Orchard in Bloom

Well, the Saskatoon Berries are (finally) in full bloom.  All 20 acres of them.

20 acres starts to feel like a lot after the second day of sorting.

The crab apple tree is blossoming too, and the fragrance is unbelievable.

When the orchard is in bloom, it can only mean one thing (well, really, it means several things, most of which are work, but for the purpose of this post, it can only mean one thing…)

PARTY!

This is the time of year when we invite around 60 of our closest friends, and all their kids, and we have a BBQ to celebrate yet another year of God’s blessing on us.

So we decorate

and we light the fire in the fire pit

We eat tons of food, and then we sit on the deck sipping coffee

and we snuggle other people’s babies

and we try to keep warm because although it’s June, we are required to wrap up in fleecy blankets and wear warm jackets.

The kids run amok and play soccer

and jump on our decrepit trampoline

and play on the toys

while the adults visit

and tell really good stories

and laugh

and stand around the fire

trying to keep warm

because it’s June, and yet it really really isn’t.

Of course, it’s not a party unless there’s trifle…

and party favors.

 

On a totally different note, I always thought this guy was terribly handsome

 

even from behind

Don’t tell his wife I said that.