Thursday, August 26, 2010

For Dayle's Simple Pleasures Party: Raspberries





Raspberries need nothing to make them taste better.  They don't need whipped cream or tons of sugar.  When popped into one's mouth, the burst of sweet and tart flavor delights the tongue and taste buds.

Raspberries, for me, are true simple pleasures. 

All through my childhood, my father grew raspberries on bushes behind the garage in our backyard.  He loved going out and picking them for us kids. Even when the juice stained his fingers and the vines pricked him, it didn't matter a bit to him. What mattered was giving a treat to his five daughters.

On rare occasion, my car drives by the house where we grew up. Usually, I prefer to take another route rather than dredge up all the old memories.  My mom and dad have both gone to the other side of life and that  house is too filled with memories of them.  It makes me sad to see it. 

By one day recently,  I drove by. All the raspberry bushes are gone now, too, as well as the garage.  How things change!

In the supermarket, when I'm in the fruit section,  raspberries always come to mind.  I'll pick up the half pint package, look at the price, gasp with horror, and then put it into my shopping cart anyway.

    "Daddy would approve," I tell myself. It's probably because along with the luscious taste of that first berry, a lifetime of memories come flooding back.

Yup. Raspberries, to me, are among life's simple pleasures.

Today's  Simple Pleasures Party is hosted by Dayle at This and That. Please go to   http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/    and read all about other peoples' ideas of what constitutes a simple pleasure! Thanks for hosting, Dayle.

We should never forget the simple pleasures in our daily lives.

18 comments:

diane stetson said...

Oh I love love love raspberries and blueberries too. Such wonderful memories of picking both those things from my childhood...yum yum. This summer I've bought them every single week on my grocery trips.

Chatty Crone said...

They are indeed simple pleasures. Sandie

Ms.Daisy said...

Susan,
Oh, you have brought back so many memories of my childhood! My grandfather grew raspberries so he could have them on his breakfast cereal. Of course, we had some too! I always think of that when I see raspberries. Thanks!


~Jean

Christine said...

Yup, raspberries are best eaten all by themselves.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Hi Susan, my oldest son loves raspberries, and we can't even buy them here except the frozen variety and I've never even bought them. My aunt has some bushes along her yard and this summer would pick them for the kids.

While with my mom and aunt in OH this summer, we drove to some of the old houses they grew up in. One was hidden away from the road and had a very long driveway but we went up it anyways. I am sure the folks who own the property now wandered what we were up to, taking pictures and all. No one came out even though we sat there for several minutes while my mom and aunt reminisced about their childhoods spent there.

Have a terrific Thursday. :) Tammy

Debbie said...

Raspberries always remind me of my Gran's jam. I have made it too, but it's never as good as Gran's. Thank you for good memories with this post.
Debbie@houseatthelake

Mevely317 said...

I can't remember the last time I tasted a raspberry! ... Must remedy that soon!

Gayle said...

Loved this. Reminded me of my dear dad who picks blackberries for Mother's jam and cobblers. Yummy.

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Those raspberries look divine, Susan. On our recent trip, we passed a place that said, "Pick your own raspberries." If I had been driving, we would have stopped, but The Man sailed right on by. :(

Truly, a simple pleasure to love.

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Oh, me too, Susan! I love raspberries (and also gasp at the price of those tiny cartons). I will just tell myself that Susan's daddy would approve and place it in my cart too :)

Nikki (Sarah) said...

agreed...raspberries are the best

mo said...

Susan! Yummy...don't you love summer fruit? Thank you for entering my Giveaway (twice) and posting my button on your sidebar. You are one of my favorite followers. *hugs*

Claus said...

Indeed, it's the little and simple things that ultimately make a great impact in our lives. thank you for sharing your story.
Have a lovely day!

Cindy said...

Those raspberries look wonderful. A truly simple pleasure. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
Cindy

Jennie said...

I do love raspberries too! And I agree they need no accoutrements. They're perfect just the way they are - a simple pleasure indeed!

Adrienne said...

I'm lucky to have our pastor, who lives next door, growing tons of raspberries. There's always too many for him so we, in a perfect act of charity, help him out by eating the extra... ;-)

Heaven's Walk said...

Mmmmmm! Raspberries are my ultimate fav fruit! I could eat a whole bucket of'em in one sitting! lol! You're so right about the price. Yikes! But....we're worth it, right? :)

xoxo laurie@heavens-walk

dee dee said...

I love raspberries and like you have to overcome sticker shock to buy them!
Dee Dee

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