I read a lot of blogs and it has been so much fun to meet some fellow bloggers. I have only been at this for less than a year, but it seems like I have known some of you for a lot longer. And so it seemed today when we met the MoHos. They really do have names, Sue and Mo, and the MoHo moniker refers to their motorhome, but to us they are affectionately known collectively as the MoHos.
We met Sue and Mo at Roaring Rapids pizza parlor. They were on their way home from a short trip north of here and had to go right through Eugene on their way home. I suggested the pizza place as it is right on the river and it was sunny and warm when we set this up. Wouldn’t ya know…today was cloudy and windy, with a definite chill in the air. Not to worry, we had a great lunch and had fun just visiting. I couldn’t talk them into riding the carousel however!
Here are Sue and Mo at Roaring Rapids with the Willamette River in the background.
Seems like Sue and I are the photo bugs of the group.
And here’s Russ making friends with Abby in the parking lot.
The whole gang …
As we wave goodbye, we know in our hearts that we will see these fine folks again. After all they are only a few hours down the road, very near to where Russ spent his growing up years. It was GREAT to meet you, Sue and Mo, and your sweet fur kids.
I am usually a shy person, not given to meeting new people. But blogging has been good for me. The folks that we have met thus far have seemed like old friends from the moment we meet. There is something special about the blogging community that transcends age, political or religious views, gender, full timing or part timing, all those things that could be divisive. I find myself being more open to new people and differing ideas. I enjoy meeting and visiting with people who might be termed “strangers," something that has always been hard for me. I think this blogging stuff is a good thing – I know the people certainly are!
The day was young when we saw the MoHos on their way and so, inspired by Rick, we decided to get some blackberries. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so, Rick and Paulette, prepared to be flattered! After reading your blog last night, I was so hungry for blackberries that I just had to find some. And, although my "imitation" does not extend to all the magical things Paulette can do in the kitchen, I knew I needed to try making some freezer jam - something I haven't done in years.
Anyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest area, knows the about the ubiquitous blackberry. They are EVERYWHERE. People fight them like weeds and road crews routinely chop them down along roadways. Our favorite picking place used to be the local middle school. Then they expanded the school, put in some nice landscaping and it was bye-bye blackberries. Humbug!!
So today we drove a short way to the river and joined some others in the quest for sun ripened wild blackberries. There were plenty of bushes to be found, but seemed the cooler weather this week had made picking a favorite activity. The easy berries were picked out and reaching the harder ones was quite a chore.
Russ did his best and came away with a slightly red hand and a wound he was quite proud of (yeah, I know…wear long sleeves!).
By now it was warming up and we were starting to run out of energy. We tried another place and had a bit more success.
So we got enough wild berries for a good blackberry crisp and I made two batches of freezer jam with the domesticated variety. Although the ones we got at the farm were large and looked great, the taste was just not the same as the ones we picked by the river. There is just something about a wild blackberry that can’t be beat. Maybe we’ll get out again and find a more accessible place but until then, we’ll just do what we gotta do to get them thar berries!!
