• Travel & Vacation: Angel Oak Tree and other Family Adventures near Charleston, SC

    Canopy of trees on the way to the Angel Oak Tree

    The girls and I ventured out a little ways to check out the Angel Oak Tree while Jake was working in Charleston one day.  The picture above is the beautiful canopy of trees we saw on the bumpy country road that led to our amazing tree adventure that was recommended to us by my friend Janet.

    Facts about the Angel Oak Tree

    In case you cannot read the sheet above here are some of the details –  The Angel Oak Tree we visited is said to be between 300 to 400 years old, 65 feet tall, the circumference is 25.5 feet, area of shade 17,000 square feet and the largest limb is 11.25 feet in circumference and 89 feet long.  It is located on John’s Island near Charleston, SC.  Some people believe that the tree is over 1500 years old.

    Angel Oak Tree near Charleston, South Carolina

    The Angel Oak Tree is massive, it was really hard to get a picture that truly shows it’s size.  I took a few pictures from different angles but I couldn’t get the entire tree to fit in one picture.  It was simply amazing to see such a huge tree.

    Beautiful and huge Angel Oak Tree

    If you look closely you can see the supports helping hold up the limbs.  The girls and I were nearly speechless at the size of the tree.  We walked around it several times just in awe!

    Brina inspecting the large carrot we picked out at a local Farmer's Market

    We stopped at this really neat local Farmers Market store on our way back from the Angel Oak Tree adventure.  Their carrots were very BIG, the girls have never seen carrots that huge before (not sure I had either).  They must have had some great soil for carrots.  We picked out a large carrot and nibbled on it for a couple days (I didn’t think to weigh to but I am think it could have been over a pound).

    Great quote the girls and I discovered along our adventures

    The girls love traveling with Jake and I on road trips.  We are always on the look out for neat ideas or something interesting to share.  Of course one of the areas we frequently visited in our travels were a variety of restrooms.  Sometimes the girls were in dire need of a restroom by the time with found one.  The girls wanted me to read this sign in the Farmers Market restroom, we all had a good laugh at it as we reminisced together of some times just in the last few months we felt like a minute was a very long time as we waited on the other side of the door.

    Walking down one of the girls favorite piers.

    Some days the water is low and all the greenery is out of the water other days it is complete under water.  Love the little “sand” trail that you can see under the water.

    The guy fishing off the pier caught a little one!

    As we were walking down the pier we notice a guy fishing.  We asked if he had caught anything yet and he showed us his catch of the morning.  The girls thought it was such a cute little fish!  They were very excited for him.

    Daddy brought us a blue raspberry slushy.

    After a fun day at the park and pool Daddy brought his girls a blue raspberry slushy.  It was amazing!

    We had blue tongues after just a few minutes.

    The blue raspberry slushy made all of our tongues blue!  I think the girls drink more of the slushy based off their tongue color, ha!

    Cannon outside the hotel.

     The girls always hoped that our room was never in the line of fire.  Thankfully our room never faced the cannon.  The girls always loved looking at it!

    After dinner we took a little walk together and found a pond with turtles.

    I am not sure how long we watched these turtles but it was a lot of fun.  The girls were mesmerized by these cute little turtles.   According to the girl there was a whole family of turtles (we did see quite a few).

    Crashed on the pull out couch after a few minutes of chitchat about their "super fun" day

    We got back to the hotel, gave the girls baths and they spent a few minutes talking and giggling about their “super fun” day before crashing.  They were exhausted but in good spirits.  We really did pack a lot into one day!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Fresh & Healthy: Community Supported Agriculture (Week 9)

    It is our ninth week receiving fresh produce from our CSA!  Our family purchased a half of share and will be receiving fresh produce, local honey, eggs and more for 20 weeks.   Jake picked up the fresh veggies this week, it was nice to get our basket this week after being away for a little bit.

    Week 9 of Fresh Goodies from our CSA!

    Fresh goodies from our farm!

    Items in our Basket this Week:

    • 1 bag Red Potatoes
    • 2 Green / Yellow Squash
    • 1/2 bag Red Okra
    • 1/2 bag Green Okra
    • 1 bag Green Beans
    • 2 cucumbers
    • 1 Tomato
    • Dozen Fresh Eggs

    I am looking forward to eating these goodies this week!  Thanks everyone for the delicious Recipes!!!

    To find out how you can be a part of a local CSA check out this post – Fresh & Healthy:  Community Supported Farms

  • Fresh & Healthy: Community Supported Agriculture (Week 4)

    It is our fourth week receiving fresh produce from our CSA!  Our family purchased a half of share and will be receiving fresh produce, local honey, eggs and more for 20 weeks.  I plan to give an update on the items we receive from week to week.  Jake picked up the fresh veggies this week for us while I was delivering a meal to a friend that recently had her first baby.

    Week 4 of Fresh Goodies from our CSA!

    Fresh Vegetables from our CSA!


    Items in our Basket this Week:

    • Bundle of Swiss Chard
    • Bundle of Beets
    • Bundle of Carrots
    • Half a Dozen of Fresh Eggs
    • Onions
    • Potatoes
    • 3 – Zucchini

    I am looking forward to eating these goodies this week!  Thanks everyone for the delicious Recipes!!!  Do you have any amazing recipes to share that use Chards?

    To find out how you can be a part of a local CSA check out this post – Fresh & Healthy:  Community Supported Farms

  • Fresh & Healthy: Downtown Farmer’s Market (Saturdays) Fresh Produce & More!

    It is the beginning of produce harvest for a lot of local farmers which means the Farmer’s Market is opening.  Many local communities will host Downtown Farmer’s Markets to help connect the farmers with the local people who want to purchase fresh fruits and veggies for their family.

    Families in the Greenville area who are looking for some fresh in-season vegetables, fruit, local honey, gourmet foods, seafood, fresh flowers, diary products, coffee, nuts, baked goods, handmade crafts, woodworking and a wide variety of other goodies from more than 50 vendors can come to downtown Greenville  on Saturday mornings starting May 7th through October 29th.

    Downtown Greenville Farmer’s Market Details:
    • What / Where – Downtown Greenville’s Saturday Market (Main Street at McBee Avenue, Greenville, SC 29601 )
    • When – Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM ( May 7 to October 29)
    • Cost – Free Admission (the only cost is for the items you purchase from the local farmers / vendors)
    • For More Information / ActivitiesSaturday Market Live / 864-467-4494

    Downtown Greenville has music and special events during the Saturday Farmer’s Market.  Please go to their events section for more information on upcoming musicians, cooking demonstrations, and special events.

    Easley just started a Downtown Farmer’s Market a few years ago.  It is smaller than the one in Downtown Greenville but for a small community it has a lot of amazing produce to offer.  Each year it has grown bigger with more vendors offering their fresh produce and goods to the local community.

    Downtown Easley Farmer’s Market Details:

    • What / Where – Downtown Easley Farmer’s Market (205 North 1st Street, Easley, SC 29640)
    • When – Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (April 9th to End of Season)
    • Cost – Free Admission (the only cost is for the items you purchase from the local farmers / vendors)
    • For More Information / ActivitiesEasley Farmers Market / 864-855-7900

    2011 Special Calendar of Events –  Easley’s Farmers Market:

    • May 7 – Smoke House &  Sparky
    • May 14 – Parent Magazine & Fun Kid Activities
    • May 21 – SunLit Moon Entertainment
    • June 11 – Parent Magazine & Fun Kid Activities
    • July 2 – 2nd Annual Pie Baking Contest & July 4th Celebration.
    • July 23 – Square Root Entertainment
    • More activities being scheduled check back often

    Photo by Natalie MaynorSwami Stream