Hunting Elusive Winterberries

It's that time again...time to sneak over to gather the Winterberries I need to make arrangements for the holidays.  People have asked where I get them but I never tell.  They aren't very easy to find so we keep our secret.

We have quite a few types of evergreen on our property so its convenient to take the pruners and collect branches.  Interesting weeds are plentiful - just not on our acreage.  So through the years we've taken our drives to find those lovely red reeds and the scarce winterberries.

The winterberries make each arrangement whether in a pail, sap bucket, coal bucket or basket much more  interesting.

Yesterday Mr. J and I set out to our secret stand of winterberries.  In the past years it has been pretty cold (icy) when we've gone hunting.  This year has been so mild and wonderful that it was to be a new experience.

I've had some back issues lately so Mr. J pulled the truck to the side of the road and said I should just stay by the truck while he headed out to the berries.  It had been a good year - the stand was glowing it was so red with berries.  Yay!

We knew that they were across a ditch that normally was frozen or mostly frozen.  Not so much yesterday.  Mr. J did take preventive measures and wore his rubber work boots.  Pruners in hand he determined he would jump across the water.  Not so good.  I lost sight of him as he said a couple of words he normally doesn't use.  He was in the muck...and so were his boots...stuck in the muck.  This man is pretty finicky about his feet and socks. 

He was able to pull one boot out but the other boot was sucked in deeper when he tried to get the first boot out.  Brother!!! 

Now he would lead a pretty solemn life if it weren't for me.  He was pretty adventuresome in his youth - owning and driving a race car amongst other things to do with snowmobiles.  Now he clings to his books on the couch when he's not in his workshop making something or fixing something for me and our sales.

He huffed and sputtered and did more of the same.  I didn't think he would get his boot out - but he got his foot out of his boot and then couldn't get the boot out of the muck.  Not mud - really stinky muck.

I stifled my humor until he was safely back across the moat.  He thought he might have to walk along the ditch for a half mile but it finally narrowed enough to jump across it - with one boot on and his other foot in a black, mucky sock. 

My hero cut many branches for me before he traversed the moat.  Just another reason I love him! 

When he was back by my side at the truck - I had to laugh and he kinda smiled.  I always say that one of  my goals each day is to make him smile.  What a round about way to achieve my goal yesterday!  Ha!

He stripped on the deck and saved his jeans and sweatshirt but alas the boots went on a trip in the garbage truck this morning.  I was going to suggest that he keep them so I could plant in them next spring but the stench from the stagnant water was too much to bear.

This has been an adventurous week for us.  We've almost made it through - only two more days. 

Take care,

Bonnie