Day 14- Strawberry Bliss

             My trip was terrific, I love this heat and spending time at the beach.  I managed to get a map at the Tourist Information Centre with directions to the local farmer's market, which was only open on Saturday.  We spent the day at the beach making sand castles, chasing kites and snacking from the cooler I had packed before we left, not exclusively local food, but enough to assuage my guilt over the cheese strings and juice boxes.   I never made it to the farmer's market, too busy hanging out on the beach with my dear friend Char and her son. On the ride down the corn fields and apple orchards caught my eye, and with better planning when I return to Blue Mountain in the fall, I'll be coming home with plenty of corn and apples.
         
            A trip can really throw you for a loop, I swear the kids and I were car-lagged from the whole adventure, so yesterday we just laid around in the heat, napping and slowly putting things back where they belong.Yesterday, Mrs Allen and I met up at the local splash pad so the kids could cool off and we could chat. Mrs Allen mentioned that she was making freezer jam with the strawberries she picked at a local strawberry farm. Immediately intrigued, I asked her to post the recipe- I'd never heard of freezer jam, and all the boiling and work of regular jam is just too much for me.  So, finger's crossed that the freezer jam recipe will appear sometime today.

         Earlier today the kids and I went to Lise's Strawberry Farm in Chelmsford. We spent an hour picking strawberries. So much of this project has me thinking of my Nanny and Poppa. Our family has cottages on Rock Lake, we call them camps. Every summer, my brother and my two cousins would spend a few weeks at camp with our Nanny and Poppa. Both of whom were champion pickers- strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and apples in Collingwood in the Fall. My Poppa knew of a natural spring and when he'd go out checking his minnow traps or raspberry picking on his own he'd sometimes return with crystal clear spring water from a cooler. He'd sit on the deck and get us all to drink some. The water was cool and refreshing, but I was a child and didn't understand why it was so special, or why water had impressed him so much. I wish I knew where the spring was so I could drink the water again. I am going to ask my uncle next time I see him....

          
         Close to our camp was the Estaire Strawberry Farm and every year Nanny and Poppa would pack the four of us kids into the back of their truck and we'd pick strawberries. This was a welcome change of scenery and strawberry picking is so gratifying, baskets fill quickly and truly I believe strawberries are the most beautiful fruit. Nothing can compare to those heart shaped rubies hidden behind emerald leaves. 

         
         When we returned to camp, Nanny would clean the berries and get to work jamming and making pies in the heat of summer. Camp was luxurious by normal standards, it had plumbing but certainly no air conditioning.  She would work in that kitchen rolling her own dough, slicing strawberries and boiling jars all afternoon listening to the radio and never say a word, not sing not complain just quietly dedicated to her task while we all played outside.

        
           Today, with my own two kids, my sister in law (who loaned me the cash to pay, no debit at this farm, thank you Ang) and my nephew and two nieces we picked five baskets. I am excited about these strawberries, I hope to make some jam tomorrow and a pie (may need to get more berries) so that I can taste the sweetness of this day later in the year. 

 

I didn't have a camera at the field but here is my first attempt at food porn.