of Green Bay that wasn't so lucky. Their horse was spooked by a car on their way home from meeting. Six folks were in the buggy, one was airlifted to the hospital, I don't know how the rest are doing. Prayers are needed for that family. I admire them for holding strong to their beliefs.

Karen said...

Those raspberries look perfect, wow! Are there too many bugs to pick them when it's cooler in the evening?

Far Side of Fifty said...

Yes too many skeeters:(

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

The berries are gorgeous. Freezing them as you do sounds like the ideal way to keep them from getting damaged. Good eating!

West Side of Straight said...

Your berries are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks good!

Dreaming said...

Hey, they look good enough to eat! Yum!

Red said...

My manager is a fanatic about berry picking. I whine and complain but I do like eating the product.

Jacqi Stevens said...

Yeah, ya better go back...it would be such a shame to run out of those beauties right in the middle of winter when you can't do anything about it.

L. D. said...

You picked a great harvest full. They taste so great.

Sam I Am...... said...

My very favorite fruit! I am jealous....I haven't seen any here yet. Maybe it's too warm down here? It seems like it's warm everywhere this Summer! Just found out we have Amish that moved here to the neighboring town. They were at the Farmer's Market. I was talking to them about the colonies in Kalona, IA near where I used to live and they said they had relatives there. Small world! I can depend on their produce to be pesticide free and good.

Rita said...

We lived in Wisconsin for a while and saw a lot of buggy poop. Something wonderful about seeing those buggies clomping along the side of the road, though. They always made me smile. :)
The berries look perfect.