Strawberry Picking in SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers kicked off the strawberry season at James R. Sease Farms in Gilbert, SC with the first “official” pick this morning. Spring has sprung in South Carolina and it’s primetime for everyone’s favorite treat: farm fresh strawberries.

South Carolina is home to over 40 strawberry farms offering both “U-pick” experiences, as well as pre-picked berries. Spartanburg County leads the state in strawberry acreage, followed by Lexington County.

“Getting out to the farm is a great way to show support for South Carolina farmers after the very challenging year they faced in 2015,” said Commissioner Weathers. “It’s also a great opportunity to meet the people growing nutritious food for your family, all while enjoying fresh, local fruits and vegetables.”

Strawberry farms are open April through May, but visitors should check the farm’s Facebook page or website for specific opening dates, hours of operation and directions. For a full listing of strawberry farms, visit scfarmfun.org.

SC Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers picks the first strawberries of the season at James R. Sease Farms in Gilbert.

 Editor's Note:  This is the same place I pick strawberries each year.  Great location.

Minimalism: Grocery Consumption. Tips on Minimalist Living

When my kids grew up and moved out, I began to think about downsizing, which led to a surprising discovery that I was part of a burgeoning reinvention of a "minimalism movement" and I wasn't very unique at all.  (Stories of other minimalists. Ways to ease into minimalism.)

I began with the Tiny House Movement and built a 750 square foot apartment in my husband's enormous shop on our property in which I could live.  Unfortunately, I quit blogging in March of 2014 so I could devote my spare time to salvaging the un-salvageable and I did not document my journey into minimalism.

After a tumultuous year in my new habitat, I am loving it! 

Basically, I want to own less, maintain less, consume less, spend less.... you get the picture.   One day I decided I want to go grocery shopping less.  Thanks to my local high school FFA, I have my cucumbers, squash and maters started, I'm not talking about producing my own food though.  I mean this:  Use what I have.  See how long I can live without purchasing groceries.

I challenged myself to empty my fridge, freezer and cabinets without purchasing more stuff.

I'm now down to some weird stuff, probably stuff you'd imagine:  a whole box of white rice, a bottle of Lupo's Spiedie Sauce and no meat for it, peanut butter, bread crumbs, a few eggs.

Today's creative meal was so good,

I have to share:

Ignore the hotdog in the very old bun.  Although it was good. (Applegate Farm's organic, nitrate-free, grass fed,etc.)

This is the good stuff:  I made some minute rice and topped it with sauteed onions, green beans and broccoli. (with Happy Cow butter) The best part:  I sprinkled half a lime and half a lemon over it and that turned it into something crazy good.

It's the small things that make life so grand.
Live Small.

Rock Climbing in Ireland

End of post contains travel info.

While traveling in Ireland, if hiking, rock climbing or mountaineering is your thing, get in touch with the awesome people at the NUIG Mountaineering Club.  The Club membership is limited to students, alumni, staff, etc. of NUI Galway, but they'll give you good advice and let you hang a little.

So I found a few of them climbing up a rock face, smooth like a baby's bottom, on Day Four of my drive around Ireland.

I was headed up the Wild Atlantic Way from Doolin towards Galway, having just dropped my jaw where the choppy shoreline meets the dry, hard and deserted Burren. (more on that in a later post)

I laughed out loud at my Irish luck, and with windows down, music up, I screeched to a stop and fell out of the car with my 300mm around my neck, pulling me like a dog on a leash.  I used a rock like the one above as a tripod and took pictures of other people having a GREAT time, off the couch, away from electronics, in the wild outdoors of Ireland.  They smiled at me and I smiled at them, they waved at me and I waved at them and we were all so doggone happy.

The guys told me they were with NUIG and later told me that this area is called Ballyryan and is situated between two villages, Fanore (to the North) and Doolin (to the South.)

They went up...

 ... stretched...

 ... and went back down.....