strawberry picking

I picked the girls up a few minutes early yesterday from school so we could drive to the orchard to pick strawberries. I wanted to get out on the back roads before the school buses. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the peach orchard so it would be unbearably longer if we had to stop every few feet for the school bus.

I love Chiles Orchard in Crozet. We have never been there to pick peaches, my family is not a huge fan of peaches. They also grow cherries and strawberries. We might have to go back this summer for the cherries and go again in a few weeks for more strawberries. We picked enough for one batch of homemade jam, but I usually make 2 batches. Homemade strawberry jam makes a good end of the year teacher gift. I like making things, food especially for the girls' teachers, instead of buying something the teachers don't need (and I can't afford!) I like combining a handful of strawberries, a banana and about 6-8 oz of orange juice with ice in the blender for a light and yummy smoothie. And of course the girls just eat them right out of the box.

The girls were super excited to pick with me. Another mom friend of mine and her two children came along this time too so it was extra fun for the girls. When they lost interest in finding the really good strawberries they had friends to run around with and play. We even shared a strawberry ice cream sundae before we came back home. Nothing like fresh picked strawberries! It was a great afternoon.

I'm almost done with American Wife!