Just right (day 30)

Two days of bliss and adventure in the Nicola Valley and I now have more apples and plums than I dare look at.  I picture them transforming into pies, crisps, sauces and snacks.  I'm hoping I can be quick enough so none get wasted.  I'm starting to realize that my fascination with fruits and vegetables is not as common as I thought.  Not everyone gets home and has a brief moment of panic at the piles of organic goods needing to be matched and transformed.  It's a good thing I also secretely love the challenge and the leftovers.

The weekend was sublime with many culinary moments worth remembering including cooking okra for the first time and Janek's makeshift souffle with all that was left in the fridge and more (like Doritos).  As we were about to start picking the last of the plums on our last few hours on the farm, a momma bear and her three cubs showed up right by the orchard.  There is an electric fence so they are trained to stay away but they were right by the fence climbing up a Ponderosa Pine.    Four beautiful really cute black, brown and blond bears.   The way they move, so slowly and considered was a great pleasure to watch.  It's hard to believe we can't be friends.   As it was, it was a uncomfortable standoff.  We had to pick fruit and they were too scared to come down from the tree.  The momma bear huffed angrily at us as we started to pick the fruit as far from them as we could.  Eventually we finished with the plums and everyone was much calmer.

Watching momma interact with her cubs, it occurred to me how silent their communication is.   Compared to human families with their constant chatter, guiding, praising, and chastising it seemed so quiet and languid.  Kind of like us this weekend.

A song for this post.