dew + grass

photo by Rebecca Wood

Snowballs in the Spring

one of my favorite spring shrubs is this japanese snowball.  this year the balls were bigger and more numerous than i’ve ever seen them.   so creamy and white!  love!

photos and words by rebecca wood

spring vines

photo by Kristen Bach

the quarry

we have been going to this particular rock quarry for 9 or 10 years- no one seems to remember exactly. each time we go, i am always, always taken aback by its beauty.

granite is underneath all of athens, and therefore the granite industry is a big one, especially in neighboring elbert and oglethorpe counties. we have family friends who quarry and we have granite around our yards, fashioning paths. i remember swimming in quarries throughout high school, a different one each summer.

our friends purchased this one and cleaned it up. divers surveyed it for hazards and gave it the all-clear. now, families gather here and get refreshed in the cool waters, or sit in the sun on the warm granite. the owners, in true deep DIY spirit, have fashioned an outdoor kitchen and a huge tarped shade area. we have eaten some of the yummiest food here, cooked over a fire or in the kitchen.

we are happy that our children get to roam here...and learn about the tiny flowers and mosses and piney woods, climb the rocks, and enjoy swimming with each other in one of Nature's prettiest spots.

thank you.

words and photographs by rinne allen.

maple

photograph by rinne allen

passion flower

passion flower, a.k.a. maypop

photographs by rinne allen

purple flowers

photograph by rinne allen

farmhouse pop-up

for the last two and a half years, kristen has had a little shop called treehouse that sells great things for kids, as well as craft supplies for all of their great classes (for kids & adults). over drinks a few months ago, a group of us conjured the idea of a special pop-up shop, just in time for mother's day. a corner of treehouse was transformed as we installed some special things made (or found) by local friends: kristen, rebecca, amanda, rinne, field trip, home.made, three porch farm, the national, double dutch, smokey road press, sweet olive farm, and many others! inspired by life on the farm, the items include special handmade goodies, edible treats, things for the garden, found treasures, and original art. the pop-up runs until may 13, so stop by to check it out and find something special.

words and photographs by rinne allen

rustic wood

photos by Kristen Bach

Pine Trees

Pine trees are in every southerner's brain. I love to look up at a tall pine tree against the sky. I love to walk underneath on soft pine needles. I love to smell the turpentine scent of the sap rising in the spring. I love the way the sun glistens on green pine needles. I love pine bark and pine cones. I just love pine trees.

photos and words by Rebecca Wood

woven basket

photo by Kristen Bach

Mandy's Flower Shack-

Our friends, Mandy and Steve, have a fabulous farm a little ways out of called 3 Porch Farm, because there are three porches on their house! They grow strawberries, blueberries, and all sorts of flowers and fruit trees. Mandy has a little cabin where she makes her fall bouquets and winter wreaths, for sale at the local farmers market. It is charming, like everything else there. Besides her jars and vases, there are lots of dried pods and bones for inspiration. Here's a peek –

photos and words by Rebecca Wood

lovely maples

photo by Kristen Bach

dogwood beauty

photo and arrangement by Rebecca Wood

magentas

photo by Kristen Bach

African Peanut Stew

Much of Southern cuisine stems from Africa.  Collard greens, peanuts, sweet potatoes.....are all African Ingredients. 

This weekend was a bit cold and gloomy.  It inspired me to use up some fresh greens and make one of my favorite stews. 

Soul food, indeed!

Ingredients 

1 Tsp olive oil

1 large onion

4 cups vegetable stock

1 large sweet potato-diced

1 cup white beans

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 can of diced tomatoes or 2 fresh diced tomatoes

4 cups greens- cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon diced fresh ginger

salt to taste

directions  

-sauté the diced onion in the olive oil until translucent 

-add the rest of the ingredients and cook until sweet potatoes are cooked

-enjoy over a bed of rice or on it's own

photo and recipe by Kristen Bach

peeled wood

photo by Kristen Bach

kinfolk community gathering

we were very happy to discover kinfolk magazine when they published their first issue. we were even happier to be able to contribute, in a small way, to a few of their issues through our photos. so, now, we are equally happy to be hosting a dinner, here in athens, georgia, on their behalf...

on saturday, may 4, we will be hosting one of an on-going series of community gatherings- this one, a flower potluck. tickets are available here. there will be concurrent dinners happening all over the globe- athens is in good company!

we will walk through the garden, cut some flowers then have a simple flower arranging workshop led by rinne. we will also have food & drink provided by our friend nathan brand of the national and shotgun dinners. our friend hope hilton will be illustrating something special for each guest, and kristen and rinne will be talking photographs, so we will share them with you soon.

so, until then go grab some flowers, wherever you are and enjoy them.

words and photographs by rinne allen.

purple flowers

photo by Kristen Bach

Awesome Barn

On one of our country drives we came across this super awesome barn.  I've never seen one exactly like it around here.  Can't tell if it was to store cotton , or what, but it had an old wagon underneath.

photos and words by Rebecca Wood