By Robin
The other day, while driving in the car, Lillianna saw a sign that read "Pick your own strawberries."
She didn't ask me if I would take her. She knows I am not the dig-in-the-dirt kind of mom. What she did say was, "Quick Mom, call Auntie Kristy! It's time to go strawberry picking!" In addition to Kristy being my very dear friend for the past 14 years, she is also the one who teaches Lillianna about plants, flowers and the correct technique for picking strawberries. I am the one who stands in the strawberry patch taking pictures of this fun event.
Today we met Kristy at a nearby farm and Lillianna was so excited to see her. Kristy reminded Lillianna of the picking rules: no holes in the berries, not too ripe, not too green, if the berry looks good but there is a slug on it flick it off! Lillianna made a face and vowed to stay away from berries with slugs!
I was so proud of the way Lillianna watched how Kristy moved the bushes back to see the berries and then she did it herself. At one point Kristy found a beautiful berry and held it up. "Who said there is no such thing as God? Just look at this!" We all marveled at the strawberry. Kristy always finds beauty in the simple things, and sometimes I forget to stop and smell the roses -- well, in this case, the strawberries.
At that moment, even with the sun beating down on us, the spiders crawling all around the plants and the bugs buzzing by our head, I felt peaceful and serene. The scent of strawberries surrounded us. I took a deep breath and silently thanked God for all my blessings. Sometimes I have to focus on what's really important. Today, it was all about happiness in the strawberry patch.
I love this. It runs through me like a prayer, very beautiful.
Posted by: Robin | June 30, 2004 at 07:40 AM
Some of my favorite memories are those of us picking strawberries at the Strawberry Festival. What a fun time it was!!
Posted by: Goldberry | June 19, 2004 at 03:40 PM
You painted a wonderful picture...and with the exception of the spiders, I think I'd like to go pick strawberries now!
Posted by: AGK | June 18, 2004 at 05:33 PM
I love going to farms for all of the "you-picks".The kids always enjoy it as well.Glad you had fun,and oh what a lovely smell strawberries are!
Posted by: Emily | June 17, 2004 at 09:14 PM