Huckleberry Hounds

This morning after breakfast Dave, Dad and I got ourselves ready to go huckleberry picking. I packed a snack or fruit and granola bars as Dad thought we could be gone about 3 hours and should take some food. We wore long pants and long sleeves and sprayed ourselves all over with bug spray. Dave and left his favourite ball cap at someone's house when he was helping with new cedar siding on Saturday so he rummaged in Dad's front closet and found a stiff, old white cowboy hat. I wore an assortment of old clothes I had left here; I call them cottage clothes. Over the top I wore one of Dad's old dress shirts, they have worn very thin and are cool but provide bug protection because of the long sleeves. I always wondered why Dad wore his old dress shirts from before he retired 17 years ago - now I know; he's very clever! Dad handed me a green plastic bucket with a handle and had his old tin camping pot with a handle...but what could Dave use? Not just any bucket would do, handles are very important when berry picking. We found, very appropriately, a nearly new Starbucks paper bag replete with handle for Dave's berry bucket. Off we headed to Dad's secret Huckleberry Patch. We offered to let him blindfold us so we wouldn't be able to divulge the information in case we are ever tortured but he just laughed. Apparently it is all a friendly intrigue.

What a glorious way to spend a morning! The woods are so beautiful and green and lush this time of year. The fragrance is the most beautiful thing; and the birds singing and cheeping away is equally beautiful. It was early enough that there were no bugs, just masses of fresh air - yay.

We found so many bushes bearing such BIG beautiful huckleberries. The crop is so abundant we could just plop down in the midst of a patch and pick in all directions. Such tiny sprigs of plants and such luscious berries. I found myself thanking each plant for the bounty it so willing shared. I also found myself sitting right smack on top of a very prolific 'sprig'. When I arose the seat of my pants, and the back and sleeves of my borrowed shirt were splotched with red huckleberry juice! Dave's mouth was stained red and so were all our fingers. It was great! Tomorrow I'll bake my Dad that pie.