Blueberry Picking

Last year at the very end of the summer I stumbled upon Swift Creek Berry Farm not too far from me in Richmond.  I was thrilled to find a place to pick fresh blueberries but disappointed to realize that I only had an hour to pick before they closed for the season.  I literally was the last person (furiously) picking in the blueberry plants trying to fill my bucket before they kicked me out to close their gates for the year.  I was honored to be their very last customer of the 2010 season but bummed to not have discovered them earlier...especially because the blueberries are so sweet & delicious.  The amount I picked only lasted me through half of the winter so I decided that I'd try to pick enough this year to carry me all the way through till next summer.

Cheryl agreed to join me this year for some blueberry-pickin' fun.  It was a beautiful Saturday morning in August spent picking & chatting in the berry plants.  We were enjoying ourselves so much that we both ended up picking 2 full buckets.  11 lbs. and a couple hours later I was a happy camper with a cooler full of berries.

Just in case my first batch of berries did not last me through the winter (because I gave away more than a couple pounds), Mom and I decided to explore Bush Neck Farm in Williamsburg a few weeks back for some more blueberries.  It's a farm way off the beaten path, at the end of a very long one lane road, and backs up to the Chickahominy River.  We both each picked a bucket (totaling 9 lbs. all together) rather quickly because the sound of all the boats on the river made us anxious to get home and get out there ourselves.  So...between the 2 trips, my freezer is full and I should be set for a long while in the blueberry department!

  

My "Working" Vacation

Seven hours after Cheryl's reception was over, I was on my way up to Leesburg to spend the week watching 3 girls for a family I was a nanny for right after college (the parents were headed to France!).  At the time, I felt like getting away for a week would be a great change of scenery and would be a much needed break from work and the hectic pace that I had recently been living.  It was indeed a mental break but not exactly a physical one. :) 

I remember driving up I-95 feeling more tired than ever and wondering how in the world I was going to have the energy to run around with a 10, 8, and 3 year old for an entire week.  The 3 year old was usually up by 6am (or earlier!) and would crawl in bed with me and then the older girls were hard to get to bed before 10pm.   So...I got up when they did and also went to bed when they did leaving little "free" time for me to catch up on emails, blogging, and other fun things I had hoped to do while away from my normal routines.  Despite the girls keeping me busy (especially the very active & entertaining 3 year old), it was a nice week to get away.  The only downside was coming back to work after taking the week off and feeling like I needed a vacation! 

Because we really couldn't leave the neighborhood that week, we entertained ourselves with picture-taking, going to the pool, making videos of the girls acting/singing, going to the park, baking cookies, playing games, and braiding hair. 

Drum roll please...Cheryl's Wedding Day...finally!

Cheryl & Sky's wedding and reception took place at a plantation house in Charles City.  The day was a beautiful one and we arrived at the plantation first thing in the morning to prepare for the big day.  With the wedding not starting till 4:00, the girls had lots of time to leisurely get ready and to enjoy some time hanging out.  It was especially nice to have a more relaxed schedule after all the work put into the decorations and finishing touches the day before.    Cheryl was so creative and resourceful doing so much on her own for the wedding...flower arrangements for the tables, programs, decorative board for seating assignments, personalized wine glass charms, personalized tags on our favors (ice cream scoops!), and so much more.  We were all impressed with the time and effort she put into so many of the little (and big) details to add unique touches to this day.

*Picture heavy post, although aren't they all. :)
 

As a very special treat to her bridal party, Cheryl brought in a makeup artist and stylist to do our hair and makeup...

Love the eyelashes!

A new concept...curling hair with a flat iron

More getting ready...

Cheryl and her sister taking a peek at the guys out front...

 

A few details...

 Cake made by her sister!

Our "Getting Ready" room at the plantation

Can I tell you how nervous I was to drive 45 minutes very carefully with Julie holding an uncovered wedding cake in my backseat?!

   

 

Amazing cake topper handmade by Sky's mom

The Wedding...

Time for pictures...

 

And the reception...

Small group girls

"Prom Pose"

 All of those lanterns were hung individually by Sky, Cheryl, and family!

If I'm looking a little worn, it's because of the 3 hours of dancing. :)

 A beautiful day it was...and I had so much fun being a part of it!