Raspberry Picking

We took a detour from our regular schedule today to take advantage of the beautiful weather and a nearby farm with fruit calling to be picked. I grew up in rural Indiana enjoying the benefits of large gardens, an apple orchard, corn fields, chickens and cows all in sight from our front door. God has seen fit to place us in the growing suburbs, but most of our county is rich farmland. Today was the kid's first exposure to picking berries. They did great and worked together to pick ten pounds of berries total.

"Look, mom, we caught some berries!"

There was some eager tree climbers for picking these gorgeous blue plums.

We packed a lunch and ate it there on the orchard's porch store front. We loved the apple cider slushies. No one had much of an appetite due to the number of berries consumed in the field. When they were started to get tired and hot I told them to go ahead and try a berry or two. That certainly motivated the older ones to pick as many as they could. Little John, however, just parked himself in the grass and began devouring whatever was in his bucket.

I wouldn't trade my job for any in the world.

When we arrived home the little ones were overdue for a nap and we were able to fit in some uninterrupted school time. We also washed berries and made this delicious treat for Daddy. The other berries are now packed away in the freezer for the winter months when our hearts will be warmed with memories of today.

Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake