summer lovin'

Woah! July has slipped away and August has floated in on a wave of perfect weather! I've decided blogging in the summer is definitely not my gift. There's just too many other distractions..."sunny with a high of 75" summer days, evening walks, blackberry picking, jam making, shore trips, birthday celebrating, etc. etc. etc.

Let's play a little catch up! Here's a glimpse of some of the summery activities that have been occupying my days...

birthday lunch/appetizer/dinner dessert based on Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate: wood-fired thin crust margarita pizza at Osteria in Philly. YUM! Followed up with lobster mac and cheese and coconut cream pie here. Watch the shows - prepare to drool.

 old barn love

 birthday part II: a hike at French Creek

 reflections in the beaver pond

 Mom's salmon cakes: this photo/the hubster's presentation does not do the delicious and flavorful cakes justice!

beauty

crazy clouds after a massive thunderstorm

easy summer meal: greek salad inspired wraps with a side of fruit

free Chick-fil-a milkshakes!! (thanks Janet!)

 crabbing at the shore with the fam

 somebody spooked the birds...

I'm a sucker for reflections...

hubster :)

precious sisters who took me out for a yummy brunch along the Delaware

mid laugh and loving it!

Hope your summer days have been as beautiful and blessed as mine! 

squirreling away summer's bounty

It's been a busy little squirrel weekend in our abode. We've spent yesterday chopping strawberries for freezer jam, making watermelon and strawberry popsicles, and freezing blueberries and strawberries for smoothies, muffins, yogurts, or anything else that strikes my fancy in the dead of winter. No berry or fruit is safe from my freezer stocking spree! Even now, I'm impatiently waiting for the peaches on our counter to ripen.

It may be hot and steamy now, but in a few months fall will come and we will all be wishing for a taste of summer. There's nothing quite like defrosting a jar of white peach freezer jam to cure those wintertime blues. Learn from the squirrels and take advantage of the low in-season fruit and vegetable prices and start stocking your freezer!

Here's a few freezer tips:
- Wash and freeze berries whole on a rimmed cookie sheet then transfer into air tight containers
- Puree watermelon in the blender, strain through fine mesh strainer, then freezer in ice cube trays for use in lemonades
- Bake fruity muffins then transfer to freezer bags or air tight containers when cooled
- Double blueberry or strawberry pancake recipes and store in freezer bags separated by wax or parchment paper
- Make your own popsicles!
- Make pie or cobbler fillings then freeze in air tight containers. Defrost overnight, pop it in a ready made crust (or your own :) and you have a quick summery dessert for a chilly winter evening
- Triple (or if you're my mom make 18 loaves...) zucchini, blueberry or other sweet bread recipes and save the other two loaves for later

I could keep going, but I think you get my frugalish point. Buy and freeze more now, then when stores hike blueberry prices up to $4 a pint you can calmly stroll by, go home, and open up your freezer and dig out your perfect sun-ripen local berries that you bought for $1.24 a pint!

Happy squirreling friends!

a tribute to summer

Well, friends this is the week that we've been waiting for...school's out and sweet, sweet summertime begins! In honor of one of my favorite seasons (let's face - they're all my favorite seasons...I'm just a four-seasons-kind-of-girl), I present a collection of summer beauty seen through the eyes of a lens. Enjoy!

an alfresco snack on the deck - homemade brioche bread topped with Ma's applebutter

meandering walks through history

 picnics in the park (note for all you history buffs: this is quite literally the spot where Washington crossed the Delaware)

 sweet daisies - it's impossible not to feel a little happier in the presence of such bright, little flowers

 green thumb success! the peas are growing!

 tomato season...there's nothing quite like a sun-warmed tomato right off the plant

walks through enchanted woods...minus the ticks...

the golden light of an evening on the farm