Bountiful Brunch.

Seth works for Pee Dee Land Trust, as many of you may already be aware of.  PDLT's mission in layman's terms is to conserve land in the Pee Dee region for future generations to enjoy.  Mainly this organization houses folks that can afford to put their land in easements, and many of the events that PDLT hosts are unique and sophisticated.  Even though Seth and I try to live and act this way - we are FAR from being sophisticated!

I'm lucky if I can hang with the conversation going on.  We are both lucky if we set the table properly.  Seth's lucky if he can walk out of the house matching on the first try.  At times we may use sugar spoons for our breakfast cereal and dessert forks with dinner.  More often than not we drink out of our nalgene bottles instead of dinner glasses.  I hate the proper table setting layout.  I really think the fork should be placed on the right side of the plate since majority of folks are right handed.  I think the spoon should be immediately to the left of the plate and THEN the knife.
Sometimes when we have dinner guests I use a diverse set of napkins and plates just because.

We do recycle.
We do use cloth napkins.
I make the bed EVERYday.
Other than four place settings - we have not had our china.  I can't wait for the day when we have a home and I can finally open and use ALLL of my china pieces.
 Just a few random facts for you.

A few weekends ago PDLT hosted a sophisticated, plantation casual, fancy smancy Bountiful Brunch with all local food.  There were table runners, chargers, place settings, and all the to do.  It was set up in a field surrounded by trees and had an absolutely gorgeous view.  The day was perfect.  Seth and I helped set everything up that morning and were not expecting to eat.  After setting up we changed into our 'plantation casual' attire and greeted and mingled with the guests.  After all had left the secret garden, which served champagne and cheese, and had been seated there were a few missing guests.  PDLT's executive director was able to sit at a table, Seth and I were able to sit together at a table, and another PDLT employee sat.  Oh, happy day it was for Seth and I.

Seth so wanted to take this selfy of us. He is a sefly fanatic :).  Us right before the guests began to arrive.

The home and land of the Brunch's destination was so lovely.  Loved these cotton wreath's on the front door.

A local honey comb for decoration.

After the guest had been shuffled from the secret garden to the brunch area - Seth, Ashley, and I headed to the garden to see what we could do to help tidy up.  We saw this honey comb with honey dripping down and bees loving it.  It was pretty neat.

Shortly after we were told the good news!

One of the first pairings - the 'sitting' wine.

Each course had its own wine pairing.  Each food/wine pairing was executed very well - it is amazing how pairings can bring out such a different taste with the wine and the food.

Our table w/ my favorite PDLT employee :).

A liver mousse pate 

I was a bit weirded out by this mousse pate - but hey I had to try it.  It was actually very good and paired with it's specific wine was pretty yummy.

Local raised chicken, grits cake, and potatoes.

PDLT's Executive Director and friends table.

The flower committee for PDLT did an amazing job at decorating for the Brunch.  Beautiful flowers in the center of the Brunch.

Of course - pictures never do justice - but it was a beautiful view on a perfect day.

Honey-Thyme Custard. My word.

I'll say it again...My word...

This was beyond delightful.  Custards are probably my favorite type of dessert.  I don't make/eat custards very often since Seth is a pie/cobbler/cookie man, so on the rare occasion I do eat custard - I'm in heaven.

The custard was good - the wine correlated with the custard by itself was good.  But when you paired the wine and the custard simultaneously it was out of this world amazing.  

All I can say is - I asked for seconds.

I ate seconds.

I even wanted to whisper to Seth to stop eating his custard so I could have it, but I thought that would be a little much since he was still eating his first and only custard by the time I had completed my second.

I've looked up recipes.

This is one of the lovely PDLT employees and the mastermind of the Amazing Brunch!

We had a great time being sophisticated - even though we did have to check out which silverware the folks at our table was using for each course!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Go all out - Set the table properly - Use cloth napkins - Be fancy smancy and love every minute of it!

The Cook's :)

Utah Reminiscing - South Carolina Fall

Fall is one of my favorite seasons.  I love the feel of crisp cool air, sun shine that can warm your bones, pumpkins, football, leggings, boots, sweater dresses, and everything else that correlates with this weather.  

My lovely oh so favorite mountains!  I'm just dying for a visit.

At the end of September my parentals celebrated 29 years of marriage.  To celebrate they usually go to the mountains for a day away and to get some apples.  This year Seth and I got to celebrate with them and take little man with us.

We had great weather and a beautiful view.

Cute fella with the pumpkins.

He was just wanting to share with Ganma!

And straight for the mouth.

A little obsessed with Pops hat - he kept wanting to eat it.

A few of Mackay's favorite women - He sure does have a lot of them!

Thinking he is something holding the wheel.

So technically we went to pick apples, but majority of the trees had already been picked.  They had these huge crates to pick your own apples from, so we just figured with Mackay it'd be easier to apple pick from the crates :).

Granny Smith Apples

Mackay intrigued with an apple.

Auntie and Uncle.

The lovely parentals after 29 years.

As they have aged...

and I guess I as well...

I realize how intelligent they actually are...Have they always been this way :).

I realize what all they have given to Eason and I, Seth and I, Eason and Brittany, and Mackay.

We have been spoiled.  We have been taken care of.  We have been loved.  We have been educated, become car owners, and given every opportunity by these two to do whatever our heart desires.

These two have been our best cheerleaders, our biggest supporters, our greatest fighters, and our best friends.

Eason and I have been very much blessed with more than we deserved in these two queer - tail Parentals :)

After my parent's anniversary, we were able to celebrate the marital bliss of Tanner and Catherine Jordan.

At their rehearsal dinner.

She was a gorgeous bride.  Tanner a dashing lad.  I like them as a couple.

Next in line for marital bliss are these chaps..

Jay and Stephanie

Can't wait to watch and celebrate with these kids in just a few short months.

Jay and Seth. 

The bride, Stephanie, and I.

The weekend after the wedding Seth had to 'work' a kayaking trip down Black Creek.  I got to join in on the trip and had a blast.  

I do have to mention that Seth is intelligent, athletic, good looking, hard working, and yatta yattta yatta - - mainly I just wanted to mention he is very athletic.  He is always good at every sport he attempts. He usually beats me at everything.  Except....

Kayaking.

I am good.

Seth not so much.

I'm a better kayak-er than Seth.  End of Story.  I'm a natural according to our guide.

The river was gorgeous all day. 

We had perfect weather.  Gorgeous views.  Calm waters.  Great company.

I was good - I'm still being prideful :).

Our kayaking group.

Another lovely view.

The slow poke :).

Family and friends - come visit.  We will take you kayaking :).

After our kayaking trip was my birthday.  The big 2--6.  I'm not celebrating anymore.

My birthday was on a Monday - so work and class it was.  Seth took me out the next day to celebrate.  We went to a super fancy smancy restaurant in town.  We went all out and bought everything in sight. It was delightful - delicious - so much fun.

Our dinner and my totally good looking date.

Seth and I went to a Arsenic and Old Lace play with Jay and Stephanie.  I felt very sophisticated and totally loved the play!  It was funny and it was long, but enjoyable.

Oh, what else is going on around here?  We stay pretty busy.  It use to be with socializing, but now it is with work, school, keeping up :).  We love Florence.  Seth's work is still fun for him and it appears he is doing well at it.  The months keep passing by and I keep thinking we've just returned from Utah.  Before long we will have been back in the South for a year! Wow is time flying!

Not too long ago we were here.  Our first fall break at Utah State we went and visited Zion National Park with our buddies Jordan and Cari.

And we visited The Teton's and Yellowstone sometime during our first fall too.

Boy do we miss these folks.  Some of our very best friends.  Love them and their girls.

Definitely miss these cats as our neighbors.

Wish I had a picture of our absolute favorite people the Koehler's with us.  But they are definitely missed along with the others.  

Ahhhh - reminiscing!

Our nephew is about to be a year in January.

Isn't he just adorable.  Those eyes.  Man I fall in love every time I see that kid.

My sister-in-law will give us another nephew to adore in January.

Isn't she such a nice looking pregnant lady?  Total belly - and just plain cute.  I can't wait to see her baby bump in person!

That's a rap - just a quick little update about us Cook folks.  Hope all is well and everyone has a great remainder of their week!

The Cook's :)