desert clouds

photograph by rinne allen

prayer chapel

on the grounds of the old presbyterian church on edisto island, there is a little prayer chapel under an immense oak. there are two benches inside and a little place to write a prayer request and thumb tack it to a bulletin board. the air is hot and still. the light is beautiful

photographs and words by rebecca wood

mimosa watertower

photograph by kristin karch

gas station

this place is a mindblower, down in olar, sc. wonderful bones. so many diebenkorn-esque shots from here. and the bathroom is a whole other blog. . .

photographs by rebecca wood

queen anne's lace

photograph by rebecca wood

carpenter gothic

i always pass by this classic carpenter gothic style church when i'm on the way to edisto. it was built in 1856.

photographs and words by rebecca wood

gate and field

photograph by rinne allen

seed saving

photographs by rinne allen

campground trees

photo by kristen bach

grilled asparagus with tomato jam

kids start going back to school this week.  i always feel like the last 2 weeks of summer is about cramming all of the dinners, projects, and trips that didn't happen throughout the summer. 

we had a little dinner party and invited some kids and friends over for a feast.  we grilled some salmon and asparagus and made some pesto with basil from the garden.  a wonderful celebration of summer with friends.

tomato jam
serve over 2 bunches of asparagus or green beans, grilled
tomato jam ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil, more if needed
1 small sweet onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, diced
1 1/2 pint of garden fresh tomatoes, diced or halved if using cherry tomatoes
1 Tbsp maple syrup
s & p
directions
-on medium heat slowly cook the onion for 10 minutes or so
-add garlic clove
-add the tomatoes
-turn up to high heat and stir tomatoes until tomatoes cook down.  add some water if you need more liquid
-once the tomatoes have finished cooking down, add syrup and salt and pepper to taste.  
-spoon over your grilled asparagus or green beans
-enjoy!

photo and recipe by kristen bach

butterflies

photograph by rinne allen

southern porches

in the pre- air conditioned age, every southern home had a porch. when the heat built up too much in the house ( which it did ), you retreated to the porch for a cold glass of tea and, hopefully a breeze. the porch offered a respite from the heat indoors and out. it functioned as a place of leisure, but also as an outdoor workspace to shell peas and shuck corn. utilizing the front porch increased visitation between neighbors and passers by, and served as a pleasant place to entertain company.

here's some of the southern porches in my neighborhood -

photographs and words by rebecca wood

beach bonfire

photograph by rinne allen

red painted store

if you're ever heading down hiway 64 from augusta to edisto, stop in olar, sc. and take a look. lots of great spaces to inspire. maybe we need to move down there and start a commune. this one was killing me with its' red painted brick and faded trim.

photographs and words by rebecca wood

waterlillies

photograph by rinne allen

redcliffe plantation

this state park is located on beech island, sc. it is just south of augusta, ga. it was built in 1857, and served 3 generations of hammonds. it is situated on a high hill to capture the breezes. the central hall has 14 foot ceilings and is over 20 feet wide; it was used for balls and grand occasions. the doors at each end could be opened to get some pleasant ventilation going. there are grand views out the second story doors. it was modernized with bathrooms in the '30's, but otherwise is still in its original shape. there is a slave cabin on the premisis and an allee of old magnolia trees.

photographs and words by rebecca wood

currants

photograph by rinne allen

vegetal

i have a favorite spot i go to in maine, chase's daily. it is hands-down one of my favorite places, anywhere. part restaurant/part market, their food is delicious and their presentation is divine. i always get swept up in their produce...take for instance, these huge greens bundles, for only $4 (they literally take two arms to carry):

each year, i buy one, come home and take photographs, then do a flower arrangement or two, then eat the leftover greens. the funny thing is that when i was buying my bundle this year, an older woman leaned over to me and said, "you know i just take pictures of mine and make flower arrangements, and occasionally eat the greens". i laughed; we were kindred spirits...

of course, you may always add in something flowery, if you like:

arrangement, words, and photographs by rinne allen

green woods

photo by kristen bach

summer bounty goat cheese

the other evening we went to a friends house for dinner.  our little garden is full of shishito peppers and cherry tomatoes that really needed to be eaten.  with that being said, i whipped up this simple goat cheese dish that represents the bounty of summer to me.

ingredients
1 tsp olive oil
a generous handful of cherry tomatoes
a generous handful of shishito peppers
2 cloves of garlic, diced
salt and pepper to taste
1 large log off goat cheese
-in a large cast iron skillet, put the olive oil in and turn your burner on to high heat
-add the cherry tomatoes, peppers, and garlic
-saute until the vegetables begin to show some color.  you do want them to have some char.
-let them cool for 10 minutes or so
-spoon over goat cheese and serve alongside crackers or bread
 

photos and recipe by kristen bach