A Carer's Life for Me?

The slugs and snails are beating me to reach the strawberries, with the seeming never ending rain for the last how ever many days beating them down to a pulp also. I managed to rescue a couple of punnets of ripe and undamaged strawberries.  I already have a couple of bowlfuls in the fridge so what to do with them?

Rather than share with the neighbours, I thought I would take them to a local residential care home for elderly people.  As I got nearer the home I realised that I didn't really have enough strawberries for 16 residents so I ended up buying a large pot of double cream and 16 meringue nests to bulk them out!

I had seen the home advertised on line and it seemed like a jolly place with a gallery of photos displaying various parties and events.  I rang the doorbell and was invited in as I handed over the strawberries.  I was so embarrassed when the manager took me to the residents lounge where she told them about my strawberry giving gift.  I nervously mumbled something about picking them from my garden that morning.

What struck me and saddened me about visiting this home was the sheer surprise from the manager at my 'good deed' and the sad picture of the empty faces sat in the chairs around the edge of the room.  Why do they sit  people in chairs around the edge of the room looking out into the abyss? 

I muttered if there were any volunteering opportunities (ideally I would like to engage with these people and teach them to make jewellery and do other grown up craft and not the paper hat making and child like crafts usually afforded to them, but I know this is an unrealistic expectation and I'd be more likely to help with feeding time).

Anyway, feeling elevated and depressed at the same time, I like to think that at least I made someone's day by being a new face that just wanted to bring them a bit of joy in an otherwise monotonous midweek day.

My First Video

I have had my camera for a few years now and never tried out the video feature.  So here it is!  My first and rather shaky video of me talking in the garden.  Isn't it awful when you hear your voice for the first time how others hear it?

Upstaged

The strawberries are ripening quicker than I can pick them now!  I still have a punnet full of shop bought ones before I can delve into these.

On my last post I showed you the giant strawberry that I had picked.  Well that one is nowhere near as big as the latest giant strawberry.  It is humongous!

My last giant strawberry has definitely been upstaged by this beauty.  Such is life!

My Giant Strawberry

I picked the first ripened strawberry of the season from my garden.  It is HUGE.  It is GIANT!  And there are many more to come.  Talking of giant strawberries, one of my all time favourite blogs is titled My Giant Strawberry and is written by Anne Butera.  She has posted about the origins of her blog's name here.  Anne is a highly talented artist and creative person.  She takes beautiful photographs and looks for daily joys in life.  If you like similar things to me then you are sure to love her blog.

Here is a close up of the giant strawberry with my hand for comparison and I have found an even bigger unripened one!  They have been grown in a strawberry bed without using any chemicals or even watering.  I have just let nature do her thing and she has rewarded me with a bounty of fruit!  Even the snails have left the strawberries alone (so far!) and have preferred to devour the leaves instead.  'Fruits' of my previous labour have eventually been paid off.

Sweetheart

Last year, spring 2014 I bought three 'sweetheart' strawberry plants.  I got about 15 strawberries from them.  As the year progressed I pegged down the runners into the surrounding earth to make new plants.

One year later I am looking at a prolific strawberry 'bed'.  I have counted at least a hundred strawberries.  Strawberry jam anyone?

Joy in June - Strawberries

Anne from My Giant Strawberry is hosting Joy in June where we have the opportunity to focus on things to give gratitude to and to share what is bringing us joy..

Talking of giant strawberries - my first sun ripened one is giving me joy today.