Papa loves pie! For father's day we have always made Papa a pie. This year marked the second year in a row that we dedicated a day to picking the berries for this special pie. It's perfect timing really, the Olallieberries at the barn, ripen just before Father's day arrives.
On the hay ride out to the field I was remembering last year when Chaz would not get on that tractor trailer, for anything, he cried big ol' alligator tears about it. As luck would have it, Gavin did about the same at the proposition of not riding the tractor. So, I walked, toddler in arms, behind the tractor as Gavin rode down the bumpy dirt road to the berry fields. you can imagine how thrilled I was this year when we all happily rode together, even tossed hay off the wagon and giggled about it.
As we all wandered off in our own directions, picking happily to the tune of little tweety birds and the gentle breeze, my mind wandered again to the picking of the previous year. It was hot that day, the boys were a year younger and not that excited about mama's determination to pick more that what could be immediately consumed.
This year I could see, really for the first time, my big boy has my love of berry picking brewing in his soul. He sees the adventure as a treasure hunt of sorts and knows well the tasty things that await as treasure at the end; confident on his own now, he ventured quietly a good distance from my side and I think enjoyed every moment of the picking with only his own thoughts to run about his mind.
Chaz is still at my side, for the most part, his basket only ever holding enough berries to satisfy the next few nibbles. As for me, I could pick all day long. It's meditative, in a productive sort of way. I love it. I will say that when trying to pick for a 3 year-olds munching (just to buy me more picking time) and a pie, this mama had to pick a bit faster than I used to, but I enjoy it just the same and probably more.
Peaches are also ripe and grow close by. unlike berry picking, this is just the thing for my little monkey child, climbing, many peaches in arms reach, shade to cool off and a juicy treat.
The pie was a hit, even with it's new gluten free crust, and after a days worth of picking it felt like a true gift from the heart, for the Papa of this house!
Note: we used the gluten free pie crust, Pate Brisee, recipe from Karen Morgan: Blackbird Bakery Gluten-Free Cookbook
the pie filling was my own concoction:
6 cups Olallieberries
1-1/2 Tablespoons fresh squezed lemon juice
3 Tablespoons Arrowroot powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Served with hand-cranked home-made vanilla ice cream. yum!
A Happy Father's Day it was indeed. I'm already looking forward to picking for next years pie!
