May in South Carolina is just so beautiful! We’ve had our fair share of 95 degree days, but the temperatures have cooled off to 80 in the last week or two, and we’ve loved spending as much time as possible outside.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve already seen some of these pictures.
Yesterday morning, we met our friends Emily, Jack, and Hazel at the strawberry farm (Cottle Farms if you are local to Columbia and want to pay them a visit) to pick some strawberries. We kept reminding the little ones to pick as many as possible so we could make a pie for a daddy.
We went a few weeks back and the strawberries were still kind of tart. But the strawberries yesterday were bright red and so beautiful.
The kids had a great time running around and filling up their buckets. Some strawberries were thrown by the two three-year-olds in the bunch, but every strawberry is worth saving. And Hayes and Hazel both chowed down on strawberries the whole time.
They had a great morning, and I’m glad we picked them one more time before strawberry season is over.
We had some fun visitors at our house from Charlotte yesterday. Rachel, Katie, and both of their girls came to visit. We hung out at the house and caught up. We watched the kids play and then went to Whole Foods for an easy lunch. It was so much fun to see them and catch up! I just love those girls.
I came back home and washed the strawberries and sliced them to make a pie. I was so excited to make the Strawn’s strawberry pie, and kept thinking things were going great. I made a crust. I made the filling. I chilled the filling. And then when I poured the strawberries and filling into the crust, I could tell it might take it a while to congeal. Last night, I even dreamed about strawberry pie and wondering if it would still be a runny mess in the morning.
And it was. Just a soupy strawberry pie. But I let everyone have some this morning for breakfast anyway. Even if it’s ugly, it can still taste amazing. And it did! I broke my sugar ban just to eat some of this pie. And it is FULL of sugar. Holy sweetness.
So we had a great time at the strawberry farm. I had a small kitchen disaster with the strawberry pie. But boys are super gracious when it comes to ugly, delicious food!
Love this and love fresh strawberries. Love that yal all have red on. Love the 80 weather.
Have you tried making The Pioneers Woman’s strawberry jam? Its awesome with fresh strawberries.
So, so fun! We are in West Texas and my brother and sister-in-law are in Charlotte. They’ve been sending pictures from the strawberry farms these past few weeks, and it looks like such a fun time. I think we might need to plan a trip out that direction this time next year.
What fun! Love active outside things like that- something a little different is always great!
I’m no expert at baking either, but this strawberry kiwi pie I made a few weeks ago was so easy and delicious! You should give it a try: http://naptimerumination.blogspot.com/2014/05/strawberry-kiwi-pie.html
I want to go strawberry picking! That looked like so much fun! Next time, make a cobbler or crisp instead of a pie…I always have better luck with those than a pie :).
I get fresh strawberries and rhubarb from the farmer’s market every May and make a pie. We have the same friends over, smoke ribs, and have the best time kicking off summer! Some years the pie is perfect…some it’s runny…but it always tastes sooo good! Also, I have a friend that lives in Shreveport (in fact she was at La Tech when you were) and her kids love Strawn’s! I’ve never been, but it sounds awesome!
Love this creative way to spend OUTDOORS with the family. Such a simple, fun activity for kids.
http://www.polkadotdiary.com
So precious! I am planning to take Merrick after work and preschool tomorrow. I love the pie disaster… sounds like me with baked goods in the kitchen!
Sounds like a great time (minus the messy pie – but sometimes messy food just tastes better!)! I’m hoping to get my boys back to the patch one more time before the season ends! We ate all our berries before we could make anything out of them.
How did you get out of the Strawberry farm so clean?! When we went, Gray (18mos) was covered from all of the tasting he did, and even Monroe (4) had at least a few strawberry stains. I’m impressed by your guys!
Lucky you! We are still waiting for strawberry pick ups in the local farm! But soon, soon we will get some fresh strawberries, too!:)
Yummy. Love the pics too. Even a kitchen pie mess makes the fun day memorable too! Chocolate dipped strawberries sound yummy! I am trying to stop the sugar now — not easy — hope I can be successful too!
These pictures are precious! They remind me of my childhood growing up near the Louisiana strawberry plantations. We’d go every year, pick berries, and then come to the plantation house where a lady would have a full Southern lunch spread for us to devour. Such good memories. Can’t wait to do something similar with my boys soon.