Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Blue Heaven

The Bean was free one morning last week, so we headed to a local blueberry farm. Slathered with sunscreen, hats jammed on our heads, we moseyed down this dusty lane to the blueberry fields.




Buckets bungee-corded to our waists, the better for two handed picking, we headed into the bushes.

It was a lovely blue and blustery day, and there weren't too many people out, so we almost had the place to ourselves. The brisk breeze kept the heat at bay. Even if there hadn't been blueberries to pick, I would have enjoyed wandering up and down the rows of bushes, wishing the butterflies wouldn't flutter so much, so I'd have a better chance of photographing them. Needless to say, they kept on fluttering and I got no butterfly pictures.

The farmer stopped his tractor to talk to us. Friendly fellow. Told us all about their war with the waxwings this spring; how to identify the different varieties, and the merits and demerits of each. He gave The Bean advice on how to manage his little blueberry patch at home, how to get the best yield etc. When the talk got technical, I wandered off, picking and munching, munching and picking. Their policy is eat all you want, pay for what's in your bucket. The berries in your belly are free. Of course, if you overindulge you'll pay later anyhow!


"I'm so glad I'm tall," the Bean observed at one point.
"Why so?" I asked.
"Because it looks like only short people were here before us. The lower branches are bare, but the higher one are loaded."

One of many reasons to give thanks for tallness.

"Imagine if you were a bear and you came out of the forest into a clearing like this? "
"I guess you'd be one ecstatic bear."

When the random Beanisms turned into
"If I eat one more blueberry I'll be sick," we knew it was time to go home.

When we took our loot to the shady weighing and paying stall we had exactly four and a half pounds. They didn't do a before and after check of what WE weighed! We paid about half what we'd have paid in the grocery store. The hiking and the fun, the birdsong and fresh air were free.



Made two batches of muffins that afternoon. One healthy and not too exciting, the other not as healthy, but luscious and lemony and sweet. A recipe for Mrs. Flaherty's Blueberry Coffee Loaves sounds tempting, AND it makes FOUR loaves. Blueberry vinegar sounds worth a try. Four pages, both sides, of recipes from the farm. And I still have last year's lot. And of course I'll have to make blueberry cobbler, and blueberry crumble. And we can't leave out blueberry peach pie.....Now that Rise is here I think we'll have to make another trip.

16 comments:

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

I love this post and the photos are almost edible.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Mmmmmm, berries. Lovely images conjured by this delightful post.

May I come to tea and blueberry something?

Birdydownunder said...

can I share, I love berries of all colours. Have fun. I too have a tall offspring, very useful at times. Even if expensive when growing.... aubirdwoman

Stomper Girl said...

Any chance you can share the not so healthy but luscious recipe? Seeing as how you've made me all drool-y with your photos? I love me a good muffin.

Brooke - Little Miss Moi said...

Dear molly. What a great way to spend the day! I can't believe you could eat all you wanted. I've never even seen blueberries growing, let alone picked them.

Diana said...

Oh, lucky you! Blueberries are my favorite, but no one around here seems to grow them. This time of year they are just starting to come in to the grocery stores, but they are still so expensive! Your post reminded me of Blueberries for Sal, a children's book, by Robert McCloskey.

molly said...

Please LGS, don't nibble on the photos....

SMC---do blueberries grow in AU?

Recipe later, SG.

Well LMM, now you know what they look like! If you ever get a chance to go blueberry picking, grab it. It's a very pleasant way to spend a few hours.

Diana, I almost called this post Blueberries for Moll, with a nod to Mr. McCluskey!

Tracey Petersen said...

Yum. You wouldn't believe that I sometimes pay $8 (australian) for a tiny little punnet of blueberries because I love them so much.
Lucky you munching for free!

crafty said...

Hi, I have only just discovered your blog. This brings back memories, my mum used to take us cherry picking in the school holidays. Your post about your Uncle Willie is very moving and beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes, you certainly do have a gift with words.

Molly said...

Hmmm...blueberries, my husband likes blueberries too. We even had some blueberry beer in Michigan last summer. Your picture of the road to the bluebrry farm does look heavenly

meggie said...

Lovely post Molly! Love all your pics. It reminded me of picking blackberries with my brother & mother.... hmm I feel a blog coming on.

I'll just bet you & Rise will talk the legs off an iron pot, as my Grandmother used to say!

Anonymous said...

Molly, this is heavenly! I can smell the muffins

Molly said...

I am back...
That is a great title for your post Just Molly and me in my... Now, I will be singing all day.

Kelli said...

Blueberries. Absolutely, hands down my favorite thing in the entire world to eat.

Tanya Brown said...

This sounds lovely and idyllic, both the picking and the eating.

I envy The Bean his blueberry patch!

My float said...

Ooh, what an adventure, and what a lovely way to spend a day! Those berries look delicious. I'd look like a blueberry if I had access to a farm.