April Round Up!

updates, favorites, and what’s to come.

May 04, 2024

If I had one wish right now, it would be to linger in the energy of this April forever. There wasn’t a second to spare because it was plum-full of work, play, friends, family, nature, travel, and community…endless reminders of how abundant life truly is.

I’m grateful to say May is off to a sunny start and looking much the same! So before I get into the goodness of April, here’s where you can find me + join the fun this month! Stay tuned for more details and announcements on Instagram.

— The Freckled Heron: Upcoming Events —

Mother’s Day Weekend at ShareWell: May 10-12

I’ll be baking honey vanilla cake w/ fresh strawberry buttercream, decorated with edible flowers + available by the slice. For sale in the case at ShareWell Coffee…treat yoself and yo mama to a sweet treat and some incredible coffee anytime from 7:30-4, Friday-Sunday!

Carolina Ground Pop-Up Market: Sunday, May 18

Alongside some of the areas best local artisan bakers and makers, I’ll be selling fresh + colorful bouquets, handmade dried wreaths, & pressed floral art. Don’t miss it!

Thrifty Thursday Grill & Chill: Thursday May 30, 5-8pm

REEEAAAALLL excited about this one! On the patio at ShareWell Coffee, this is the second community event in a series of recurring monthly gatherings I’m hosting. The goal is to create a consistently fun + low-key space for folks to come hang and build community…a yummy social hour of sorts!

Thrift the weirdest/funniest/coolest shirt or fit you can find (voting + prizes for the best) and come on out! There’ll be games, music, friends, neighbors, and beginning of summer vibes. I’ll be grilling skewers, hot dogs, and peaches w/ ice cream for dessert + a complimentary beer or seltzer is included. RSVP HERE & I’ll see ya there (:

April Moments

Patio Picnic Party

Greek apps and a good time were had by so many great people! It felt like everyone in my corner showed up and supported me to make the first community gathering a success, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Here’s to many more!

‘Garden Party’ Spring Soirée at Old Lab Mercantile

I catered this fun event with sweet + savory, spring-inspired goodies…all decorated with edible flowers grown by a friend at Highland Lake Farms. Everyone showed up in their best floral/spring attire, and enjoyed snacking + shopping throughout the evening!

Floral Design

I spent a week freelancing for Designs by Dillon in Wilmington, as we conquered a weekend FULL of wedding floral design. The venues + scale of weddings in this area are unmatched, and I love working alongside a killer team of designers to learn new skills/techniques and flex new creative muscles.

Books

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle: 7/10

It was my first time reading this one, and while I appreciated the overarching message—that life is full of evil temptations, but all we need is love and to be ourselves—it felt a smidge tedious to me. Nevertheless, it’s a fun/weird little story, published in 1962 as a children’s book, and I understand why it’s a classic!

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel: 100000/10

Hands down my favorite book of the year so far…and maybe all time ever. Completely engrossing and utterly breathtaking. The authors poetic style of writing both beautifully and heart-breakingly tells an Appalachian coming-of-age story rich in Cherokee Native American history, and I’m ready to call it one of the most important books in American fiction. *TW: graphic mental illness + SA language, and childhood trauma.

Personal Favorites

The Great Outdoors
I’m endlessly grateful to live in (what I consider) one of the most beautiful places in the world. Here—just south of heaven—reminders of paradise are everywhere. Spring made its budding debut, my youngest brother and his girlfriend paid me a visit from Minnesota, and my friends and I were ready to shed our wintered ways. The result was spending more time in the woods + near bodies of water + in the garden, than indoors…and I don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon!
Spring Flavors + Flowers
Cold weather crops are in full bloom and spring produce is happeninggg! Blooms, berries, herbs, aromatics, herbs, greens, and a whole lot of freshness…ooh baby I love love love it.
Community Care….and Banana Pudding
I think the definition of greed is expecting the benefits of being in community without contributing to it. I moved into a new place/neighborhood mid-February, and my neighbors here are something special. We hang out on each others porches, help one another out, share lots of food and laughs—it’s the greatest thing ever. In my opinion, community care IS self-care; you help someone out from the goodness of your heart, and you’re both made better for it.
Since my lawn mower is currently out of commission, I asked a neighbor if I could pay him to cut the grass for me. His word-for-word reply was, “of course, but I’ll only take beer and nanner pudd-N as compensation.” Needless to say, beside a six pack of Two Hearted Ale, this recipe was born. He ended up sharing it with his family, friends, and coworkers…and I’m sharing it with you to share with yours. Be kind out there, and take care of one another.