Wistful Wednesday: 1956

The year was 1956, my little brother and I. I was five years old and he was two years old.

There are lots of things I like about this photo.. there is that elusive white dog..part collie? in the background.. I believe that this dogs name was Frosty and he was a gift to me from my Grandparents D. They gave me many dogs as gifts...some of the gifts got ran over, one got tick fever..some just mysteriously disappeared. My parents cannot recall if this one was Frosty or not..I think it is. My Mother sewed our shirts..the pants I believe were store bought. I am surprised that we have shoes on, we must have been going someplace. I have no idea what I am holding in my hands..good grief could it have been a doll?? Probably not. This photo was taken in front of the picture tree..it was an old Honeysuckle..it was at the farm when we moved there. It became the spot in the yard where all the photographs were taken. It is still there, and it is still full of bees when it blooms. Did you have a special "Picture spot" in your yard when you were growing up? :)

Teamwork

Yesterday was all about Teamwork. The first part of our day involved medical teamwork. It was our second appointment with Dr P in Fargo.. I was not sure if he was worthy of joining our team, or if he would want to join an old lady and a Border Collie in the care of Far Guy. He was more personable this time, which helped to put Far Guy at ease. I think he just might work out, now if he doesn't move away or croak we will be a great team. So far Far Guy is managing pretty good on the new dosages and forms of Tegretol and Neurontin that he takes for his Trigeminal Neuralgia. So we will keep, keeping on and see Doctor P again in three months. He likes to keep close tabs on his patients...I like that! He also related that TN is such a forgotten disorder that very little research is being done.

We were invited to the Buffalo Bluff for lunch, and what a lunch it was. Buffalo Gal out did herself with BBQ's, potato salad, pickles, watermelon and a to die for dessert called Raspberry Rice. She can cook!! A good time was had by all, they are a team out there on their beautiful bluff. We got to meet Miss Kitty..she is beautiful and a very lucky member of their team..I cannot believe that she is eleven years old! A few years ago Buffalo Gals Blog was the very first blog I ever read. I am pleased to be part of a local blogging team of great women and men that keep our area voices alive!

Miss Kitty

We left the Buffalo Bluff and headed back into Fargo to pick up the Fire Truck that had been undergoing some tests and some small repairs at various places throughout the day. The Chief's son Adam got the truck to it's first destination and from there the business owners moved the truck along during the day. It's last stop was an alright Tire place. As usual, when some parts of your team don't do their part..things can get messy..and Far Side gets Cranky! Far Guy went in to get the keys and I waited outside, it was taking forever, finally Far Guy came out and asked me "What credit card do you want me to use to pay for this truck, because they won't let me leave without settling up the bill?. " WHAT?? Obviously someone has miscommunicated. I went inside, the dude could not find the bill, he was searching everywhere..he just had it, but now it has disappeared. We call the Chief for instructions, the repair company in DL is taking care of the bill, but we still need a purchase order. Finally a purchase order number is obtained..the dude still has not found the bill, and cannot tell us exactly what they did to the tires. He is clearly an imbecile, since we are allowed to leave with the truck ..I abstain from tearing him a new asshole. Your team or your business is only as good as it's weakest team player.

I left Far Guy in the dust at DL, I needed to get home and make some phone calls. One of which was to inform the Chief that Far Guy had no keys to get into the Fire Hall, and that he would need a ride home. No answer, FINE.. I finished my calls, and Chance and I took the keys to the Fire Hall and helped Far Guy load the truck back up again..all ready for rescues.. by a highly trained team of volunteers.

Throughout the day, I thought about Chance, he had to stay home because of the heat. It is finally summer here. Mid August and summer finally showed up! One of our neighbors, Jo, had the situation well in hand and played ball with Chance several times during the day. She also checked on him much later in the day than I had requested..we were held up by the imbecile at the tire place..and there was also a note "Come for supper when you get home" It is great to be part of the neighborhood dog team. Supper was great and the company was doggone divine! :)

A Thousand Words : Catnapping

This cat lives in the local Vet's Office. One day I caught him catnapping in the Breath -a -licious box on the counter...who knew that cats were a low fat treat that would freshen a dogs breath:) Click on the photo to enlarge!

Nature Hike

The Nature Hike went well, the weather was not cooperative..it was mostly a misty rain. We took an umbrella, just in case someone wanted to use it. I am not sweet enough to melt in a little rain. We had six people who didn't mind a little rain along with their hike. Friendly very nice people from North Dakota. They asked some great questions, no I could not answer them all..I am not well versed on ALL of the underbrush that grows here in Minnesota. Some of it I know well..like Poison Ivy and Wild grapes. If I didn't know, I just said I am sorry I have no idea.. they all seemed okay with that. At first they were focused on trees and walking very fast..hiking! You have to slow down a little to see and appreciate the Wildflowers. You have to meander a little..they did enjoy the circular clearing that had some sunshine, enough to give some Rudbeckia, Milkweed, and Bell flowers a chance to bloom. .. we finished up on the boardwalk where you can look down into the plants. Not much is blooming there, but some berries were showing off.

Rose Twisted Stalk or Streptopus roseus which has very pale pink flowers in the early spring but has a very pretty red berry now..non edible..it won't kill ya..but you may spend the rest of the day reading on the throne.

Bluebead Lily or Clintonia borealis has tiny yellow lily like flowers in spring which give rise to beautiful blue berries..which are poisonous. Not all blue berries are safe to eat.

One very pretty little flower they have over there is Heal all or Self heal or Prunella vulgaris. It's lower spent petals form a landing lip for insects. This plant blooms all summer. I took these photos last week when the sun was shining!

In their more formal gardens, Ligularia or The Rockets are in bloom as is Hydrangea 'Annabelle'. I took time out for a few photos after we were finished with our hike. We were graciously thanked and given two tickets to their Chuck Wagon Dinner on Saturday Nights. We will have to use them before Labor Day. That should be an interesting experience..I will take my camera. I rarely eat a meal that costs 19.95 If I want to spend that much on a meal, I will go to the grocery store and buy some really great steaks. This Chuck Wagon Dinner is supposed to be an experience ..it is a touristy thing..but hey we get to go free!! :)

Meet The Clovers

I enjoy the Clovers, looking for a four leafed one is the best, finding one is even better. I used to keep them pressed in between pages of an old book. I also used to enjoy Red Clover, I would pick out the individual inflorescences of the flower bud and chew off the sweet ends..it was like an instant sweet treat for a farm kid.

Red Clover or Trifolium pratense, this one was along our driveway. I was tempted to stop and have a taste from my childhood..but I left the sweet nectar for the bees.

White Clover or Trifolium repens can have plain green leaves or the stripe with the classic clover marking. These were at the Dentists office.

Aslike Clover or Trifolium hybridum, this one I found at a cemetery. It is also called Swedish Clover..I wonder if it is found in Sweden? Maybe Lady Fi can tell us? This is one of my favorite clovers simply for its color.

Now for some weird clovers. I have always liked the out of the ordinary plants.

White Prairie Clover, the experts are fighting over the scientific name of this one. The purple form is supposed to be more commonly found than this white form. I am still looking for the purple. I did find lots of white along our road. This plant is tiny, less than a foot tall and easily blends in with other white blooms. These white flowers bloom from the bottom up.

Rabbits Foot Clover, ground hugging and tiny..you probably can't see it from a car. I found this one last Monday when Chance and I were taking foggy photos about a half a mile from our house.

One great thing about the Clovers, they are in the Pea Family or Fabaceae. They fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it naturally. Instead of robbing it from the soil, these plants make it and put it back in the soil. This is why beans are part of the crop rotation by the big farmers in our area.. they attempt to replenish..with a rotation of potato, beans (usually pinto), small grain, and corn. The field across from us is Potatoes this year. Last year it was beans. The potatoes grown here are for French Fries at McDonalds, large russet potatoes cut into french fries so they will stand up in the box perfectly. They have no taste, they are grown so huge and so fast that they have no taste left...but they make great french fries that stand tall in the box and taste like grease :)

Clunkers

I only know of one person that has taken advantage of the "Cash for Clunkers" stimulus program. That would be my Dad, he was driving a pickup truck that was 17 years old. I always gave him a bad time and told him that he needed a new truck, a four wheel drive.. he always said "Can't afford a new truck, do you have any idea how much they cost?" I don't pay attention to vehicle prices, I stopped keeping up with that info when vehicle prices went beyond what we paid for our first house. I do feel a bit slighted, I drove the same vehicle for 20 some years..and there were no hand outs when I bought a new to me used vehicle a few years ago. I am happy for my Dad, and others who were able to improve their vehicles MPG, Dad says his is supposed to get 24 MPG... and if he drives this vehicle for seventeen years like his last truck he will be 100 years old. When I was oohing and ahhing over his new vehicle he told me to take it for a spin.. one look over the top of the massive hood..it was way too large for me to drive..I did sit in the drivers seat a really long time to enjoy the new truck smell! It still isn't a four wheel drive, I guess he will just stay at home when the weather is bad.

Who is paying for all this stimulus? When will the Washington Money Machine go broke? Another 2 Billion dollars went into the cash for clunkers program this morning.. apparently they print what money they need or borrow it from China. Payback is a real bitch..and it is not our generation that will pay..but our children and their children. I detest the thought that everyone is so careless, and believes that every problem can be solved by throwing money at it. When did we become a nation so involved in the Auto Industry? I suppose that happened after the demise of the Family Farm..it takes awhile for the government to become involved and totally ruin something. I believe that Health Care will be next, and since it is the only sector that has been increasing it's employees instead of laying them off..it must seem ripe for the picking for our leaders in Washington. I can name a few Clunkers in Washington that I would like to stimulate, a few old clunkers that have worn out their welcome, I hope their constituents feel the same way:)

Goldenrods

August is usually welcomed by the appearance of the Goldenrods.. so cheerful and yellow. Like a yellow flag being waved in surrender to summer. Fifteen different types are found in Minnesota. I will share three.

Goldenrod or Solidago species unknown, a heavily arching plant. ..this was in a garden planting at the old farm house at the Field day last Sunday in Park Rapids.

Stiff Goldenrod or Solidago rigida. Commonly found in our area, in the ditches, and sometimes at the edge of the woods where it can get enough sunlight to bloom. Not many flowers, they are just clumpy at the top, the foliage is quite stiff.

Canada Goldenrod or Solidago canadensis, this one was found in a ditch also. He has very handsome arching stems. It is probably the most visible and most common Goldenrod in Minnesota.

I was interrupted this morning..Far Guy took a phone call..someone wants us to do a nature hike. We had to go over and see what kind of nature and trails they had, it is doable. They are heavily wooded, in small clearings they do have a few wildflowers, a whole lot of Poison Ivy and lots of mosquitoes. I guess I can bore some old people on a hike. Far Guy should really do this, I offered to make note cards for him with photographs. He said "It's not fair to make someone wait for me to come up with the words." So we will do it together. They must have been in a real pinch to call us, but they seemed like nice people..they have other activities going on at the same time. So hopefully all sixty people won't pick the Nature Hike:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1908

A penny postcard from 1908. Mailed from Park Rapids Minnesota to Linnell PO Minnesota. Mailed to Meadys older brother Frank. Frank was the oldest boy in his family, I don't know exactly when he was born..I am guessing 1886. ( his sister Amy was born in May of 1887) He would have been 22 in this photo. The other fellow in the photo is Far Guys Grandpa A he would have been 20 years old. They were both young neighbor men, working together. Having fun together too..you see they married each others sisters..Frank married Mae, Curtis married Meady. Frank and Mae never had children..they spoiled all three of Curtis and Meadys children.

I chose this photo today, because of its date, August 31, 1908.. 101 years ago...farming was different back then! I love the fly net on the horse, in all the photos that I have..this is the only one with a fly net. I believe that they are pitching hay off the wagon. Are you old enough to remember hay stacks? I remember them..standing witness to hard work on the farm. If the hay mow in the barn was full, hay was stacked in a huge mound for the winter. Hay Stacks and Straw Stacks were off limits for us kids. It was animal food and bedding, if you thought it looked like a fun place to play..especially in the winter when it would be covered in snow and could possibly be a sledding hill ..you were mistaken:)

Reverse side of the Penny Postcard.

Field Day

The local Antique Tractor and Engine Club had their Field Days over the weekend. Far Guy and I decided that we would give it a whirl. They were supposed to have lots of demonstrations, and a giant swap meet/flea market area..and good food.

The only demonstration they had was threshing..

They had a very nice collection of Case tractors.

In typical small town fashion..the hype was just that.. the giant swap meet was three individuals..one that was selling CDs. The bratwurst that I ordered for lunch was inedible. Far Guy tried a bite of it too..it was prepared fine..boiled..it just tasted really bad, disgustingly bad. I was going to take it back to the kitchen, Far Guy asked me not too. So I didn't ..I told him FINE..I will just blog about it then. I told him, that obviously no one in the kitchen had tasted the brats. Quality control was dead and gone..probably due to bad brats. There was some um-pa-pa music at the lunch stand. A few silver hairs without canes or walkers were dancing..one lady must have had a bad foot as she had two different kinds of shoes on..either that or she wore the other same exact pair out. One black shoe, one brown and tan. I should have taken a photo.

This Tractor Club doesn't quite have their act together. Far Guy says their focus is the Tractors and Engines. I say fine and dandy..but without demonstrations and good food ..how do you expect to draw a crowd from year to year. I can only look at tractors for so long.. and I do appreciate tractors..I can only imagine that a true citified gal would be bored to tears. I asked why the demonstrations were not ongoing.. I was told that the Tractor Parade was more important. I didn't get to see the corn shelling machine shell corn.. I think that is what it does.

I would have liked to have seen the gas powered washing machine work.. I did get to hear that one run out on the front porch of the Farm House. I am sure in it's day it was an improvement..but it was really noisy. I went into the Mercantile Store where there was supposed to be ladies crafts and found a bad garage sale. BUT I could have purchased leftover Field Day buttons from the past sixteen years, just in case i was a collector. I see so many possibilities to improve these Field Days.. so many ways to improve their attendance, they have beautiful grounds and pretty good looking buildings. Their advertising is top notch..and kids twelve and under could attend free..so it is a bargain in the making for a day out if you have a number of children. They had a petting zoo..but there was no petting allowed if the animals owners weren't there.. I was reckless and petted and scratched the goats and the miniature horses anyway. I didn't see a woodshed out back:)

Foggy Morning

Chance and I were up before the sun, as daylight approached it became more foggy..until it was pretty soupy. We found this spot to watch the sun finally break through the fog. The Spotted Knapweed or Centaurea maculosa is in fine form. I have watched this noxious weed/wildflower take over our ditches one by one. I read recently that it might be an allelopathic plant..which means that it chemically changes the soil to discourage other plants from growing. Goats, they are the answer.. they will eat anything, I told Far Guy that if I had a few goats I could get a job as a Natural Spotted Knapweed Eradicator...Chance could herd something beside a ball:)

Adventures With Chance: The Scoop On Poop

Hey! I get to guest blog again today! I am supposed to tell you all about calf poop.... Far Side says I must come clean. I guess every dog has his day.

It all began very innocently, I was visiting Hooch and Odda, they have some new calves in the pasture. Far Side and Jo were looking at flowers, so Far Side was occupied and not watching me as closely as she should have been. I wandered into the pasture..

I spied this.. and proceeded to have the time of my life rolling in calf pies...what fun..nose to the ground..first to the left then to the right..I did a really good job. I was so happy and great smelling, I ran to show Far Side but forgot about my big ole bushy tail that I wave like a flag. Then something strange happened..I was zapped..I yelped..that got Far Sides attention. I ran to the car...she said "Oh Chance, you are a mess." Then she laughed right out loud, "Got zapped by the electric fence..good enough, maybe that will teach you." I got no sympathy from her. I wanted to go home right then, but she grabbed me by the highly perfumed scruff of my neck and proceeded to walk me toward one of the barns with a hose. Steve came out and laughed..he asked what happened? Far Side said "He rolled in hog shit." Steve said "That is not hog shit, that is calf shit..there is a difference." Far Side said "Really?"

Far Side has lots of rules about poop, no rolling in deer poop..I have that rule down pat and I avoid deer poop every day. I am supposed to poop at the edge of the woods or in the woods..check. She even made Far Guy mow an area deep in the trees for me to fertilize to my hearts content...she calls it the pooping area. She has never ever mentioned calf poop before. How was I to know?

I had to endure a cold water wash, before I was allowed in the car..Odda was quite sympathetic..Jo and Steve were laughing..I think Hooch was hiding. Far Side handed her camera over to Jo..good thing too because as she sprayed me off..she got some calf poop on her too. She smelled wonderful! When we got home, I ran immediately to Far Guy..with my ears down but still wagging my big fluffy tail..he said "Oh my, what did you get into?" Far Side told on me..Far Guy said " Why weren't you watching him closer?" Yah.. why wasn't she watching me the entire time? It is all her fault. I got a double bath..that would be a shampooing twice. The next time I went up to the farm, I stayed in the car even though the car door was open. Yesterday when Far Side went up there, I stayed right by her side..she did a really good job of watching me, the sights and smells of the farm are so delicious..but I just looked at those calves..and I stayed away from their wicked zappy fence and their beautiful smelling calf pies:)

Chance and Hooch on August 01, 2009

Ditch Roses

Sadly we say goodbye to July, it has to be one of the coolest July's on record in Minnesota. What happened to global warming? At this rate we will have a non summer here in Minnesota, truthfully the early mornings feel more like September than July..it was 45 degrees the other morning. I am feeling the wildflower clock ticking..so little time..so many wildflowers to photograph.

I continue on my wildflower quest, ditch walking..I zigzag from one side of the road to the other. Chance runs back and forth from one side of the road to the other, and between Far Guy and I, he has no idea what I am looking for..but often ends up in the photos. He is becoming quite a ham, I think he has decided that modeling and posing for me is his new job. Far Guy brings up the center with the car. When we get near the end of the stretch, or the bugs get too bad, I stand in the middle of the road..I wave my arms and Chance sits obediently by my side until our ride arrives. These peaceful evenings on the prairie after supper are my favorite time of the day. We pick back roads where there is no traffic..gravel ones. If there is traffic..we can hear them coming or see the dust cloud approaching.

Recently we encountered what I will call Ditch Roses..there are many different kinds growing..I have not sorted them all out, there seems to be some seedling variation, and the cooler than normal weather has made every little seed they dispersed in years past, grow and bloom this summer.
Some have thorns, some do not, their colors range from hot pink to pale pink.
They are a mystery to me.. a very pretty little mystery:)

Blogger is being a pain in the neck..the last photo is turned sideways.. so just tip your head to the side to view it correctly.. most people probably wouldn't have even noticed..I have no idea what bloggers problem is..if anyone has a clue..please leave me a message:)

Garden Party

I was invited to a Sunbonnet Garden Party. I couldn't go, because I had no sunbonnet. Someone, who will remain nameless found me a sunbonnet to decorate, so I had no good excuse. I could have made something up of course.. like an incapacitating hot flash relapse..or a sudden uncontrollable urge to nap all afternoon. I thought what the heck..maybe I can get some good photos. Maybe I can get some good blog fodder.

These lady/party thingys are not my thing to do. Sometimes I can be a sociable person, but not often, and it is a struggle for me to hold my tongue in check. I got ready to go and Far Guy said, "I can't believe you are going, have a great time, try not to piss off the entire neighborhood." Well maybe someone new moved into the neighborhood..you know someone well read, someone that might be a breath of fresh air...someone new who hasn't had the pleasure of meeting me yet! I have no idea who will be there, but I know there are a few women who I could just do without. "Digging Lady" was not there, she was a no show, probably too busy weeding or digging up someone else's gardens to attend.

This particular group of ladies, are lake ladies, you know the ones, their husbands love to fish, they love to garden, and are inundated by company every weekend..so they cook and clean all week getting ready for the next weekend. Not quite my cup of tea so to speak..and none of them enjoy dog company in their lives either..perfectly ordered retired lives have no room for muddy paws..canine or feline. They do take time out to enjoy a free lunch at a garden party, it is probably the only break they have all week from their kitchen duties. The conversation .. local restaurants..mindless gossip..health issues.. nothing of substance..nothing about which I had an opinion that I could or wanted to share. I was perfectly behaved, polite and ladylike.. I did a fairly good job of being civil..and I didn't make anyone angry..or see red, or shake their head. Of course the real me was held in check.... I did answer a few plant questions. I don't mind sharing my knowledge..most of these ladies are former customers. I actually like two of them..they are real people..I saw a photo of the gals that were invited to the Garden Party series a few weeks ago..that group had a newbie.. I will probably meet her next summer. Soon all these women will disappear into their houses til next summer, except for their coffee time on Tuesday's ..they are history.

Sometimes I wonder Is it me that is strange..or them.. I have nothing in common with most of them. If I hear a spot of gossip..I ask the person straight up..I heard this.. is it true or is it all gossip? I detest small talk..why don't they want to talk about the state of the economy..the war in Iraq..child abuse..the meth problem..drunk driving.. interesting blogs they read..or discuss something they have read..or share a joke.. a home remedy..a childhood memory..something fun they did with a grandchild.. I just don't get it.. I have so many interests and opinions..and very few people that I can actually share them with. I guess it is no wonder that I find the very best company for me is Far Guy and Chance, relatives that can't ignore me all the time..and a few extra special people who like me just the way I am..old and kinda cranky:)
Far Guy took a photo of my hat before I left, it turned out pretty good..plus it had personality!

Meet The Milkweeds

I always look forward to the arrival of a few Monarch Butterflies, so they will lay some eggs on the Milkweed and we can have our own hatch back here in the woods. They were really slow to show up this year, I had about given up..but one did and she laid some eggs! Chance will show you!

I tried to get him to use his nose as a pointer..hey he isn't perfect but we are in the ballpark! This plant is located at the edge of my garage, it is a Swamp Milkweed or Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'... Click on photo to enlarge.

The caterpillars are eating and growing.. I have really enjoyed watching them. The more Milkweed you have ..the more larvae you will be able to support. Yes, they eat the plants leaves..yes the plants don't look so great after awhile. We used to ask our customers..with or without? Some would look puzzled..then we would point out the Caterpillars.. most people wanted to take larvae home on their plant..others insisted on plants without "those creepy crawly bugs. " It was one way to separate the Conservationists from the non conservation minded people. Milkweed is the ONLY source of food for the larval stage of the Monarch butterfly..

This is Asclepias incarnata also but a pink variety. It might be 'Cinderella' or it may be just a seedling variation. Sorry it is still in the bud stage, I wanted it to bloom, but it is being a real slow poke.

Asclepias tuberosa or Butterfly Weed..I love the vibrant orange color. This plant never gets as many larvae on it. I am not sure why, it may have something to do with the levels of the toxins in their sappy milk. I read once where it varies from plant to plant, and the butterflies know where to lay their eggs for the best results for their offspring.

Common Milkweed or Asclepias syriaca, this is the one that you will see in Minnesota in the ditches..and in large wildflower plantings. It is a very heavy tropical looking plant.

I love the flowers..the unique structure of the hoods and horns ..or more commonly known as a crown..or a star shaped crown ..call it what you want it is a unique flower. On a unique plant, with one unique purpose..to be food for a colorful larvae that becomes a beautiful butterfly. There are thirteen different kinds of Milkweed in Minnesota, I have only shared four from my neck of the woods:)

Wistful Wednesday : Relaxing

Today I picked a summertime photo of Far Guy's Grandparents H. They are in their yard at the farm, sharing a spot on the old buckboard seat. I love that Grandpa has his arm threaded through Grandma's arm, they are not holding hands but touching arms. Grandpas hat is barely visible on the left, he apparently took off his hat for the photo. I also looked at his feet, and wondered..Grandpa did you have a really thin pair of dress socks on? Or were you barefoot? He had been in the garden, or fixing a piece of machinery as his hands tell the story. Grandma's print dress and apron were probably a shade of blue or green..the patterns did not match.. she wasn't a matchy, matchy kind of person.. and didn't "put on the dog for anyone." This photo would have been very typical of how they looked on a warm summer day if you stopped by for a visit.

I first met them about the same time this photo was taken in the early 1960's. The old blue car

( I call it old..back then it was new.. I believe it was a 1963 Ford..bird egg blue) would pull into our farmyard. Grandma would get out and walk to the house with her egg cartons in hand, she was a regular egg customer. Grandpa would wait in the car for her. She always had something pleasant to say, she said that our eggs were the best.. and clean too! Grandpa..waited patiently for her ..or not so patiently..knowing family traits as well as I do now:)

Gathering Berries

Raspberries! They used to be my second favorite..with Strawberries taking the lead. Then Strawberries had to bite the dust when I became allergic to them. It was them or me..so I decided life without strawberries was OK. Sometimes during shortcake season..I get a little cranky. No more fresh strawberries on my toast in the morning, no bowls of berries for lunch, no freshly made Strawberry Jam, and no more fresh strawberry pies. Sometimes I think I am still grieving for those berries.. I walk by the containers of Strawberries in the grocery store and just inhale their essence...sometimes I just stare at them and I can imagine how they taste. I do taste them in my dreams..chocolate covered strawberries in your dreams have no calories or ill effects. Raspberries are now my number one favorite non lethal berry.

Yesterday, we headed over to one of my cousins. they started a Raspberry pickin' patch..so far they are only open to relatives and neighbors. The berries are wonderful, I love hunting and gathering..well the gathering part anyway.

My cousin and his wife have eight children, the oldest might be ten years old. When we drove into their yard, the children came out of the gardens one by one, and kept coming.. Far Guy said "How many kids do they have again? " He swore that there were way more than eight. They all had their rows that they had been weeding in the garden..onions and corn were the focus for the morning. These children of my cousins are very well behaved, they call their mother "Ma"..she speaks to the children softly, and they listen. She does not raise her voice, her phrases are sprinkled with please, yes, thank yous, good job and would yous. She is like a mother hen gathering those chicks around her seeing to their needs. It was heartwarming to watch. I felt like suggesting that she start a summer camp for some young Mothers I have observed in the grocery stores dragging screaming children around in their grocery carts.

I brought home lots of berries, I froze them on cookie sheets and then I packaged them in individual servings suitable for winter time consumption. We always use an old set of custard cups for our berries, so I used those to measure the portions. Then I thought, hey what better time to have a few neighbors over, so I made some phone calls, and in the evening we had a little get together. Nothing fancy mind you, but I made a quick trip to town for some Dairy Queen in quart containers..it was just perfect topped with the fresh raspberries. It was an enjoyable gathering, one long overdue on our part, one of those things you think "I should do that soon" ..so I finally did.

Gatherings..berries, thoughts, and friends...what are you gathering? :)