Pick your own produce Friday

After three years residing in Ulster county, Ken and I decided to sample the offerings at the farms situated around the area.

All those pictures you see in magazines and on television of women and children happily picking strawberries which is noticeable at the very tops of the bushes in abundance is nothing but a sham. It's hard work, really, having to stoop, yes, stoop I say on the ground and making sure you do not get pricked by the thorny little wild grass that is grown along side the berry bushes. Most of the berries are lying on the ground beneath the bushes. When you think you picked a nice juicy fruit, on close inspection, the said fruit is either bruised or partly eaten away!!!. Yuck.... try again.

I did get to eat a fruit or two, and they were delicious, sweet and much better tasting than those you buy from the supermarket. These fruits have ripen on the bush and tastes so wonderfully sweet and heavenly. All that stooping and painful hand pricks is worth it. Not saying I would do it again next season, but, who knows, the mind forgets the hardship, and the spirit beckons for relaxation among the berry bushes.

Picked a few heads of lettuces, and used them for salad at dinner. Again, the lettuces were rather aged and  I had to dispose at least half the lettuce head. Costly experience, but yet again you cannot put a price on the experience shared with Ken and the memories locked in our hearts.

We bought the sugar snap peas, spinach and other condiments at Kelder's Farm in Kerhonkson.
Next, we had lunch at Saunderskill Farms, the sandwiches and kale salad were really delicious, bought a couple of hand pressed flower cards. Nice atmosphere in the dining area. Will definitely repeat our lunch experience here.

New Paltz Farmers' Market was next on the list, I must mention though New Paltz looks nice and a little upscale. Bought a nice calla lily plant.

Our next stop was Dressel Farms, a bit of a let down, it was just a market stand with most of the produce sold out, we did not want to be rude, so, had an ice cream and moved on to Tantillo's Farm Market. This place too had not much to offer, although they had nice chairs laid out on the grounds over looking the farmland, one could have an ice cream and watch the farmers tilling the ground or other farmlike chores. Ken had a hot dog at this stand.

We stopped at Wrights Farms, only because the flowers were in abundance at the front of the market stand, it sure was calling out to us. Another disappointment, the shop had not much in way of produce on offer.

It was already getting late, we decided to call it quits and head home.

As my late mother-in-law would say, "A nice time had by all."  Most of the stands had the candy cane that Rita enjoyed, Ken and I made mention to that fact at the very first Farm, I knew in my heart that Rita was with us on our trip.

Waking up at 4.45am

I hear Sable throwing her favourite toy against the bed room door, and at times dropping it on the parquet floor. That is her way of getting me out of bed and filling her food bowl. Today I am glad hearing those sounds, it's an alarm clock reminding me that I have to be out of bed and getting ready for work.

Ken has an early morning marathon to cover, those very early morning event that requires a reporter to be at the scene by 6am.

It's easier for the commute when I tag along, saves lots of back tracking for Ken. It started raining in the early hours of the morning. Looking out the window I see the surroundings covered in a mist. Wish I could jump back into bed, but we have to make it to the salt mines.

I pack some asprins in preparation of any emergencies in the day.

Sable has been anxious all morning, knowing that Kena and I will be leaving the house earlier than usual.

Poor little Sable, left on her own for long hours in the day.

It's time to hit the road: 5.40am