August plans

It begins slowly, a furtive glance to the side of the road. Then we begin assessing the amount of water the roots would get and whether there’s enough sunlight to ripen them. Perhaps that spot has already been picked over since there’s a gravel turnout, but on the other side of the road, there are probably more.

We make sure there’s ice cream—only the best vanilla—in the freezer, just in case. U-pick signs for blueberries remind us of those great black & blue preserves we put up a few years back. It was a great combination, the rich purple and the tart blue working together to stain our tongues and toast when it’s chilly.

And just like a good batch, a plan gels: if we leave an hour early for our carpool pickup today, we could get plenty along the mill pond road for at least one batch of jam and a cobbler. The next day we could do the same thing with blueberries, maybe even freeze a few for winter waffles.

We throw a few buckets, a bottle or two of water and a grubby towel in the car. Long sleeves and sunhats are de rigueur. We’re going to need them.