By the look of the pictures you may have already guessed what I did today. I went to a store that is located in the country and while I was there the sales clerk struck up a conversation with me when I asked if it was hard to pick cherries. You see, I could have bought right then and there already fresh picked cherries in a bag. There is something about the experience of actually getting out there and picking them yourself. I followed the sign to the farm where you can pick them. I ate a few chocolate covered raisins on the way to my late afternoon journey. When I arrived I spoke with the owner/farmer and I asked a few important questions. Is it hard to do and are there any snakes out there. He handed me a sweet cherry and also a sour cherry to taste. The sweet one didn't taste very sweet to me and he asked me if I just ate something just before my tasting. I replied yes and I then offered him some chocolate covered raisins for his sample of the cherry he gave to me. He accepted and then he so graciously got a ladder for me and set it up in an area where there looked to be a good amount of cherries at the top of the tree. Close to the road so I knew I would not have to encounter a snake since I was not picking cherries closer to the wooded area of the land. Up on the ladder I go with a bucket in my hand. It was amazing, really a first for me. It was after the rain so was reaching for cherries through branches and leaves that still had the droplets of the rain left on them. Any cherry that didn't look good you were suppose to just drop it on the ground and I did.
There's more to the story. I spoke with the man and told him of the store of where I just came from. He weighed the cherries and they were a bit over a pound and he only charged me for a pound. I had no idea that the gentleman I was speaking to and offered chocolate covered raisins to was the proprietor of the store that I was just at. I raved about this store and how every time my mother comes for a visit she has to always go there and stock up on items that they carry. Look at the pictures again and notice the two tub/buckets they are resting upon, he gave them to me at no charge. He asked me if I could use them for storage. I said yes and thanked him. I just know my mother will put them to good use. That is what I like about living close to the country, old fashioned kindness.
I came home and cooked dinner and then packed up some for my next door neighbor and a few cherries for her children to try. The kids never tried cherries before so why not let them try fresh ones right off the tree. Go exploring for when you do you may find yourself experiencing something you always wanted to do but never took the time before to do it.
What did I make for dinner tonight? You may be wondering or not. Broccoli and rice casserole and pork cutlets that marinated in milk for several hours with a clove of garlic. I then breaded them. Soaking in milk makes them so tender and it is as if it plumps them up too. Along with fresh cucumber and sour cream salad with a touch of fresh homegrown (my own) chives in them. Yum Yum.
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