Tonight I wanted to go out and mow the back half of the compound. But, there was a good soaking rain over the afternoon and things weren’t dry yet. Instead, I found another activity to capture my attention.

I picked raspberries.

The previous owners had built up quite a raspberry enclosure. Plants galore in there. Yesterday when I was mowing I was snacking off the berries that hung over the fence. It’s like you can taste the energy of the berry or the earth or life.

I’ve never really done this at scale before. Sure, I’ve come across berries out in the woods before. As a kid, honestly I didn’t like that kind of thing. Today, I felt blessed to be wading in among those plants. I’d pick a few, eat a couple. I got a quart bowl filled and I wasn’t even trying.

Do you ever just stop and breathe in the reality of your situation? I did tonight. I stopped right there and just felt amazed at the wonderment of it all. Maybe I’m overthinking the experience. It meant something to me to be able to harvest right on my property. I didn’t have to drive anywhere. I didn’t waste any packaging. I put them in a bowl and walked them right up to the house.

I’ll freeze this first batch. I think I’m going to have to be out picking everyday for the next week or so. That’s ok.