We Picked 'Em!

As a teacher, one of the things I always find myself discussing with parents is the importance of giving children "experiences." So many of my student don't do anything over the summer...some don't do anything on the weekends either.  One of the things I promised to do as a parent was to give my little monkey as many  experiences as possible.  Whether it's going to the local petting zoo or a street fair or the beach, we really make it a priority to do something with her as often as possible.

This weekend, our 'something' was berry picking.  We went last year and it was so good that we decided to make it an annual adventure.  We headed out to Mattituck, Long Island to Patty's Berries and Bunches and got to pick our fill of blueberries and raspberries (blackberries aren't ready until August, so we may have to take another trip).  Watching J run through the blueberry bushes with this huge smile was worth the hour and a half trip.

 We told her to only pick the ones that are blue and fat and she basically spent the morning picking the best ones and shoving them in her mouth.  I can honestly say she loved being there, picking the most delicious berries you've ever tasted, seeing bugs and bees at work, and running around the farm.

Once our baskets were full, we headed across the street to Harbes Farm and Vineyard for lunch, animals, farm fresh veggies, and wine tasting (for daddy and grandma - I was the designated driver).

What a great experience for J...and for us.


Now I'm busy looking for recipes with fresh blueberries...muffins....tarts....hmmm.