Friday Favorites: We Picked Strawberries!
Our temperatures did an about face this week and SUMMER arrived with a vengeance; hot and humid, I had little energy to do much. I spent long portions of each day hiding out in the house with the air conditioning, reading, and baking/cooking up a storm.
We had a thunderstorm swoop through Friday afternoon and yet the sun was starting to come back out by evening. We really needed some rain to tamp down the pollen.
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| Just look at the water pouring out the gutter; it was strong enough to push all the rocks away! |
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| Look at those swaths of pollen near the shore the next morning! |
I spent lots of time outside this week reading; when it wasn't too hot.
We spent a good portion of Sunday afternoon jet skiing. Ian, Alec, my husband and even myself all took turns going out and around and cooling off. At one point my husband was going so fast while I was on the back that the sunglasses I were wearing went flying off my head. We lost them (they were his so I wasn't all that upset! LOL) but it is a funny story for us to tell now.
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| Alec swapped to the front because he was driving the jet ski (just not into shore) |
Though it was a hot week we did squeeze in a hike or two real early in the morning.
Pulaski park:
Purgatory Chasm:
We went to Wright's Chicken farm with my husband's aunt and uncle and we had the best time. The food was delicious and we followed them back to their house for dessert... we stayed until bedtime talking, laughing, and catching up. It was wonderful.
Evan and I snuck in a short walk on the airline trail before heading out strawberry picking on Monday. We picked TONS of fresh strawberries. I even made a pound cake for strawberry shortcake (using Dorothea Benton's pound cake recipe)
I "painted" my nails this week using the Color Street French Manicure wraps and I just love them!
We had a bunch of bananas that were turning black so at my husband's request I made banana bread with chocolate chunks and walnuts.
I made a couple of cute summer crafts using my Cricut this week (details will be on the blog Monday & Tuesday)
Linking up with: On the Edge,
Berry picking is so quintessential summer right? Love it and your treats look amazing as usual- have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is! Hoping to get back there one more day before they shut down for the season. Enjoy your Wizard of Oz weekend!
DeleteJoanne,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures as always!! we too have temps in the 90 and humidity that was considered "Tropical"!! Since when did NEPA become "tropical"??? Crazy!! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Stay safe, healthy and happy!
Hugs,
Debbie
That's what I was like! It's so rare to get a heat index warning up here... maybe in late July or August for a day or two but early June?! It's nuts.
DeleteOh how I love me some fresh strawberries! I’ve probably eaten four baskets of them just myself in the past week, lol! Those sweet orange truffles look amazing! Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat box is gone... and I've bought three regular packs from the grocery store already too! Fresh fruit just does not last in our house. The truffles were a huge hit; he made 30 of them and came home with just 5.
DeleteOh, I love those cute crafts! And that reading spot is perfection! Also, I think we need to go strawberry picking this year. Yum!!!
ReplyDeleteYou really should; it's hot in the field but the strawberries are oh so sweet.
DeleteIt got super hot here too. Your reading snack looks so good!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Trying to stick with fresh fruits and granola or frozen yogurt bars whenever I can.
DeleteIt is hard to want to go outside when it gets hot and humid here. Going to have to be creative or spend more time at the pool.
ReplyDeletewww.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Our lake is still much too cold for swimming no matter how warm the air is (in my opinion anyway!). Another week or so of sun and warmth and then I might stick a toe or two in.
DeleteIt was nasty hot this week!! Stay cool!
ReplyDeleteI was rather thankful to be greeted with cooler temps today.
DeleteThe banana bread looks so good!! I always intend to make banana bread with old bananas but it doesn't always happen! Our somewhat local strawberry picking farm closed its doors last summer and I need to find a new place to pick strawberries. I did get some from the farmers market last Saturday and they were delicious, but I just enjoy picking my own so much more!
ReplyDeleteI tend to freeze old bananas until I have enough or until I have enough time to make banana bread. Since my husband and oldest son are the only ones that eat banana bread I don't always make the time to bake right away.
DeleteWe only have the one place that grows strawberries and allows us to pick our own; we have to time it just right to make it into the field as they can get mobbed with customers. But it is one of those summer activities where it just doesn't feel like the start of summer without it.
Love your photos! Especially the ones stealing a glance at that beautiful lake (I guess it's a lake?). We've been having thunderstorms for the past 2 weeks, and it makes me feel uneasy to think that maybe the whole summer will be like this.
ReplyDeleteYep, we live on a lake. We get thunderstorms often in the evening; usually right around bedtime when we'd like to sleep but I figured better than during the day. We've had some really cold, rainy summers and they are just no fun.
DeleteHow fun to go strawberry picking and to use the strawberries for strawberry short cake. Looks you there was a lot of baking going on and fun in the water. It looks like you are off to a great start to summer.
ReplyDeleteLots of baking going on... but I've warned the family that we need to cool it a bit on the sweets! My poor waistline can't handle it all.
DeleteSo many wonderful summer activities: reading, s'mores, strawberry picking, life at a lake. Glad you can enjoy your summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIt is so hot and really really humid here right now. Its rained everyday this week. I'm jealous of those having good weather right now. Love the smores box!
ReplyDeleteThankfully our heat and humidity broke overnight; of course now it's pretty windy and cold but whatever. I'm starting to get used to changing 3 times a day! Lol.
DeleteYum. Fresh strawberries and pound cake and truffles. Can I come over?
ReplyDeleteWhat a crazy rain. We need some desperately. 106* today and hotter tomorrow. Would love a dip in your lake and a quick ride on the jet ski.
LOL. We sure do eat well! Though I try to send off most of the sweet snacks so I don't overindulge. I can't imagine 106! Wow!
DeleteOur weather over here has been a lot like yours. Very hot with a bit of rain.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a good week and the jet ski antics sound like fun.
The strawberry cake looks delicious and your nails are so pretty. x
Thank you!
DeleteI've been thinking of checking to see when strawberry picking is going on around here. I keep forgetting. We haven't gone in a few years & Strawberries are my fave pickable fruit. lol. Everything looks so yummy on your page. The truffles, banana bread & the strawberry shortcake.
ReplyDeleteI can not get enough of strawberries; especially when they are so sweet freshly picked.
DeleteThe pound cake looks great but so does your bowl of fruit with what looks like yogurt? and granola. :)
ReplyDeleteYep, fresh fruit, non fat plain yogurt and granola is my go- to breakfast or snack nearly every day.
DeleteI think if I lived where you do, I'd be spending every minute outside looking at the view too! All that pollen washed in by the rain was really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI try to soak up the sun and views whenever I can as it does get very cold here in the winter.
DeleteWow, the jet skiing sounds fantastic. Everything near or at water is fantastic. We have strawberries tomorrow with icecream and whipped cream on Sunday! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot of fun. We do enjoy living on the lake and all the activities that open up to us this time of year.
DeleteI love sitting outside to read too. Looks like you had a lovely hike and that cake made with the strawberries looks delicious. #MMBC
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's so relaxing to sit in the sun (or the shade!) and read with all the nature sounds around.
DeleteStrawberry picking is a sure sign of summer. Glad you've got in some hiking and jet skiing. The baked treats all look delicious. Thank you for linking with #weekendcoffeeshare.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting.
DeleteLooks like a great week, so many great photos here. I remember going strawberry picking when I was younger, so much fun :) Those orange truffles look amazing. I could just eat one.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking up to The Weekend Link Up. #TheWeekendLinkUp
Thank you!
DeleteThe strawberries, cream, and pound cake looks good. I am hoping I can go fruit picking this summer now since I have a kid. I think it would be a fun sensory experience.
ReplyDeleteMy boys used to love to go picking with me and we tried to go at all times of the year for apples, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, etc. It's great for them to know where their food comes from.
DeleteI would love going to a strawberry patch to pick strawberries, your cake and berries look delicious! Your nails look great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and have a fantastic week!
Miz Helen
Thank you!
Deletethe bundt cake with strawberries looks soo good. I am all about strawberry desserts in the Summer. I love all the outdoor times you had recently!
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteSo much fun, Joanne! I really want to take my kids strawberry picking this year. I must remember! We have had crazy hot weather here as well but it is cooling back down to normal now. We had a giant thunderstorm last night that woke the kids and knocked out the power. Ugh. But the rain was much needed!
ReplyDeleteShelbee
www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Oh I hate those kinds of storms and we do get a lot of them through spring and summer... why do they always seem to strike at night when I want to sleep!? Hopefully the power wasn't off for long.
DeleteI love that you got to go strawberry picking! We missed out this year and now it's way too late. They're at peak here in mid to late April. Next year for sure, though! I'm missing having a batch of fresh ones in the freezer for smoothies!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have any left to put in the freezer this year... seems like we rarely do! We just eat more of them when they're fresh and sweet.
DeleteNow seeing the summer photos of where you live makes it even more special. For your family to have water and fun activities at the back or front door is a gift for them. Weather doesn't ever seem to make up its mind here either. Lovely shots of family, food and more!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining in #LifeThisWeek link up on Monday 14 June. Your presence, comment on my post & adding your blog post too helps make a caring, connected community on-line. Next week the optional prompt is Share Your Snaps. Warm wishes, Denyse.
It is quite special and I hope my boys realize just how lucky they are.
DeleteWe had some crazy weather this last week....made me think we lived on the East Coast. Humid and rainy, and just out of character for the PNW. Loved your photos. I'm guessing that's some pollen floating on the lake?
ReplyDeleteYep, that is pollen. Seems like we no sooner get some rain to knock it out of the skies then more things bloom. I just can not stop sneezing lately.
DeleteYour nails looks so good. I have always wanted to do the french manicure. I wish the weather here was conducive for hiking. It is just too hot and humid lately.
ReplyDeleteWe had a few really hot and muggy weeks but our weather lately has been just beautiful!
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