Every July we head to our favorite local berry patch to pick blueberries. It’s a summer bucket list item that I look forward to all year round. I’ve been bringing my children here since they were babies. Back then we’d be lucky if we’d make it long enough to pick a whole pint. Yesterday we picked 7 pounds! It’s so much fun to see how the kids have grown to enjoy this annual summer activity as they’ve gotten older. I love showing them where fresh, healthy food comes from and it brings me great pleasure to hear them proclaim, “These are better than candy!” and “Let’s say thanks to God for these delicious blueberries!” This year was the first that my husband was able to come along. He sells truckloads of blueberries at his wholesale produce market, but he loves them so much that he came with us after work to eat them straight from the source. Like a kid himself, he was tossing berries over the bushes at us.

Here are some of my favorite photographs I captured during this year’s blueberry eating picking outing. Check out the trick Andy’s mom taught me for how to carry your bucket and have two hands free for picking. I’m not sure what’s more fun, picking the blueberries or finding delicious ways to use all of them. Tomorrow I’ll share my recipe for the blissful Blueberry Crisp (with no added sugar or butter) we made when we got home.