Strawberry Mania

Research..that is what it takes to get good strawberries.  Melissa and I were on the prowl late may for the latest scoop on the best days to pick strawberries.  The Tinbergs were coming into town the first weekend of June, and a fun event last time was a strawberry pick.  We thought we would relive the transition.  It was tough for the strawberry farmers this year.  Now I am no weather expert, but I know that when frost comes it kills things..hence..don't plant tomatoes before memorial day.  Well this spring was highly irregular in terms of temperatures.  Jon remembers mowing the lawn for the first time in March, and it looking like a well manicured healthy lawn one would see in October because of the abnormal high temps and rain.  It hit the upper 80's a few times back then.  Oh..and for the note...our lawn is a big dust bowl now....little lacking in the rain department.  Anyway...that new spring brought early growth of everything...everything was thriving until the big frost over a couple of nights in April.  We read in the paper that the average WI strawberry farm lost 30% of their crop.  So the window was narrowed to go picking to a few weeks.  We happened upon a farm south of Madison that was open the one day we wanted to go.  And we had a blast.  All four of us were on our knees grabbing the best strawberries and filling up baskets.  The Tinbergs gathered 12 lbs and the Meyers gathered 14 lbs.  Of course Maddie probably ate a pound.  She was actually a hit to the owners because of the extended stream of strawberry juice from her face to her elbows to her jeans.  We arrived at 930 and left at 1045.  And they were already picked out for the day.  Ensued for the remainder of the afternoon was good relaxation, conversation, good eats and great fun.  Catching up and sharing stories close friends is always the best!  Thanks Tinbergs!