Wednesday 21 June 2017

Strawberries and Snowbirds

At what point do you say, "Enough" ?  With our wet beginning to the growing season, my strawberries have gone a little bit nuts. I pick every day after work. I have lost count how many medium sized freezer bags I have filled. I have made two batches of jam (yes, I gave a jar to the neighbour with the chainsaw), and I made rhubarb/strawberry crisp last night to take to work for a co-worker's retirement get together. This is my life:


I just can't bring myself to waste any berries. There are still so many wonderful berries out in the garden, but I actually heard the kids complaining that there wasn't enough room in the freezer to put the ice cream away because of my berries! I'll take a big bowl to work tomorrow for people to just eat out of hand.

Tonight my daughter convinced me to walk away from the berries and go with her and my husband to watch The Snowbirds. This is Canada's 150th birthday celebration and the Snowbirds came to our little municipal airport to put on a fabulous show. They are Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron and they've been around as long as I can remember. They were established in 1967 and have been part of airshows all over the country. They didn't disappoint and the roads were lined with vehicles. People pulled over, brought out lawn chairs and watched. It was free to watch and the weather was perfect with clouds clearing and a beautiful blue sky giving a perfect background. Here are some pictures from today's early evening show.


Do you see that little diamond cluster between our heads? Those are the planes.

Any other Canadian bloggers familiar with the Snowbirds? They're kind of a Canadian icon.

I'm typing this as I'm watching World of Dance with my daughter (who danced for many years). It's the one with J. Lo on it. I can't believe some of these routines! Some of the dancers are so young, but so good!

29 comments:

  1. I've been doing much the same with our Tayberries (big Raspberries). We ate all the strawberries, now I'll have to BUY some to make jam.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I guess the Snowbirds are the Canadian equivalent of the UK's Red Arrows? Must have been hard to walk away from the berries though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't heard of the Red Arrows. I'll have to look them up.

      Delete
  3. What a harvest! I didn't make any strawberry jam this year but apricots are here now and with lots of taste so apricot jam it will be

    ReplyDelete
  4. My, that is a lot of strawberries. Mine are just getting going so we're eating all I pick. In a 'normal' year they are over by May, but this year is anything but normal. There will be a few days of making jam or icecream every day and then that will be it for another year. In the meantime there will be summer raspberries, red gooseberries and from August autumn raspberries which carry on until the first frost - can't believe I've said that the morning after the longest day with peak temperatures hitting 35 degrees!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sarah. Thank you for visiting my blog. I would love to read yours, but when I click on your name, it doesn't take me to the name of your blog. If you have one, comment again sometime and let me know.

      Delete
  5. I have a freezer of fruit too. I can't let the blackberries in the fields go to waste but never use enough of them from the freezer before I pick more. Oh well . Those pilots are clever.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lucky you, all those berries! I don't have a patch any more, but there are a plethora of berries available at roadside stands around here. So if you don't mind shelling out a few bucks, it's an easy way to fill up on those delicious berries!
    The air show looks great! We have the Blue Angels here, which I think are similar. It's amazing to watch what they can do!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Walk away from strawberries!?! Why I would be happy to come plunk my butt in your batch & just nibble away - oh fresh warm berries from the garden - I'm drooling. Oh yes we know the Snowbirds & aren't they brave & talented - what fun for you to have them visit so close to you ... now back to those wonderful berries ... Mary-Lou =^..^=

    ReplyDelete
  8. I thought at first your title referred to those of us who trek to Florida each winter! Love the smoke trails - I can't imagine the maneuvers they must go through to achieve them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just wow, to strawberries and snowbirds.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I wouldn't waste a single berry either! It looks delicious and you are so lucky to have such a good crop -- you'll be enjoying them a long while!

    The Snowbirds look like loads of fun. Happy 150th!

    ReplyDelete
  11. They used to do airshows nearby for years when I was little but not anymore

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sometimes the Snowbirds come to the little airport near us too and if we're lucky they fly over our area to regroup. And we saw them in Ottawa at Canada Day a few years ago which was pretty amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I know of the Snowbirds (I'm in Alberta)...but I can't recall if I have ever actually seen them in person or only in pictures or videos..

    ReplyDelete
  14. The snowbirds have been at the Calgary Stampede several times and we have enjoyed watching them each time. I would love to have your strawberry problem. I will have the same problem with my raspberries in a few weeks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to have some raspberries, but eventually ripped them out. I didn't ever get ahead of the weeds and they weren't really producing nice big raspberries. Maybe I should try them again.

      Delete
  15. Have seen the Snowbirds a number of times, in the Okanagan, and am always amazed at their performance. On the other subject of too many strawberries, please do toss some this way. I have none, but eagerly await the raspberries!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I wish I had that complaint!! I'd happy fill my freezer with strawberries.....you know, you could infuse some gin with some, or tequila....or vodka!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a bumper crop you've got! I wish I had fresh strawberries in my garden. Next year for sure!

    That must've been a great show. Love the heart!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am envious of your berries... and jam!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. glad you are sharing the berries at work; great, thoughtful way to both ease your overload and brighten co-workers days. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. All those strawberries! Such a delicious problem!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love air shows! I haven't been to one in ages, but the best they can do around here is a hot air balloon festival - beautiful, but not exactly heart-stopping. I'm on full pick mode with my strawberries, too. I have so many that the chipmunks are hard-pressed to eat them all, which is good news for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been such a wet June that the berries are out of control, but so are the slugs. I think that's my biggest problem. I just toss the eaten ones. I have enough others that I don't need to pick the ones that are ruined.

      Delete
  22. A super abundance of strawberries seems like a problem many of us would not mind having! I have been buying them locally but I don't think they are as good this year as they have been in years past.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I wish I had your trouble with too many strawberries. The jam looks delicious. Airshows are stunning
    the Ol'Buzzard

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love rhubarb, love strawberries, love the sound of rhubarb strawberry crisp. What is it, please?
    Eloise

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful strawberry jam, will you eat it all?

    ReplyDelete