Family Bash

August 29th, 2010

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing a big family bash for some friends of ours from church. Dave and Jean were celebrating 25 wonderful years of marriage, and they also celebrated their son Sean being home from abroad and their daughter Rachel’s 20th birthday…oh, and Dave’s birthday, too!

They are such a fun, loving family, and it’s been so wonderful to get to know them at church over the past few years. Rich and I have gotten to know their kids especially well, as they’ve been involved in our youth group. It’s amazing to see all that God has done in and through their family. I can see such a heart for God in both Dave and Jean, and Sean and Rachel. We saw how many lives they had touched by all the friends and family that came out to celebrate with them!

Love you guys, hope you enjoy the photos!

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Joys of Summer

July 18th, 2010

As I drove home, I eagerly looked at the succulent, juicy peaches sitting in my canvas bag, fresh from the farm stand. I contemplated skipping the washing part and just eating one in the car, but I supposed that might get a little messy…I could just see the juice dripping down my face and arm while trying to drive. Yeah, they’re that juicy. The peaches here in Pennsylvania are like none I ever had growing up. I can’t even begin to fathom what they taste like in Georgia if they are this amazing here.

When I got home, Oh! did I savor it…Perfectly ripe, juicy, flavorful. The flesh just fell off the pit with ease and the juice spilled over the place I had bitten into.

One of the many joys of summer that I intend to savor to the last bite.

Oh, and the corn! The corn here is aMAZING.

Ahhh…summer tomatoes. Nothing like these on a grilled cheese or BLT.

Don’t worry, Mainers….PA’s got nothing on your apples or blueberries. I so hope I can taste the wonderful flavor of wild blueberries when I’m home in August. I can’t even pay a pretty penny to get wild ones here. : /

But for now, I’ll enjoy the corn, tomatoes, and peaches every day I can.

So, what’s your favorite local crop this summer? Leave some love in the comments!

Tags: food, fruit, Pennsylvania, summer, vegetables
Posted in Personal--Current Adventures | 1 Comment »

15 Things to Do, People to See, Places to Go…this summer

July 12th, 2010

I absolutely adore summer–there are so many things about it that make it great, so I thought I’d write down some ideas on places to go, things to do, and what to enjoy this summer! I know a month has passed us by, but we’ve still got a month and a half to ENJOY. I intend to relish every minute of it.

1. Go to the park! Get out there and enjoy this gorgeous summer weather…

–>Whether you take a bike ride or a leisurely stroll…
–>Enjoy a picnic with friends or sit under a tree with a good book…
–>or just go exploring!

Some of my favorite spots around the Pottstown area are French Creek State Park, St. Peter’s Village (with lots of cute shops, great ice cream, and beautiful trails along the stream), and of course, the mother of all parks, Valley Forge. Don’t be intimidated if you don’t know your way around–exploring is half the fun!

2. Have fun with food! I absolutely adore food, and I LOVE all the fresh produce I can get throughout the summer.

–>Go to a farmer’s market! Ah, the produce is so amazing, and for me it’s fun just to look at. Some that I love around here: Boyertown Farmer’s Market (open on Saturdays), Farmer’s Daughter Farm Market (open every day 10-6), Frecon’s Farm Stand. A couple I’m hoping to check out this summer: Penn Street Market in Reading and Zern’s in Gilbertsville (yes, I heard that gasp….I have not yet been to Zern’s, but I feel it is my duty to check out the legend this summer).
–>Even better, go to an orchard/farm where you can pick your own produce! Make sure it’s a well-established PYO farm, as I’ve found some to be not up to par. (I haven’t actually been to the orchard I linked to, but it looks pretty good from what I can see.)
–>Celebrate at a food festival, picnic, or BBQ! I’m super excited about Frecon’s Peach Festival on August 7th-8th. There’s also a Blueberry Festival in Bethlehem this coming weekend. Have some friends over for a picnic: grill some amazing Pennsylvania corn; make a salad with spinach, strawberries, feta, toasted almonds, and balsamic vinaigrette; or just some BLT’s with garden fresh, juicy tomatoes (nothing better!).

3. Enjoy the warm summer evenings!

–>A lot of towns have celebrations on the 1st Friday of each month. Check out Phoenixville or Lancaster for lots of cool music, food, and activities.
–>Go stargazing! Grab a blanket and lay out in a park (away from the tall grass where ticks like to hang out)…admittedly, this is better done not in PA due to the tick infestation here, but if you dress appropriately and watch where you are, you can probably find some spots that are OK. Just check yourself for ticks when you’re done!
–>Check out some concerts in a park. Get some friends together, pack a picnic, and enjoy some music and friendship.

So counting all my links, I think that’s 15. Plus or minus a few. But why don’t you add some and we can see if we can make this list a little longer? So, what are YOUR ideas for fun things to do this summer? What are your favorite summer pastimes?