Sunday, May 23, 2010

In the Strawberry Patch...



See what I found the other day? It's something I've been wanting for a long, long, time! And not just because it's cute....but because we really needed one and would USE it every June for several weeks...





I found an old "flat" for strawberry pickin'! I was thrilled. We needed one because we have our own little strawberry patch out back in the garden.

The vintage strawberry baskets I found last summer....they are much better to use for harvesting our strawberries than a plastic pail, these give the strawberries room to breathe with the vented sides. I love the stains and the years of use that you can see on them.




So finding this "flat" made me really happy because there's nothing more convenient when picking strawberries in our little patch....

...and the comfortable and now smooth oaken handle shows years of use; making it a sentimental piece, remembering hot early summer mornings picking, staining up our hands and our knees...

It was all worth it: getting hot and sweaty and bending over all that time was okay, because while picking we could anticipate the taste of the jam we'd be making just in a few hours...

or of fresh strawberries with shortcake,

or strawberries with plain vanilla ice cream ...



Or just a bowl of washed strawberries sprinkled with a little bit of sugar
on top...
(that's my youngest son's favorite way to eat them!)


It's almost time!!!



Do you pick?
What's your favorite way of eatin' farm fresh srawberries?

15 comments:

Connie said...

I'd have to say my favorite way to eat fresh strawberries is with vanilla ice cream! We have a "pick your own" strawberry farm down the road and we usually go at least once a year and the berries are sooooo yummy! Especially when you eat them the same day you pick them :)

Laura said...

I love strawberry shortcake!!
I'll trade ya -blueberries for strawberries - We have a blueberry patch here. I've never been a big blueberry fan, but they came with the property. They're healthy so I try to like them, but strawberries are so good. And prettier too!

Patty's Stitches said...

I don't pick them but I certainly buy them from the local farmers and we eat them up! Love your photos. One of the ladies that sells strawberries where I work brought hers on a flat that looked just like yours!

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

You are so right...that crate for picking berries is wonderful!
Lucky find!

We don't pick any longer we get them from our amish neighbors!
My favorite way to eat them is washed and dipped in cool whip.
Mmmmm my mouth is watering, can't wait for strawberry season!

Hugz, Dolly

Sunny said...

Hi Joni, I just picked my berries this morning using my goat milk pail, cuz its easy for me to carry. I do have some little berry baskets I put the ones in that may need to ripen an extra day. My fave way to eat strawberries is make a low-sugar jam to add to fresh home-made yogurt, Yummm! ... but I won't turn down any which way they are served :)

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

I just went picking!! At a wonderful farm not far from ours. And tonight strawberry shortcake is on the menu! Your post came at the right time!!!
xo, misha

Joni-I am worried about Sandra at Thisle Cove Farm. I have emailed her but no response yet. It has been 3 weeks since she posted! Any info?? You can email me (if you wish) at

1missmisha@gmail.com

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

just brush off the sand and bite!
2nd choice is covered in dark chocolate.

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

Just slice them add and toss with some blueberries into a cantaloupe half---great for breakfast or a dinner salad!
Or as a delicious dessert with ice cream;
but the grandkids like them chunky with a bowl of sugar to dip them in!!!!!!!
★Linda

Teresa said...

I just planted a little strawberry patch this year! I can't wait.
I love your flat. My grandparents owned a strawberry farm many years ago, and I have one old wooden carrier from there, but your metal one is extremely cool.

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

You found a great one....
Used to have a couple when we lived on the farm.
They are useful for so many other things too.
Love picking Strawberries...mostly eating strawberries,
xoxo~Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...

aimee said...

Congrats on the GREAT find!! I like my berries fresh off the plant (well rinsed off first--maybe!)
Blessings,
Aimee

Sue said...

I love you site ,and your pictures are wonderful. please check me out at Oklahoma Rural Living
www.sue-proudgrandma.blogspot.com

Shannan Martin said...

She's a beaut!! Our strawberries are not looking so hot this year. Lots of bare patches that were lush and full 2 years ago and only slightly less so last year. What gives??

Also - I just spotted your Ronald Reagan button. Hooray for conservatism!

Tanya said...

#1 Drenched in chocolate!!
#2 Strawberry Pie!!

mary your sis said...

Great find, Joni! Strawberry shortcake is my favorite. When my son got married a few years ago, we served strawberry and raspberry shortcake at the rehearsal dinner. One of the groomsmen from South Carolina had me explain to him what strawberry shortcake is: he'd never had it before, can you believe that? Is it regional? BTW, I love shortcake made with bisquits, not any kind of cake.