So much change continually (need to share soon) but learning to still live in these beautiful moments that I’m so blessed to have. A few images I captured today during our evening chore shift.

I can’t help but share my excitement even thou I know while I listen the rain falling outside there will be MANY more berries to pick in coming days and possibly weeks. I’ve picked around 3 gallons so far, it never ceases to amaze me the joy that can be found in something as simple as foraging wild berries. Here’s what I’ve done so far.

Muddled berries with coconut sparkling water and a few drops of stevia, my new summer go to drink

I follow the simple directions on an ordinary box of pectin to make my Jam. Process it for 10 minutes and viola!

Simple Blackberry Crisp

Fill the bottom of a baking dish with fresh washed berries and sprinkle the top with a 1-1 ratio of flour, rolled oats and brown sugar combined with a few tablespoons of butter and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. bake at 350 for about 30 mins till the berry juices are bubbling around the edges.

ENJOY!

Just got home this afternoon from a lovely little trip to cincinnati to visit my dear friend Tara who I was lucky enough to meet just recently through the blog world. She’s already added to my life in many ways, I’m so inspired by her sweet soul amazing eye for design and her passion for life. She and her love welcomed me so well into their sweet home with this message on the kitchen wall – I mean that’s love, no?

Friday night we went out on the town and I was happy to see a side of Cinci I didn’t know existed. Beautiful architecture and brilliant renovation going on. We had dinner at A Tavola an amazing spread of stuffed dates, bruschetta and margarita pizza topped with 2 eggs and arugula. Delish!

Lazy Sunday morning. Tara made an amazing brunch of tomato/bacon frittata – potatoes – rye toast.

Eggs from my farm!

My blackberry jam (Tara says is the “jam”!)

The perfection that is Tara’s dinning room.

Was sad to say goodbye but grateful for this new friendship…

So glad I grabbed my camera as we ran out the door to capture these moments. So grateful for these days with them as the grow, change and mature.

Taken at the Foxhollow farm festival 2011

These days are really getting me, one day I’ll be ready to post my recent excitement over budding plants and plentiful fresh milk and the next I’m in tears over lost tomato plants. It’s hard to keep up with the work but mostly the emotion that comes with investing so much in such unpredictable things like the weather. I’m tired today and hardly the energy to write but this is part of it right? Part of the journey to learning and growing and making life what you dream it to be… surely these things can’t come over night or I’d have them already. Many many sighs but I’m learning ever so much and hopeful that maybe just maybe a handful of my nearly 100 tomatoes will make it.

I’ve been struggling to figure out where to start on this new blog venture of mine. It’s been in the makings for months and I guess now is as good a time as any to dive in! I’m starting this as an extension of my already established blog A Well Traveled Woman. My intention here is to create a place dedicated mainly to my journey in sustainable living and my efforts to share life more simply and honestly with myself, my small family, creation and everyone I come in contact with. Those who have followed my story elsewhere know my journey hasn’t been the easiest over the past few years but I continue to fight for peace in the midst of the storm. I hope for all who come here to read you’ll find something that’s inspiring or simply brings a smile to your face. Life is too short not to enjoy it.

Blessings and Peace

Bekah