Walpack Inn Harvest Dinner
A peek at The Walpack Inn’s first locally sourced and plant-based Harvest Dinner hosted by holistic chef, Jenny Darco.
I recently had the opportunity to photograph the first Harvest Dinner hosted by Jenny Darco, holistic chef, at the Walpack Inn. The mix of the country setting, rustic tablescapes with beautiful florals, a locally sourced plant-based menu, and the creative heart and soul in every detail made this night incredibly magical. Guests were greeted with “The Dreaming Bee”, a tequila based cocktail with cherry, lemon balm, and rimmed with bee balm infused sea salt. Organic heirloom melon salads with lime juice, chili oil, and mint started the dinner. Following shortly after was a baby gems salad with candy cane and badger flame beets sprinkled with edible flowers. Peach caprese and summer squash pillows led up to the star of the night- golden chanterelles with sweet corn and squash blossoms. While the sun set on the mountain view and string lights illuminated the tables, the dinner finished with fresh organic peach and nectarine tarts with homemade coconut ice cream.
I hope this description gives you a taste of the dreamy dining experience and the amount of love that Jenny instills from sourcing the ingredients to preparing and serving.
Good news- there will be more dinners this season. For more details about upcoming dates, follow The Walpack Inn and Jenny on Instagram.
The Road To Menuha: Sequoia - Yosemite
Deep breaths expand our vast canyons of being, filling us with fresh, forest-scented wonder for the days we have now and for the ones that await.
“Menuha: rest, peace, tranquility”
I learned the word Menuha recently, not only that, but the importance of living the definition: creating a sanctuary in time for rest, peace, tranquility.
It’s been a busy year of grind, which I’m very thankful for. I think it’s brought me to a place of realizing the necessity for Menuha.
What’s interesting to me is how it calls to our soul. It’s something instilled in our being and starts to unravel as soon as we close our eyes, soak in warm rays of light, and listen to the song of creation.
“Creation isn’t complete without rest.”
This trip to Sequoia and Yosemite was impactful to me in many ways: opening my spirit to awe, feeling small, wonder, joy, and Menuha. Creation does that. A reset or reorientation in a way.
I’m thankful to have experienced this deep breath. And to have taken it my dad as well.
Deep breaths expand our vast canyons of being, filling us with fresh, forest-scented wonder for the days we have now and for the ones that await.
“Beauty of grandeur, a crown of victory, a day of rest and holiness…a rest in love and generosity, a true and genuine rest, a rest that yields peace and serenity, tranquility and security, a perfect rest with which Thou art pleased.” -The Sabbath, Abraham Heschel
Unedited Mistakes
Some good ol' fashioned unintentional light leaks, underexposed, and out of focus mistakes.
Some good ol' fashioned unintentional light leaks, underexposed, and out of focus mistakes.
I was recently listening to a message by Erwin McManus about Creating A Space For Failure:
“Losing makes you grow. Do you want to lose with me? Growing helps you win. Do want to lose with me?”
"We need to create an environment where people can be bad and be safe. Where people are learning how to sing, to speak.. We're going to get worse so that we can get better because we want to create a place where people can fail and struggle and be imperfect and can learn and we cheer them on because they are giving it their best."
I'm hoping that we can be people who extend grace to others and ourselves when we fail. Because losing makes you grow, and growing helps you win. We need each other a lot more than we don't.
There can be beauty in the struggle and imperfection.
We've Become Echoes
Back in January I took a little adventure into the woods near the town of Shohola, PA (upper Delaware River region). I always admired the forest as you drive around the mountain and descend into town- fallen trees, upheaved earth, and perfect patches of light. As I started hiking up the mountain…
The image of the invisible..
Back in January I took a little adventure into the woods near the town of Shohola, PA (upper Delaware River region). I always admired the forest as you drive around the mountain and descend into town- fallen trees, upheaved earth, and perfect patches of light. As I started hiking up the mountain I noticed some pretty spectacular rock ledges, at the time dressed with layers of icicles. I knew I wanted to come back when the snow melted to do a shoot.
I told my friend Alex Spencer and fellow *voted most artistic in high school* classmate, I had a few ideas for some portraits and asked if he'd be interested in modeling to which he replied, "Of course, you know I'm down."
So we ventured into the forest and came back with some of my favorite shots I've ever taken.
I'm so happy that we were able to work together and catch up on our creative endeavors. Alex is an incredible artist and it's amazing to see how he has molded his craft over the years. I can't wait to see what's next in his artistic adventure!
Check out Alex's prints HERE and his Instagram HERE.
Working Hands
From a young age I've been inspired by my dad's love and appreciation for the outdoors and his natural instinct to sink his hands into the earth and create beautiful vibrant gardens and use natural resources to create "things of beauty" (as he would say).
From a young age I've been inspired by my dad's love and appreciation for the outdoors and his natural instinct to sink his hands into the earth and create beautiful vibrant gardens and use natural resources to create "things of beauty" (as he would say). As I've grown older, it has become more apparent to me that my dad is a true artisan.
He has been working on a stone wall next door and today was perfect picture taking weather to document his progress.
Love you Dad!
