Sticky Juicy Work

My fingers are stained purple. My T-shirt was drenched when we got home, my jeans wet from kneeling on the ground and sweat dripping down my back. I had to take off my glasses because they kept fogging up from the heat.

Why do I put myself in these situations? In the middle of the job there is always a moment of "This is really hard/gross/uncomfortable/painful" internal conversation. Work is hard work.

I wonder if it would help my kids to know that work is hard for adults, too? That it isn't always pleasant/comfortable/fun to work hard. It's more fun to play.

But there are benefits of working. Blessings. Berries turn into pies and jam! And kids learn how to delay gratification (biggest indicator of success, according to youth fireside by William and Julia Mattson quoting statistics about education and earning power).



This is my friend Debbie. She teaches school, grandmas (that is a verb), gardens, quilts, makes prize-winning jams, pickles, relishes and jellies, spins her own yarns! And she shares her bounty. We've already enjoyed white peaches from her trees this summer.

She has made friends with some neighbors of her mom's...Our adventure began at 8 am, a group of us from church meeting at her home and caravanning to a perfect blackberry picking yard. We joked about Mormon migrant workers! There were 18 of us for part of the morning! And plenty of berries!
Sam is the ultimate babysitter. He loves babies and little kids and has a talent for making them laugh, keeping them happy!
Those who pick, get to eat! The story of the Little Red Hen really impressed me growing up. You work, you benefit.
Yeah for teenagers willing to wake up and help!
(Notice Maxwell missing?? He didn't quite get up in time, so John called him and had him mow the lawn by himself while we were gone. There is NO getting out of work at our home!) We will share the jam, and bring a jar to the owners of the blackberry patch. They don't know what to do with them and are thrilled that Debbie comes each year to harvest.

IF YOU HAVE FRUIT GROWING IN YOUR YARD AND YOU DON'T USE IT, SOMEONE ELSE WOULD LOVE TO COME HARVEST FOR YOU!

Advertise. Spread the word. It was a nice blessing this morning to gather free fruit. Buying sugar to put these up is cheaper than buying jam. Involving the kids and letting them help with the process, teaching them food processing skills will hopefully preserve the knowledge and blessings of work. Good sweaty honest work!