The Berries are Ready and Croquet is the Name of the Game

Today was our family 4th of July picnic. It was held in my mother's backyard. She lives in a working class neighborhood, but the yards in the area are huge. She has a garden path that takes visitors through the south side of the yard, ending in the Victorian roses, Sunflower house, and berry patch. The berries are ready.

Years ago my sister-in-law and brother gave her a "Garden Tours 5 Cents" sign with a bucket. We all drop change in it through the spring and summer. (If you stick change in it during the fall it could get forgotten and get buried in the winter snows.) Each year Mom and the kids decide how they are going to spend the money. This year they bought a croquet set, and today we broke it in. What a blast, and what memories for my sister and brother and me, as we had grown up playing it with our grandparents.

And the very best part: my mother won, followed in second place by our 80-year-old aunt. Too cool!