blueberry picking...and a little baking!

A few days ago Mama, Lauren, the kiddos, Mrs. Gerry, her friend visiting from France and I went to Frierson, LA to pick blueberries at Shuqualak Farms. It was a hot day so we waited until right before sunset to drive out there, but after finding bushes in the shade our buckets were quickly filled to the brim with blue gold.

Hudson got the hang of it very quickly :)

When you're done with your bucket, they measure your pickings and give you a free blueberry popsicle. It is to-die-for! It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Next is deciding what all to make with all of your berries. I decided to make blueberry muffins for my book club on Thursday. I found the recipe found here.

Delicious! Anyone have any recipes for blueberries they would like to share?

things to remember from family dinner...

Mom: No one can calm a baby like you, Mom. You are stunning.

Leslie: You could have any hair color and still look like a super model. It really is amazing.

David: It never fails that you will make a funny face at the camera...
I am feeling a collage coming on!

Lauren: How can you put together a well balanced meal for 7 with 2 kids running around? The answer is- quite perfectly. Thanks for the chicken fettuccine, salad, rolls, and cake.

Dad: I'm impressed that you have taught your grandson to "dap."
Way to keep it real, Poppa Doc.

Hudson: I could eat you up. I love playing chase with you in the backyard as you scream at the top of your lungs. (I also love screaming at the top of mine.)

Andrew: You have lost your newborn "tan" and are starting to look more like your mom to me. That is a very good thing sonny boy. You mom says that you are in a fussy stage and don't really like to be awake. I wish I could take away any tummy pain you are having.
You're too cute to pout.

Tison: I had a really good time with you at the Marriage Prep weekend. Learning our love languages and personality types was not only informative, but fun. I am enjoying putting our lessons into practice already. I can't wait to be married to you.

thank you sir, may I have s'more...

Am I taking for granted the amount of times I have been fireside with marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate? Who here has never had a s'more? Let me explain...

On Sunday evenings my family has been getting together to have dinner and catch up on the events of the week; this is quickly becoming a tradition. We have been alternating houses so that it is not too much work on one household. I would call it Sunday Suppers, but that name is already taken :) Then again, I may use it anyway.

This past Sunday Supper (see) was held at Lauren and David's house. They prepared fried back strap as an appetizer with stuffed bell peppers, grits bread, and corn for the entree. For dessert David lit up the fire pit for s'mores! I was ecstatic to say the least. This Camp Fern activity not only reminds me of my childhood, but satisfies the sweet tooth. As we prepared to head outside I heard my dad say, "Well, this will be fun. I've never had a s'more." Errr, WHAT? Never had a s'more?! I was dumbfounded. Just when I was trying to fathom someone never having tasted one of these sweet treats, I heard my mom whisper, "Neither have I."   The questions were mounting, "What? How? Why not?" when my dad said, "Not all of us were campers, Linz." {refer back to the first paragraph} Who here has never had a s'more before?

I was excited to share with these first-timers the art of preparing your graham cracker with hersheys chocolate, putting the mallow on the coat hanger, then roasting it over the fire. Some like theirs charred, but I am not one of those people. I like to call it the "perfect tan." Just when the outside turns the right shade of toasted, slide that mallow into the graham cracker sandwich you have prepared and let the chocolate melt a little - now bite into that gooey goodness! They are called s'mores, but I'm more of a -one and done- kinda gal.

With happy belly's comes fireside chats; we shared our highlights and lowlights of the week with one another. I am cautious to use the word perfect, but it is moments like these when I am surrounded by the people I love that I just can't imagine being anywhere else. My mom put it best when she said, "My highlight is right now, having all of our family together. Our lives are busy and there are a million other things we could have chosen to do tonight, but we all chose to be together."

food photography makes me happy...

I enjoy what I eat and  I enjoy photographing what I eat. I draw inspiration from several foodie blogs that display the most beautiful styling, lighting, and photographic technique. Here is a sampling of a few brilliant minds that I find express supreme creativity, a sense of comfort, and literally make my mouth water!

Sunday Suppers

 One Charming Party

Alexandra Grablewski

{None of these photographers exclusively photograph food- all their photos are exquisite.

Please visit their websites for abounding imagination!}