RRSP: Rhubarb Retirement Savings Plan

Yesterday I went strawberry picking with my mom. I'd never gone before and yet it's such a prairie girl thing to do. I have a new found respect for berry pickers. Do you ever think about how those strawberries get from the field to the one or two pound package you pick up at the store? I will now. If you've never been to a strawberry farm, let me help you get a visual. Crouch down low, stare at the floor and pick the fluff you see. Now shuffle a bit to the left and repeat for an hour or so. Go put $24 in a pot to pay for the fruits of your labour and that's essentially berry picking.

On the way home from the country my mom and I stopped at a few nurseries and a farmer's market. I picked up some herb plants at one and a cute new house plant at another. I found the plant irresistible, like a puppy at the pound. It's a Mimosa Pudica--aka, Sensitive Plant and when you touch it, its leaves fold up. I tried to take a video of it today to share with you but it didn't turn out so well, and now it it night time and the plant has curled up to sleep. No joke. I'll try again tomorrow.

On our way out of the place where I bought the plant we spotted a rose bush on sale. I've planted two roses since moving into my house and both died over the winter. I'm not ready to give up yet though. The tag on this one sold me. The picture showed that the flower would be red with white on the inside of the petals, but the part that really had me was the name--"Love". So I am going to plant Love in my back yard and hopefully have it grow and blossom.



When we got back to my parents' place I helped my mom clean up garden a bit and pull some rhubarb. I walked barefoot in the cool mud and then sat on the grass to cut the leaves off the stalks. It was hot and sunny so I placed one of the big floppy leaves on my head for shade.

"Sometimes I think I'd like a much simpler life," I told my mom. "I want to go live on one of those farms where you just live off of what you can produce and make your own electricity." When my dad came home I told him, "Let's just tour around in the motorhome, selling pies, jam, and whatever mom and I can sew." I wonder how long this would be fulfilling. Would I miss this life I've made? Would I miss fashion, Hollywood entertainment, Starbucks and my Bath and Bodyworks plug in room deodorizer? I really think I could give up most things except for good company.

I have ambition to make strawberry rhubarb jam. With all the rhubarb I harvested I should be able to make a pie or two too. Not enough to retire on yet I'm afraid. Sigh. Back to work on Monday.