I must admit that the days when summer is slipping into fall are among my favorite. Returning from our walk, the sweet aroma from brewing coffee welcomed me home. I poured a cup and sat down on the deck to further enjoy the crisp air of morning. As I watched the steam rise from my cup, I pondered how I would spend this delightful day. As the end of summer draws near, the opportunity to enjoy fresh local produce also will soon come to an end. I decided to spend the day picking up a few bushels of local corn to put into the freezer and enjoy throughout the year.

I have always marveled at the versatility of eggs. Boiled, poached, fried or over-easy, an egg is delicious solely by itself. It also makes a wonderful addition to many dishes. But I find no dish more fascinating than the omelet. Because you can use almost any ingredients in an omelet, it allows for great culinary creativity.

There is nothing quite as healing to the soul as a leisurely morning spent with a good long-time friend. I so enjoy spending time with my dear friend, Lyn. She is like a favorite pair of blue jeans. She goes with everything, and still fits perfectly after all these years. It is amazing how we seem to have a taste for the same things. This particular morning, it was crepes. Luckily for us, we were near the wonderful Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shop at the infamous Reynolda Village in Winston-Salem. Perusing the extensive menu of sweet and savory crepes, this morning I had to choose the peach crepe, topped with house cream and drizzled with honey.

The morning sunlight was streaming through the window, as the steam rose from my freshly poured cup of coffee. “Ding,” the toaster alerted that my bread was nicely browned, warm and ready to be spread with butter and homemade preserves made from strawberries picked just last month. I tossed a handful of fresh blueberries onto my oatmeal and drizzled a little local honey on top.

In the Carolinas, July is one of the most plentiful months for freshly picked fruits and vegetables. While I enjoy the many local farmers markets for their wide variety of delicious treasures, I also enjoy visiting pick-your-own farms, especially when purchasing large quantities to freeze or can. The only thing that can make strawberry preserves more delicious is enjoying them spread on a hot biscuit on a cold winter’s morning.