The Bountiful Harvest

The summer harvest has begun and we are soooooo excited! We thought we would miss the cherry picking in Emmett, Idaho because the festival started the day we went to Minnesota. When we got home though, we found out that they had just started because of all the wacky weather! YAY! We have been going for 5 years, every June to pick cherries; something Mikey used to do with his family when he was a boy. Emmett is about 20 miles away, tucked in a valley plentiful with fruit. This year, we went with the Wilson's, and Kristine, Harmony, Rowan and Merrik met us just as we were leaving. The kids loved it.

Later, we got to go to The Berry Ranch, a farm about 10 miles away, to pick strawberries for jam...YUMMY! We have been going to this ranch for about 3 years. We got to go with Harmony, Had Abogi, Kristine, Jason and family. Here are some fun pics!

The Berry Ranch also has farm animals to feed, and the kids loved it. Thank you hand sanitizer.

Here's Elliott taking a chance with the hungry sheep.
Look at our haul! We love to go, and we just made it this year before they stopped the u-pick. I love that we can get local produce, yummy food, and teach our children where food comes from. Who knew strawberries don't grow at Walmart? Plus, it gives me a chance to feel like Laura Ingalls as I harvest fruit from the earth!
Mmmmmm, looks good Elliott. Fun that his hair is so white that it just fades into the sunlight.
I just liked this picture. This is on the hayride out to the strawberry fields. I like the blissful look on Lucy's face, little Merrik sitting on her lap, Harmony's had stroking Merrik (something she does often to all the kids just to reassure them), and Had Abogi in the background. Just a fun shot.

On to the Cherries!!
The Wilson family and their neighbor Hannah. I love our cherry-picking adventures together.
Awe, aren't we cute! Elliott kinda looks like a broken rag doll, but still soooo cute!
Ok cherry model Lucy, give me adorable cherry-pickin beauty.
Lucy is ready to go, but why isn't her bucket full . . . .
. . . oh.
Mmm-hmm, I see why. It all makes sense now. I think Elliott ate half the bucket, he was loving the cherries. Between him and Joy, I'm amazed we got any home at all! P.S. I love the color of his eyes in this shot.

Aren't the cherries so cute on this tree? Very fun.
Lovin the little Korean sun hat...thanks Harmony!

Keep checking in for more summer harvest fun. Oh yeah, we ate the first beet from my garden for dinner tonight! I don't have the drive to can them yet, but no harm done. They will only get bigger and bigger!