One of our favorite spots to pick is at the top of Tinker Stevens which is at the head of Bells Run Rd. If you grew up in the Oswayo Valley area Tinker Stevens might not ring a bell but the camp up on top will. "The Pine Lot", many a young teens frequented the camp owned by the Howard family and they still own it. I had to laugh when telling my grandson where he picked berries yesterday. By the look on his face he knows exactly where Pine Lot is. In the winter the brave daring young ones get together with sleds and 4 wheelers to take on the very steep and winding road from Pine Lot. At 67 years old I remember the parties in my teens like it was yesterday. Thanks to a family that was so generous with their hospitality for the young and even the young at heart. Just one of those dusty dirt roads that had a lot of good memories for me and my husband.
Not only was the memories brought back of Pine Lot but on the way up Bells Run I was reminded of other happenings in my young life. As we turned on to Bells Run off Rt 44 I thought of Ike and Eleanor Dingman. I was friends with their son Mike and daughter Dorthy. They were farmers and friends with my parents. In lower Bells Run I looked at the house my sister-in-laws family owned. It was where my boyfriend (now my husband), niece (it was her grandparents house) and her date had our Christmas Ball pictures taken. Laura and Pete Maxson lived there. Farther up the road was Sam Fords house, I graduated with his sister. Sam is a quiet gentle guy and was all through high school. His sister Jessie was just as nice. Next was the Carpenter farm, Dorthea was our Avon lady for years after her and her husband gave up farming. Mom and Dad went back and forth with the Carpenters as all the farmers did in our area. They all looked after each other in times of need. Next across the valley and crick/creek was the farm Dick Blanchard's parents owned. I had spent quite a bit of time there with my brother's family since they were friends with Dick and Mary Blanchard. From that point on there were thoughts of other families that lived on the Run. We went by a stand of tall pines, in 1979 they were about 8 ft. tall. We went there with a realtor that year in hopes to buy land for a home in the country. Well that was when I cleaned our cars with a q tip to get it all perfectly perfect looking. When I got out of the car and saw the dust on the car I knew there was no way I could live on a dirt road. Now it really doesn't matter about dust on a car, I love riding the dirt roads.
Once we got to Tinker Stevens I thought of my cousin that had retired and built a home way back there to enjoy the quiet years. I looked at the small stream that is almost dried up from the drought. This is where our kids learned to fish for trout and also how to finger trout. I won't get into the details on that (it's illegal) but for those of you that were taught the art you know what I'm talking about. I love the memory of our little ones sneaking up on the stream with their special little pole. All three still love to fish and have passed it on to their own kids. Just before we started up the hill firewood and leek digging came to mind. In our twenties we had a woodstove and would spend a few weeks in the summer cutting and hauling firewood. Back then log companies would let you take the wood at no charge just to get the tops cleaned up. This was where we spent 2 summers hauling firewood for the following winter. While we were there early in the spring the treasure of the hillsides shown bright green with leeks. Two things accomplished at one time. It made me smile to think of the old Chevy truck we used for wood. The kids and I called it the "Old Gray Ghost".
Finally at the top was the driveway to the Pine Lot we parked the car and headed down the road to pick blackberries. Since I planned on staying on the road to pick I had worn sandals, capris and short sleeves. Someone else had the same idea because the bushes were picked clean along the road way. Then over the top of a bush I saw the most amazing blackberries. They were huge and juicy looking. Of course I was sure I could be careful getting back to them and I was, it was the picking and getting out that got me. The berries just kept getting more abundant and better the farther in I went. Dick then found his way back in. Our poor dog Quincy was having a time trying to come through to us. He didn't like the thorns at all. It only took an hour to pick 8 qts. That is plenty for making jelly this winter. About those thorns, we looked like we had been mauled by a bobcat. Both of us had scratches that were bleeding. Was it worth it you ask? Most definitely! Had we not went we never would have enjoyed the beautiful summer day on the top of that hill. Never would have had the flooding of wonderful teenage memories. It was sunny and 82 degrees but the delightful part, we were under a large canopy of maple and oak trees. It provided shade and a coolness with a nice strong breeze blowing through. A perfect berry picking day. Every now and again one of us would say, isn't this a great day? Yes, it was and free for the picking. This winter I will think back on this beautiful day we shared while smelling blackberry jelly cooking on the stove and every time I spread a slice of toast or cracker with blackberry sweetness. Simple pleasures give love, smiles and memories at Cook'n by the Creek.
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| On our way to the top of Tinker Stevens. |
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| Where we cut firewood and dug leeks on Tinker Stevens. |
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| Hidden in the shade and protected by the thorny bushes, we got them. |
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| The berry picking pails complete with handle for around our neck, makes for two handed picking and scratches on both arms to match. |
