It's June, so...

at our house that means 3 things:

1. It's my birthday month. That's not to say I spend all month celebrating my birthday. I just celebrate whenever everyone has the time. My birthday gets celebrated with my nephew Emerson's birthday. He'll be 3 this year. I'll be closer to 40. My birthday is the first day of summer. Well some could argue that the 22nd is the first day of summer. I think it depends on the moon. My birthday is the 21st. Depending on what literature I'm looking at I'm a Gemini, and others say I'm a Cancer. Again I'm stuck in the middle.

2. It's Father's Day Month. Again it's celebrated whenever everyone has time.

3. It's Juneberry picking time. I've already filled two gigantic quart bags full of berries. I enjoy picking berries. It is time consuming though. It's either I pick them, or the birds fly through and eat them. I'd like to try out my new canning stuff I got last year as a present. I'll make more Juneberry Jam. It works great for teacher's gifts, and random Christmas presents. I was even thinking of making Juneberry Syrup, or trying to. Then I'll make Oatmeal Superfood Power Bars to. What would you make with them? They can be replaced with any blueberry recipe. I just have to be careful because I don't want to make things that have tons of sugar. I'm safe with jam because I'm giving it away.

Berry Picking

We've mostly I've been picking Juneberries. They come from our Service Berry Bush. It looks more like a small tree, than a bush. In some ways I wish they were all ripe and ready to pick all at once. They taste good in pies, crisps, muffins, pancakes, yogurt, jelly, jam, and on their own. I've never seen them in the stores though. It's probably because they are such a pain to pick.

These are what I picked last night after swimming lessons. I have bags of them in the freezer. On Friday Aunt Terra and I are going to make Juneberry Jam. I've already made to Juneberry Crisps for our works.

I tried getting the boys to help. This is what happens:

Isaak: "Is this one ripe?" After his picks it. This is with every berry he picks. Then he proceeds to throw grass into the berry bowl.

Mica: "I'm board!" After picking 35 berries. He dances around in circles more than he helps.

Sigh! Someday they will be better helpers with berry picking. Until then I'm pretty much on my own.