Monday, April 30, 2007

Strawberry Picking

Friday was an absolutely beautiful day. My main mission was to go strawberry picking over near Ashville somewhere. I had my directions and a full tank of gas and other than avoiding the area near Talladega speedway, a wide open road. So I followed the instructions and began my excursion to Lowery Farms. I went by way of Ohatchee and took Mudd Street to Hwy 77, then turned onto 144, crossed the Coosa River and headed into St. Clair County. The longer I drove, the more I began to sense that there was probably a shorter and quicker way to arrive at my destination. However, without a county map, I wasn’t going to start making turns into this unknown territory. So, I followed the directions and low and behold, arrived at the Farm.

It was a beautiful drive but I was tired and even considered the option of just buying the strawberries already picked for a couple dollars more. But, a nice pleasant breeze was blowing and I thought; I’ve driven all this way to pick strawberries, how hard can it be? So I took my hat and my bucket and met a friendly fella and gal who told me where to pick and gave me a few pointers, and I picked my berries.

The plants were in neat rows, grown with only some natural liquid fertilizer and they were full of berries. I should have counted because it didn’t take me ten or twelve plants to get my two gallons of strawberries, with a few sampled along the way to make sure they were sweet. I can’t remember the last time I’d eaten fresh strawberries like that. But, it was a quick picking, I was glad I’d picked them, and I was soon on my way back home, taking another route since I’d discovered I was only two or three miles from the river, and yes, I had taken the ‘long way’ to get there.

The drive home took me by way of Rainbow City and Southside on 77 and then back to Mudd Street and one home. A total of 100 miles I think it was and several hours, but hey, it was a grand day and I spent the next couple hours cleaning, capping and freezing the berries. Of course, I stopped at the store for some whipped topping and an angel food cake, so guess what we had for dessert that nightJ Yum.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

I Read More & Dust Less....





My 80 year old friend sent this to me. I've included the website link at the end so you can go see the graphics and hear the music. Enjoy and have a Blessed Day!'

I Hope You Dance... 'This was written by an 83-year-old woman to her friend. *The last line says it all. *

Dear Bertha,
I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working.
Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.
I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.
I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was.
I'm guessing; I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.
If you received this, it is because someone cares for you. If you're too busy to take the few minutes that it takes right now to forward this, would it be the first time you didn't do the little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? I can tell you it certainly won't be the last.
Take a few minutes to send this to a few people you care about, just to let them know that you're thinking of them.
"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there."Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
http://www.libertyhigh56.net/special%20pages/dancing.htm





Friday, April 06, 2007