Each day is a gift! Some days are certainly more wonderful than others, but we should still cherish each day and celebrate every twirl around the sun. Even though the past year and a half have been grueling, We still believe there is much to be thankful for and plenty to celebrate. We’re not under the delusion that every day is going to be spectacular. However, it is important to us that we make the most of every day. We do acknowledge that some days it’s a challenge to remain outwardly happy, but we do try. When confronted with difficult situations, we try to find something positive to focus on. A confident self-esteem and grateful mentality help us navigate difficult times. This glass-half-full approach to the day, always gives us something to smile about. A cancer diagnosis and the Covid-19 pandemic certainly put a strain on this philosophy. Some days felt more like an April Fools joke than a celebration. However, the most important piece of wisdom that we can share, is to treat each new day as a gift. Get creative, try one of our projects, and find ways to fill your bucket. No one can predict, with certainty, what the future will hold. Do the best you can to make each day memorable. The challenges and loss of life our world has experienced throughout this past year and a half are difficult to comprehend. The Covid-19 Pandemic has claimed the lives of friends and family, young and old. It has taken lives without warning and left us grieving in solitude. Still, we remain positive. We are so thankful for the vaccines that are available. We are humbled by the herculean effort that has gone into fighting this Coronavirus disease. We encourage everyone that is eligible to get their shot. This will help protect our loved ones, safely open our communities back up, and enable us to continue living our lives. With the arrival of summer and being fully vaccinated, we are able to visit friends and family. This brings many reasons to smile. We hold onto our belief that each day is a gift. Let go of the stress; you can’t have yesterday back, and there is no guarantee for tomorrow. The best you can do is try to make each day count! Celebrate the time we have with one another. Remind yourself, that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful!
Adventures/Travel
Strawberry Picking Tradition…
The sweet aroma of fresh strawberries is what draws us to the fields every spring. We look forward to our strawberry picking tradition every spring. Over the years, this has become a Mother’s Day weekend event. We are fortunate to live in an area that has several pick-your-own berry farms located within a short driving distance. If you have never been to a strawberry patch to pick your own berries, you don’t know what you are missing. Fresh picked strawberries tend to be more fragrant and flavorful than most store-bought varieties. We have made wonderful cocktails, salads, ice cream, desserts and jam with our berries. We also love packing berries in small wooden baskets and sharing them with friends. Making strawberry shortcake is a fresh and easy crowd pleaser. We love slicing our fresh berries and seasoning them with a little bit of good balsalmic vinegar. Let the berries sit in a bowl for 15-30 minutes until ready to serve. Then, spoon the berries (and the juice they have created) over angel food cake. Top with a small dollop of homemade whipped cream. If you love simple fresh desserts, this one is a fun way to get outside with your family and create an easy dessert. We highly encourage you to find a local farm and bring some hand-picked berries home to your family! Here is a list of local farms in the Charlotte area that offer pick-your-own strawberries: Linebergers (two locations Iron Station and Dallas) Carrigan Farms in Mooresville Patterson Farm in Mt. Ulla Wise Acres in Indian Trail Hall Family Farm in Lancaster, SC We hope this post inspires you to start your own strawberry picking tradition. Later in the summer we will be picking blueberries and cherries. Check back and see where we go and what we create with these local fruits.
