Although I always look forward to picking strawberries during our blink-and-you-miss-it strawberry season in Ontario, that doesn't mean that picking day is always idyllic. Far from it. Last year, while we had a nice time in the picturesque strawberry fields, I recall that there was some fighting among the children on the car ride home.
So this year, when brother and sister started beating each other up not two minutes from our house, the husband and I gave them a warning (which they promptly ignored) and then returned the kids home. Now that they are big enough to stay by themselves for short periods we chose to pick strawberries in peace. Mind you, they called me about 10 times on my cell phone until I told them, "emergencies only."
I missed the kids once we got to the fields, especially since they are actually good helpers and we found it rather hard picking all the strawberries ourselves. Ha ha. We went once again to Spring View Farms north of Toronto - they have chemical-free strawberries, which is a must in my book.
Despite warnings that we were a couple of weeks into the strawberry season, the strawberries were still plentiful. We were advised to look for still-shiny strawberries, not too dark in colour. Just in case, I sampled a few strawberries. Maybe more than a few...I may have crossed the line from tasting to eating...
There had been a couple of days of rain before we went - hence the rain boots! But the straw kept the paths pretty dry.
Whenever I'm in the country I find myself dreaming of buying our own little country home. The view from the strawberry farm down to this picture-perfect house makes it all the more tempting.
We came away with a bounty of 7 litres of strawberries. I froze most of them within the next couple of days, plus I made two jars of this quick and easy breadmaker strawberry jam. This tasty, fresh jam lasts in the fridge for three weeks so there's no need for freezing or canning. And it fills the house with the scent of cooking strawberries. Nothing better. Now to make fresh baked scones to spoon that jam on...
Have you been berry picking this year?
No picking here, but what a nice area
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely Liz? I wanted to lay out a blanket and stare at the sky! ;) Jo
DeleteMmm those strawberries look so yum yum yummy,
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty great! :)
DeleteHow fun!! I love getting kid free time for this sort of thing-- and my kids are a good deal older than yours, and in full summertime mode. Jeremy and I just went blueberry picking and had a blast!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go blueberry picking! But I think we need to travel a bit for that. One day. :)
DeleteI went berry picking yesterday with my sister - there is nothing like fresh strawberries! :)
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure I also cross the line from tasting to eating pretty often .. ;)
How nice that you got out picking too! And I'm glad that I'm not the only one who crosses that line... ;)
Deleteohhh that house!!! I think Avonlea when I see pics like that! I didn't go strawberry picking last summer (again...) but we will this year as my sister has moved near a region that has farms. No excuse this year!
ReplyDeleteIsn't the house so lovely?
DeleteYou definitely should get out picking this year! Enjoy! :)