Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Summer Bounty

One thing you've got to love about summer is its fruit and veggie bounty. Maybe if you live  someplace warm where your growing season is long, or longer than ours here in New England, you might not get as excited about fresh produce. But seeing I come from a place where our nice weather is limited to a few short months, and since I love gardening (it's those farming genes I get from my dad's ancestor's I guess), I like to take advantage of all the yummy things to eat that summer brings.
And right now it is strawberry season in my area. So yesterday was my favorite kind of day (low humidity, warm but not hot) and I went strawberry  picking at a local farm. 
 Seeing I arrived at the farm at about 8 AM, there was quite a few other folks picking already.


The picking was fantastic.
And boy do they taste good.  I got ambitious last night and did a bit of baking.
And that tasted good too. Hee-hee.
And I'm working away on my Japan Travel Journal. I'm about 90% done and ready to be finished with it. 

These 2 pages make up a spread. The top page's background is some type of shipping form. There was whole stack of them in the lobby of a hotel, so I snagged on. It has several layers, so I used some of them to make the background. Then I added a postcard, a bit of stamping, a postage stamp and a painted title. Oh yes, and one of those cute dog stickers.
And this bottom page is started with some black and white striped napkins and then one of the Geisha napkin images. You might remember I used one of these before. But if you don't, that's not an issue.
So I  added a few assorted bits of paper and then stamped some Japanese texts-but who knows what they actually say.
Since my beautiful Japanese lady has butterflies I am going to link up to Try It On Tuesday and their new challenge which is Things with Wings. And I am also linking up to Gill's challenge at Art Journal Journey which is Inspired By. These pages are inspired by my trip back in April to Japan. And no, I am not obsessed by Japan and am ready to move forward. That's why I am working away on my trip journal like a crazy woman.
OK, I have babbled on way too much. 
Thank you for visiting. I always appreciate you stopping by.


16 comments:

CJ Kennedy said...

Yesterday was a perfect day for strawberry picking. Your haul turned into a pie look delicious! I baked blueberry muffins, but got them from the grocery store. Beautiful page. I love how the elaborate do of the woman looks like a butterfly. Looks like another great weather day is on order. Enjoy your day!

Valerie-Jael said...

Strawberry picking is such fun, and your pie looks divine, yummy! Gorgeous journal pages, thanks so much for linking your beautiful Madame Butterfly to TIOT. Enjoy your day,and all the summer fruits and vegetables, hugs, Valerie

Divers and Sundry said...

Fresh fruit and vegetables taste so much better! You pie looks like it did the strawberries justice. I can almost taste it :)

Gibby Frogett said...

Scrumptious strawberry pie Erika - I bet its all gone by now too and you'll need to pick some more :)
I read with interest the list on the blackboard and saw cider mentioned - oooh - lovely - and seeing the contents of 'The cider house' that would have been somewhere I would have visited :)
And you have strawberry red colours on your lovely pages too. Love the napkin and fabulous imagery and ephemera.
Thanks for linking up to AJJ again.
Hope you've had a fun day...Gill xx

kathyinozarks said...

I miss berry picking very much. where I live now do to the land here really nice fruits and veggies homegrown are hard to come by. I used to pick blueberries about an hour away from me but they closed down, as did a strawberry patch. we have such strange and unpredictible weather here eepecially in the spring that is very hard to grow strawberries so I really enjoyed seeing your photos-and now I miss not being able to get some of those ha ha
I have really enjoyed your Japan pages-thanks again for sharing enjoy your day Kathy

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Strawberries, fresh, juicy and delicious, picked and eaten the same day, are surely one of life's greatest treats.

froebelsternchen said...

Your pages are so beautiful dear Erika! Thank you for supporting Try It On Tuesday and also Art Journal Journey with them! Much appreciated!
Oh those strawberries really look fantastic. I can imagine how yummie they are and your pie simply looks fantastic as well - WOW!
I had to bake the world's best banana bars just now for daughter's school event tomorrow and am not allowed to try something from the baking sheet - it has to sit now overnight in the fridge and goes as a whole straight to school tomorrowo in the morning ... grrrr.
Hugs, Susi

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I’ve been complaining about my gimpy keyboard for awhile, but my mouse has always worked great. That is, until today. I had to buy a new mouse just so I could maneuver between blogs. That’s why I’m really late visiting.

I am in awe of the strawberry photos. I was delighted you took us with you. and of course, the pie looks great, too. You are a baking fool.

When I am making a themed altered book, about the last few weeks get tedious at times for me. Then I go back and look at where I started, and get reinvigorated. That doesn't mean I don't want it finished, it just means I have a TINY bit more tolerance. You have to remember you were working the entire time you made those last pages, so now you can devote a bit more time to them. They are truly beautiful, and you have really put a LOT into these last two pages, too. I'm SO impressed with these pages and delighted you shared them with Art Journal Journey, too. I bet you are glad you don't live here. We are under heat advisory until Saturday evening because of the extreme heat here.

Astrid Maclean said...

Those strawberries do indeed look delicious, and the pie makes me feel hungry!!

I adore your Japan pages and today I specially enjoyed the second one, that geisha looks stunning against the background, - wonderful napkin art!

Enjoy your beautiful weather, we are having the most amazing run of warm sunny days here too, which is pretty unusual, but I love it...

craftytrog said...

We've had a great crop of strawberries in our garden this year, and now the raspberries and loganberries are ripening. I'm keeping an eye on our little blueberry bush too. Love summer fruit! Your Japan pages are looking great Erika.
Hugs, Alison xx

Let's Art Journal said...

I love strawberries this time of year and always enjoy going to the pick your own farms during the summer 😁. Your pie looks fabulous - yum! Your travel pages are beautiful, I love the lady with her butterflies and postage stamps - amazing πŸ˜€. Thanks so much for joining us at Try it on Tuesday and enjoy your week! J 😊 x

Caterina Giglio said...

I like your spread and I am partial to wings..

Jeanie said...

These are just fabulous photos. Magazine worthy! My three strawberry plants this year have yielded exactly four berries. Fabulous berries. But not enough of them! Maybe I need to take a page from your book and go to the pick farm. Meanwhile, loving all your Japan pages. What a beautiful journal this will be.

Meggymay said...

Delicious strawberries, did a few get tasted while you picked them, just to check the sweetness and flavour?
The journal pages look awesome, thank you for joining us all again at TioT's.
Yvonne xx

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

I love your Japan journal pages, Erika. I'm not tired of seeing them. They're fascinating nd I admire that you're journaling them right after your latest Japan trip. I have trip memorabilia that has sat for years waiting to be journaled. Thank goodness they're patient ;-)

That strawberry pie looks fabulous. I love the faux lattice crust. Why didn't I ever think of that?

Mrs.B said...

A gorgeous page Erika, the Japanese lady is indeed beautiful surrounded y those butterflies.
Love the look of those strawberries, especially the pie, bet it didn't last long!

Thanks for sharing with us at Try it on Tuesday
Avril x