Strawberry Picking - Grandkid 2008

Tradtions! Strawberry picking has been an event that Gary and I enjoy doing every summer. And for the last several years or so, it has included our grandkids Brigitte and Andrew. On June 10 we drove to Bryon to pickup the grandkids. Their parents Dave and Camille live in Dixon and with gas prices being ridiculous we usually met them halfway. The next morning, June 11 while waiting for Grandpa (Gary), Brigitte age 6 and Andrew who will be 11 in August, went outside to blow bubbles.
I had found these new type of bubbles...pop-up bubbles. To get the bubbles out of the bottle, all you have to do is gently squeeze the middle of the bottle and the bubble wand come up and all the kids had to do was blow thru the wand....Loads of bubbles just pour out..very large ones and also very small ones.
We were not even sure if we would be able to pick strawberries this time. When we phoned the Hazeltine Farm we got a recording that said due to so much rain, picking strawberries would come later this year. But we went ahead and got the grandkids anyway. The evening before we were scheduled to go I phoned one more time and to my surprise there was a recorded message saying that tomorrow they would be open for the first time. "Thank you Lord!", was my response. While driving in WI we finally got near the farm only to read a sign: CLOSED!
"How could this be?" was my response. Well there were a few cars out by the berry patch so we drove in anyway. Here again I see the hand of our heavenly Father...One customer had not finished the two rows that they usually assign to each party. So she told us that we could start there. And to our surprise she added, "When you are done with these two rows, you may go anywhere in this patch." We had the whole place to ourselves. FUN! FUN! FUN! Andrew always win when it comes to who will fill their basket first. Usually Brigitte picks all her own. But this year she started something new...taking a few from her Grandpa and Grandma basket to fill her basket. (Not fair Brigitte)
Since the weather had been bad for the great big berries, it took us longer to gather them. I think the picture of Brigitte above tells the whole story.

I must also add that the owners made the comment that they had never seen two kids work so hard at picking berries. (Of course they were not aware of little Brigitte's method.) But I know for a fact, they both are hard workers. Always wanting to help us with anything we are doing.
We did end up with four full baskets but the owners said they won't as full as perhaps they should have been and gave us a discount on our purchase. Again...thank you Lord for blessings untold.
As always when we have the grandkid, we must has a visit to the Dairyhaus in Rockton. Grandpa and Andrew enjoyed their banana splits.
While Brigitte and I enjoyed a chocolate chip ice cream cone. I think after a hard day picking strawberries, it was a great way to end the evening.
As always the time flies by and on Thursday, it was time for our halfway trip. We were thankful to have them for a few days and safely return them to their parents...perhaps they were tired but we trust they enjoyed their time with Grandpa and Grandma.