The last few weeks have mostly been very rainy. It almost feels like whenever I listen to the weather report on the radio or in the news, it goes something like this: "The weather is warming up across Finland to almost heatwave levels. The long-awaited July summer weather is finally arriving in Finland. Oh, except for Western Lapland, where heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected. But otherwise, it's great summer weather—enjoy!" Not quite, but you know what I mean.

I’m not waiting for heat for sunbathing or beach outings. I’m hoping for drier weather so the sun can warm the ground a bit because berry-picking season is just around the corner! I could call myself a passionate berry picker. While my harvest may not be record-breaking, my goal is to fill the freezer with berries each year so I can enjoy them every morning until the next summer. So far, that goal has yet to be achieved.

On the other hand, I don’t worry about the berry harvest or whether it will be sufficient when I go into the forest. I don’t count kilos or euro values while picking berries. I’m in the forest, in my favorite spot, enjoying nature, the moment, snacks, the scenery, and the berries are just a delightful bonus. Then, in the grayness of November, when I pull out fresh, guaranteed pure berries from the freezer, I remember that moment in the forest, the warmth of July, and all the beauty that gives me something to look forward to until next summer.

That’s the essence of berry picking: freezing and preserving not just the berries but also those July moments spent enjoying coffee, chocolate, and fresh blueberries on a hill. It allows me to transfer those memories into a physical form for moments when it’s otherwise hard to reach them.

A few evenings ago, I went berry picking in my nearby forest. I visit there almost every day with Papu, checking on the ripening of the berries. The berries have been slow to arrive, but I could no longer wait. I grabbed a ten-liter bucket and a metal berry picker I found at a roadside flea market and marched into the forest.

With my eyes gleaming, I found plenty of berries. The clusters hung heavily, but they weren’t ripe yet, no matter how much I wished they were. The bucket started filling up fairly quickly, but the proportion of unripe berries was far too high. At this point, gathering wasn’t quite successful yet.

Phuuh.

I decided to set aside my goal of filling the freezer and focus on enjoying the moment instead. I usually bring some snacks when heading into the forest. However, knowing myself, I often end up spending hours there, even if I initially planned to just make a quick visit. I frequently lose track of time while engaging in something meaningful. The journey home feels better when I don’t have to trudge back with an empty stomach and a grumpy mindset.

I found a nice rock and enjoyed the warmth of the evening sun with Papu, surrounded by flying jays and picking blueberries here and there (Papu enjoys them too!).

After the snack break, I gathered more of the ripest berries by hand, filling my berry picker. I managed to bring home enough for breakfast toppings and even a few containers for the freezer. Ultimately, the evening was successful both in terms of the atmosphere and the berry harvest.

On my way home, I met more villagers and chatted with them for a while. They mentioned that the blueberries would continue to ripen for at least a few more weeks. I'm looking forward to that moment when they'll be ready for picking!

♥: Sanna