I had a similar experience last night as I asked the somewhat rhetorical question, "Who wants ice cream?" I was explaining that the vanilla ice cream would be decorated with raspberries from our small backyard garden when a family member interjected with surprise and excitement, "We have raspberries in our garden?" While the berries were not as large or as uniform as those purchased in plastic boxes, their perfect balance of sweetness and tartness was savored by all. Hurray for local harvest, both intentional and serendipitous!

Oh, my! The last two comments were from infrequent commenters, who are two of my favorite people, to boot (not "two of my favorite people to boot"). Woo hoo!

Regarding, mulberries themselves, some times I like them and some times not as much. They definitely have a distinct flavor beyond simple sweetness. These would be great for making jam.

My grandma and grandpa had a mulberry tree. I didn't like the taste so much, but I did like staining our goats’ fur with the juice. There is nothing quite like picking something right off the vine for a munch-very fulfilling. It reminds me of being at Jacob’s cousin’s place a few weeks back. I was asked to pick some radishes to give the salad some tang. A trail of curious children bumbled over to the garden with me. When they saw me pull some from the ground they went wild with glee. It was WAY cute. I wanted them to experience the fun first hand without picking too many so I “replanted” the ones I had picked and let the take turns pulling the same few out. It was great to see their faces light up.

And now all is truly well with my blog world, as one of the patrons (in the old sense of the word) has joined in one commenting.

Heidi, I am envisioning a children's story called "Heidi and the Punk Goats" with a little girl, a mulberry trees, some goats. There would be lots of vivid colors and perhaps faux mulberry smears on some of the pages. Perhaps some other fruits could be added too to vary the color palette. You know, creative license.

You experience with the kiddies and radishes sounds delightful. Some time in the next few years I am determined to listen to the whispers of ground and the earth and the beasts calling, and may be work a garden and/or get a dog.

Hummmm. "Heidi and the Punk Goats" will be a nice sequel to the original "Heidi"(more illustrations of course). The story begins with Heidi's struggling with her grandfather's death. Painting her goats with mulberries is what she uses to cope with her loss. At first she splatters the mulberry juice creating anger-laden-Pollackesk type work, but as time goes on she begins to paint more elaborately. And one day she begins to see things in the stain designs that would remind her of memories she shared with her grandfather and Peter (also dead). She learns to let go of her sadness, and embrace the joys of loving even though there is loss. Yah-dah-Yah-dah

Ha, ha. Nice. I was envisoning a more modern tale, and rather more whimisical.