At the end of July and the beginning of August the thimbleberries ripen in Upper Michigan. Some years I am able to be there to pick the wild berries. But not this year. Instead, I have my memories. Ten years ago I wrote: Thimbleberries grow wild in Upper Michigan. I…
My freezer is full to capacity. The cherries, currants, gooseberries and raspberries have been abundant this year. The raspberry bushes are still producing berries—I have been picking every day for the past week and shared some with my neighbor. A couple days ago I had a surprising encounter among the…
Raspberries and blueberries are in season. The raspberries in my yard have abundant berries. They are so good with ice cream! They are also good with a Finnish oven pancake (Pannukakku). Here is a recipe for this slightly sweetened pancake. Ingredients: Preheat oven to 400°. Beat eggs in a large…
The cherries were abundant this year. My daughter and the grandchildren helped me pick and pit them. The birds were a little intimidated by the shiny CDs that I hung in the tree and left us more to ripen than other years. The rabbits have enjoyed the cherries that fell…
The elderberry bushes in my yard have been harvested. I have canned elderberry juice for the winter, and I have berries in the freezer. Elderberry bushes have a long history of use. The flower heads in early summer are beautiful. The flowers can be used to make a cordial that…
Last week we were in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with our married children and the grandchildren. It was a delight to watch the grandkids enjoy being out in nature, spending precious time with their cousins. I watched the older cousins flock around the youngest. We enjoyed picnics along the…
After I retired from clinical nursing, my work has changed. My work revolves around home and church. Gardening is a pleasant task at home. I enjoy planting and nourishing the garden. It is fulfilling to pick the produce and share it with family and friends. It is interesting that the…
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a place of refreshment for me. I have lots of family memories. When I was a child, my family made a trip to the U.P. every summer, to visit my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. During a couple of these vacation trips, my Dad…
The forests and fields in northern Michigan demonstrate the abundant creativity in nature, designed by God. There are trees—pine and deciduous—ferns, wildflowers and berries. My sister and I spent a week in the Upper Peninsula. We hiked. We picked apples and berries. Thimbleberries are abundant in the Keweenaw (the peak…
As I canned cherries and gooseberries this summer, I thought of my mother. She had stimulated my interest in canning. We had made and canned thimbleberry jam together. It was a family project to pick and clean the wild berries. Gooseberries have stems and “pig tales” (the remainder of the…