(Let's try this again--grrr)

For several years now, I can't eat cereal without a berry of some sort in every spoonful--either fresh or frozen. This is the time of year where I'm in heaven with fresh red and black raspberries.

While I have plenty of bushes right in my yard and garden, I need to go to the "wilds" to gather enough of the little beauties to keep me through the year (frozen).

Twice this past week, I picked black raspberries back in the "boonies"--once from my farm land, once from down the road on an abandoned farm property.

Yesterday, I donned long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and with bucket attached, rode my bicycle two miles down the rode to a newly discovered patch. It rained on me for only 5 minutes, enough to get me soaked.

As soon as I started picking, mosquitoes voraciously attacked. I had forgotten my "Off". The patch was weedy and, of course, "stickery". I found a stick to push aside the thorny bushes and weeds, and to see better the berries. Still, I got stuck and scratched many times--even bled.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't avoid the poison ivy. It was everywhere. There must be a law of nature that says P.I. always accompanies ripe fruit. I'm sure I wiped my face with oil on my hands. And I had to pee! No way was I going to take a chance on infecting my private parts. I've been there, done that!

Wet, bitten, scratched, tired (I had already walked 6 miles of golf), I rode home with about 3 quarts of raspberries. I immediately shed all clothes and jumped in the shower (and peed!). Now, I await to see if indeed I start to itch all over my body (besides the mosquito bites).

Is it worth it? You bet! One bite this morning affirmed it.
Now, let's see if this gets posted. Have a great weekend!