so berry much fun!

strawberries are at their peak here in southeastern virginia.  

{our area's annual strawberry festival is next weekend!}

over the weekend, we went berry picking.  

we drove by a few different "u-pick" fields before we reached our destination:  cullipher farms.

it was hot & we were still scorched from our day at the beach {post to come!}, but we were determined to fill our buckets with big, red, juicy strawberries!

while we were picking, we listened to the hum of the airshow that was taking place nearby.

i'm slightly ashamed to admit that this was the first time i have ever gone strawberry picking.
i've lived in virginia beach for nearly 23 years & live within minutes of MANY "u-pick" locations, so i don't really have an explanation as to why i've never gone picking before.

i'm not going to lie.  it's back breaking work.  you get dirty.  you get hot, sweaty & stinky.

and, you do see quite a few of these guys:

{aidan & i seemed quite popular with the teeny, weeny grasshoppers}

but, the payoff is so sweet {literally!}.

we came home with more strawberries than we knew what to do with.
now our freezer is stocked with bags of whole, frozen strawberries.

i also made strawberry coulis {to be enjoyed over vanilla ice cream} AND

i dove head first into canning by making four jars of homemade strawberry jam.

{photo credit goes to my seven year old son, aidan}

i'm already looking forward more picking, but next time we'll be on a mission for
blueberries, blackberries, peaches & scuppernongs.