Summer in the Country: Farm Dinner
August is one of my favorite months of the year. Flowers are bursting with color, farm fields are overflowing with their goodness, and fireflies light up the warm skies. I love all the sights, sounds, and scents of summer in the country where the suburban sprawl meets the Illinois prairies.
Today is the first Saturday of the month which means I’m back with my cozy living friends to share what we love about the month of August (see their posts at the links below).
For me, August is the epitome about everything that’s wonderful about summer in the country. The smell of sweet corn pervades the air while red and white barns dot the landscape.
Last weekend we attended a cocktail party and farm dinner at Heritage Prairie Farm just down the road from me. To say it was a magical evening is a bit of an understatement.
The grounds at the farm are so charming! This metal corn bin has been turned into a gazebo. We sat in there for a while, drinks in hand, while watching the sun begin to set over the green fields in the distance.
Individual bars were set up in different spots on the farm and each bar served a different specialty drink. My favorite was the berry mojito. Servers walked around with trays of appetizers, and vintage tables and dressers created buffets for more food like finger sandwiches and salad skewers.
The star of the farm dinner was the low country boil. Large platters were brought outside to enjoy. A mix of china in pretty patterns created an eclectic table setting – there were no paper plates or utensils, and drinks were served in glass, not plastic.
Hubby and I enjoyed the evening with my son and his wife. I shared their wedding pictures a couple years ago. Cory had never eaten crab legs so it was kinda fun to watch him crack them open. Bite-sized desserts were on the menu but Cory said he wished they had ice cream.
Believe it or not, a few seconds later the Good Humor Man showed up! The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Inside the white tent was a dance floor and small band. The farm hosts a lot of weddings, but they always reserve the last Saturday in July for the cocktail party.
Most people associate summer with the beach, but for me, I love summer in the country. Don’t get me wrong, I love the beach and being around water – but there’s something so organic about farm fields and knowing my little corner of the world is responsible for feeding thousands of people. I love that the first line in America the Beautiful that says, “Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.”
In addition to attending farm dinners, I also love riding my bike down country roads, heavy with the scent of sweet corn. The stalks are so high that you can’t see over them, so it almost feels like you’re riding in a tunnel of green.
And then there’s all the farm markets! The fruits and veggies from the local markets always taste better than the ones found at the grocery store. I prefer to dine at restaurants that purchase their food locally – like Livia, an Italian restaurant that serves this amazing avocado toast with poached eggs for brunch.
Speaking of locally grown food, my Chicago Hardy Fig is now ripe with fruit. I picked a few and enjoyed them on toast spread with ricotta and honey. It’s my favorite appetizer. I also like Roasted Figs with Goat Cheese and Honey.
August is the start of harvesting the bounty of summer in the country. It will last for months but August is special. I love everything about it!
Be sure to visit my cozy living friends below to see how they enjoy the month of August.
Creative Cain Cabin / Town and Country Living
Sincerely Marie Designs / Hymns and Verses / Vinyet Etc.
I love the country too, i was raised on the outskirts of our town on an acreage we had cows pigs and an abundance of fruit trees and pecans , it makes me hungry just thinking of the riches of nature we enjoyed. The only thing i didn’t enjoy was we kids had to do our homework and then go hoe the weeds in the garden,lol!!
I spent many days in the country. I learned more from those days than any one could imagine. Especially those of you that have never had the experience of country life. Now I have become accustom to city life. I am thankful that I have had the experience of both.
I don’t get to the country much anymore. We had 3 1/2 acres next to my parents in the SW Ocala area. Very beautiful butwe never built on it and it was sold. My parents sold their place and moved into town many years ago but our whole family, their children and grandchildren, have great country memories. Thanks for the visit!!
This was a wonderful trip down memory lane, my grandparents had a huge farm when i was growing up, 2000 acres, i loved it, they grew so many things and had fruit trees, pecan trees and persimmons, i loved eating straight out of the dirt. I also love riding my bike thru the farm towns, anywhere there is no traffic.
What a fun time, hubby and I are doing something similar tomorrow night. We do a farm to table event every year that takes place inside a different barn around the area. I can’t wait to take a few pics. Love all your 🙂
What a beautiful place and evening! That red barn and gazebo are so picturesque. We live an area where suburbs meet horse farms and I absolutely love it. It’s nice to be down the street from the rolling hills. Each season offers something beautiful to see. I loved this post friend! It sounds like the perfect summer night.