Blueberry Summer

We have 9 blueberry plants in our garden but I think we really need at least 50 to supply the family demand for blueberries.  Peter's been picking a small handfuls from our bushes but they do not go any farther than a little snack.

   

So we took a trip to a local blueberry farm to fill the greater demand. It was fun for the first 15 minutes then everyone started complaining.  I kept encouraging them with thoughts of homemade blueberry ice cream, smoothies, cobbler and the chance for blueberry pancakes into January!  It kept them going.

Little Charlie was anything but helpful.  He refused to be confined to the back pack and shoved blueberries into his mouth faster than we could pick.  One person was on guard for chasing him at all times.

It wasn't until we arrived at the farm that I discovered George had a fever.  Poor guy did not even want to get out of the van.  I gave him a water bottle and set up the back pack to shade him and he slept the whole time.  

In the end we had picked 28 pounds!  

And boy was this crowd worn out!

After weighing them they were packed in brown paper bags.  I was just about to back up and leave the farm when I had a feeling to check on the berries in the way back, just to be sure they were secure.  I discovered one of the children thought it would be a good idea to dump their water bottle on top of the blueberries.  With even the slightest shuffle of the bag it gave out and in an instant half our blueberries were spilled at my feet.

The farm owners who from the beginning were amused with our picking team felt really sorry for me.  They gave me a great deal on some pre picked and boxed berries.  I came home with almost 60 pounds and packed all but 5 pounds into freezer bags.

Here is Clara after a hard day's work.

And here's what we made the very next day, blueberry ice cream.

The following day we made a gluten free cobbler and topped it with whip cream.

We've also made many smoothies and pancakes and simply enjoyed snacking on them frozen by the handful.  We'll see how long our supply will last us.  Aside from the pile that spilled at my feet, not one berry has been wasted!