Raspberry Fields Forever…
It’s been a long time since we last went raspberry-picking so this morning, when I was supposed to hit the road and head back home, I called “DETOUR!”
Well, not a detour really. More of an extension of my trip to the sticks. I really do need to get home but raspberry-picking is so special and you can only do it during a few months of the year. As it was we were really too late. Last time we went during August and there were many many many more berries. This time they were pretty picked over. There were a lot of dried berries which kind of made me sad. If only we had come earlier, we could have eaten those berries.
I tried a dried berry. I was hoping it would taste like those dried berries you get in cereal boxes. It did not. It tasted like worm meal. Not that I would know what worm meal tastes like. It just tasted yucky. I spit it out like the dignified lady that I am not. I guess they pump those cereal berries full of sugar or something.
Bug sure is a lot bigger since the last time we were at Riley’s Farm. She liked raspberries then, she likes them now. She’s my raspberry girl. We checked a book out at the library a while back called Jamberry. It’s a silly book with a very catchy poem and great illustrations.
While we were picking raspberries, Bug was walking up and down the rows rattling off the poem, “Click berry, Clack berry, pick me a blackberry.” I forget the raspberry part but it has the same rhythm. Bug knows it by heart of course. She’s very good at memorizing. She constantly puts me to shame.
I love it when we love the same things. It happens a lot but she’s her own little person. You can’t force her to do things she doesn’t want to do. I mean, you can but it’s not enjoyable. So today was highly enjoyable. We ate as much as we picked and we were happy little campers scampering up and down the rows and rows of brambles and bugs. The sun was burning hard on our shoulders. The sky was blue. It was a beautiful day.
Not counting the pumpkins, it wasn’t very fall-like. I wanted to pick some apples too (and I should have) but the thought of making pie when it’s 80 degrees in my kitchen is so unappealing. Can’t it just get cold here already? I want to drink hot cocoa and wear scarves. I know soon I’ll be complaining about being cold. We stupid Californians never appreciate how good we have it, I know.
I guess I’ll take my sunny fall weather. It’s not that bad.
The funny thing is, every time I go to the Farmer’s Market in my neighborhood I’m always looking for apples. I find myself disgusted when there are just peaches again. Peaches! I want to bake a pie! But not peach pie. I want it to be fall! And then I kick myself because everywhere I go on the internet, I read how people are savoring the last days of summer or even fall.
I guess I’ll just have to eat my raspberries with my freezer door open.
13 Comments
Victoria
Yeah, it’s brrrr here :)
bethany actually
I’m with you. As a native Midwesterner, I miss chilly fall days. But come January I will be loving the California weather.
I wish we’d been able to come with you guys! Next year, next year.
Gramma
My first real job was growing red raspberries. I planted the canes, kept the suckers from robbing the sap, yearly I would prune. Then come July in Pennsylvania, this ten year old would harvest and sell a quart box for 15 cents.
Camels & Chocolate
Aww, what a fun mommy-daughter activity!
lynne
Rasberry picking hmm I think my husband would love that they are his favourite, but soft fruit season is over in the UK apart from blackberries which are growing free in all the hedgerows. Allthough there are not that many hedgrows in the city boo… but the canal banks sport them so yeh!
Your photos of the farm look bee-hoo-ti-ful but I am happy to say the skies are blue, blue, blue with not a cloud in the sight today in London and it’s hot. Well not California hot but warm and comfy for us. I went for a walk in the park this morning and all the trees in the avenue are turning shades of gold and red and the leaves are gently dancing down. On days like these the beauty in the world is breath taking.
Have a great day :)
Annabanana
You are so funny! Dreaming of the weather we have now–scarfs and sweaters and fires in the hearth, and I am dreaming of the raspberry picking kind. We should just swap lives for a day!
shizzknits
Hm….we were at Riley’s a couple of weekends ago and there were lots of raspberries…some friends picked several baskets- they were *so* good! And it was HOT the day we went, too.
Yesterday, it was 98F at 4pm. Sheesh. But supposedly it’s going to get a lot cooler today and tomorrow. I agree with you- I want Fall to start!!!!
Gayle
I love the book Jamberry! I read it to my kids soooo many times when they were little!
We have had some cold mornings here (30 degrees) and some chilly days in the 60’s. Beautiful fall weather, but I already miss the warm weather.
Sonja
Man, the Fall here this year is worse than ever. Stupid heat.
Jennifer
That looks like so much fun. I’ve been trying to simulate fall by baking with the air conditioner going full blast in the kitchen. Kinda sad isn’t it? I love Bugs little song.
We have blackberries in the backyard that we picked clean a couple of months ago. I made a pie with our bounty. I need to make an apple pie. Guess I’ll crank up the air conditioner for that too.
Melissa
Bug is just turning into a gorgeous little girl. Love the top and khaki workers pants…she looks like she has somewhere important to go and lots of important things to do.
bluejaye
The weather is finally cooler in the NW. Perfect weather for me, but the family thinks it’s the right time to turn on the heater and Now I’m still hot.
The raspberries are done here in June. I should go check the grapes and see if we will have any this year. Last year the neighbor daughter thought the grapes vines would look great on her dog run….she forgot the vines were ours and we didn’t get many last fall.
Our local farmers market only last two more Sundays. Boo Hoo. We have been able to buy some unusual varieties at great prices. The lady always says “these were picked just yesterday.”
Jerri Ann
Omg, those look delicious…they might have been somewhat dry but they look awesome..or maybe it is the ponytails that are so delumptious looking.