You Pick'Em

Strawberries and Whipped Cream

“Strawberries” by Vicki Smith

Hello,

I associate June with graduations and strawberries. Strawberries have a long history of representing romance, passion, and fertility in literature across the centuries and different cultures. They are also been an inspiration for designers. William Morris (1834-1896), the British textile designer, said, “Have nothing in your houses that do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” This guiding principle came to represent the Arts and Crafts Movement in England. He designed “The Strawberry Thief” after observing song thrushes dine on the strawberries in his garden. The imagery of berries, flowers, vines, and song thrushes well represents a country garden and is rich in detail. His design is still in production today in everything from posters to wallpaper.

Growing up, my mom and I would pick berries at Buhrmaster’s Farm, and she would make strawberry shortcake served in wooden bowls. The wooden bowls were actually individual salad bowls and could accommodate a generous serving. Today, a few farms in my area allow visitors to pick their own after paying a hefty fee to ride in a hay wagon to the field. We have wild strawberries that pop up in our yard and somehow survive the lawn mower, but have absolutely no flavor. I recently planted a couple of strawberry plants; the berries have yet to ripen, and I am reminded how pretty the leaves are. Unfortunately, today strawberries, unless grown organically, are laden with pesticides. Perhaps they were in my youth as well, and we were simply unaware. Strawberries, briefly plunged in baking soda and water, will remove some of the pesticides.

Farm across from our town park.

My strawberry plant.

Part of June was taken up by learning the ropes at a gallery where I joined as a working member and preparing ten pieces of art to ship to a show in Bar Harbor, Maine. “Strawberries” is one in a series of six small, square still life paintings. The other four larger pieces are landscapes. Yesterday was my first time fielding the gallery on my own. My trepidation over dealing with the alarm system, accepting credit cards, and packing up sales was unfounded, as sales were few. It was a slow day, perhaps too beautiful for shopping. I was lucky to visit with two friends, one who stopped by and one by phone. The balance of my free time was spent drawing the interior of the gallery. It is housed in what must have once been a storefront with deep-set or recessed windows to showcase merchandise and the original, ornate wooden door with tinkling bells to signal the arrival of a customer.

Strawberries with Whipped Cream (no recipe really required)

Ingredients

4 c. sliced, washed strawberries

2/3 c. whipping cream

1/2 t. vanilla

generous pinch of brown sugar

Directions

Beat the whipping cream with an electric mixer until it forms peaks. Towards the end of mixing, add the vanilla and brown sugar. Mash, but do not pulverize, the strawberries. Drain the excess liquid with a strainer. Fold the berries into the whipped cream. Serve with a sprig of mint, if you have it. I didn’t.

Six servings.

Strawberries and whipped cream.

I hope everyone's summer is off to a great start!

Thanks,

Vicki