Yearly Portraits at Conestoga House and Gardens

Every year I try to have a photo session with the kids since I don't go anywhere for portraits.  My favorite spot for this casual photo shoot (ie: I click away while they roam) is a local gem, Conestoga House and Gardens. 



They are only open one day a week, have very restricted hours, and finding a Wednesday evening that we're free is slim pickings.  However, last night was the last chance we would have before they close for the season, so off we went.  (It was Pete's first time there and he had a very important job--to keep Adam out of the water hazards fountains, pool, koi pond.)

It was evident that the kids were tired and not in the mood.  Wouldn't you say?
(Note to self: avoid picture taking during the first week back to school.)

Anytime I asked if they could stand or sit in a particular place or smell this or that flower, they balked and gave me one of these:

Adam's tactic was to run.  Just run.  And the boy is quick.

(By the way, the place has a carry in, carry out policy...we brought our own flowers.)

So, I left them alone, and managed to get a few shots I could work with.  They didn't have to be contest winners.  Just one or two snapshots of who they are at this age.

And because I promised Natalia she could use my camera (with assistance) to take a few pictures when we were finished, here is her favorite shot of the night.  The horse.  That should be no surprise!  :-)

What truly made the evening was running into some friends from college and my Y.E.S. training, as well as two families from our church!  Shout out to the Planks and the Howells!  :-)  The kids had a blast playing hide and seek as the sun set.



Horses, Horses, Horses...

...and a few cows. But really, this post is about the horses.

Since spring, my daughter has been anticipating a visit to the farm where my Mom's friend's friend boards her horses. (follow that?)

Sunday afternoon the time finally came. My younger brother's family was there, my mom, and Natalia and I, and the kids were soooooo excited. Even little Eli had been saying "pony? pony?" all morning. My mom's friend Teresa kindly gave each of the children a pony cart ride, let them lead Moakey around and brush her. Then the oldest 3 got a ride on a wonderfully gentle 12 yr. old "real-sized" horse named Max.

It was a beautiful autumn afternoon, the air brisk, the leaves bright red and orange and yellow.

Grandpa even stopped by on his way home from his bike ride.

My girlie was in horse heaven.

And I was excited to learn that you can be an owner-less 4H equestrian participant once you turn 8. A much cheaper alternative to riding lessons, especially for a beginner. I'm definately filing away that tidbit for the future!

Farm Show

I just love our local Farm Show...and that it is still all about farming.

I appreciate that each food stand sells a different thing, and that they and the carnival rides haven't taken over the feel of the place.

I enjoy being able to pick out familiar faces in the crowded streets, though it's been 16 years.

I take delight in the friendly but competitive fine arts contest...clearly I need to kick it into high gear though. My high school rival bested me!This was the first time I entered something in 16 years...you'd think he'd show some mercy. :-)

And I'm thrilled to see my kids enjoying the parade and the animals as much as I remember doing so.
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This year, since Natalia had school, Adam and I met up with Melanie and her two youngest to enjoy a morning at the Farm Show. Melanie and I became friends way back in the first grade and it was a treat to spend time with her again.

A favorite every year is this table of corn and tractor toys.And of course there are lots of real tractors and things to climb on...till Mommy noticed the new sign that was up this year. :-(

The lawnmowers didn't have a sign on them. Yay!

Horse Girl

Anyone who spends a minute in my daughter's company these days will quickly discern her love for horses. It's her favorite subject to talk about, riding horses her dream, and what she most often will pretend to be, whinying, pawing, snorting, galloping...

In fact, her frequent response to our question about what she wants to do when she grows up is to live at our Amish neighbor's farm and be a "horse girl".

Last week I saw an ad in the local merchandizer announcing a free family event at a nearby church on Saturday: dinner, face painting, games, wagon rides, a juggling act/entertainment and (drumroll, please) PONY RIDES!!! I knew Natalia would be thrilled, but also that I'd be cooking up alot of applesauce that day and would want a break from the kitchen come dinnertime. So, we put it on the calendar.

Natalia was beyond excited to finally ride a horse, but it was forecasted to be a rainy day. I was so hoping that it wouldn't get cancelled. Thankfully, aside from the humidity and fog in the morning it turned out to be a great day weather-wise for the event!

Giddy with anticipation. (She insisted on wearing her "horsey" shirt in honor of the occasion.)

I think it's safe to say that she's even more infatuated with horses now that she's ridden one!

Sunflowers

Last summer, despite our frequent trips to my parents' house, capturing a shot of this large swatch of sunflowers eluded me. I either had a carload of tired hungry children, a tight timeline, and/or I had forgotten to grab my camera before leaving home. Till I had the time and my lense handy the blooms had faded and dried up.

So, when I drove past this field a few days ago and discovered their bright shining faces in all their glory, I knew I had but a narrow window.

Don't sunflowers just make you smile?

I think the farm where these are planted must harvest the seeds to sell because it seems like a pretty large crop just for aesthetic purposes.

Last night when I took these shots there were several colums of dark blue storms all around. I was kind of hoping for that particular shade of blue behind the yellowish orange of the blooms, but their faces were turned to the east and I was surrounded by tall corn. Only one way to shoot.

I just love these blooms.

Wordless Wednesday

Almost There

As if you needed any more proof that time flies!

Less than two weeks before we start group #2.

Summer Nights In The Country

In the evening light there is little that hints of the sweat and toil of the day.

The horse-drawn wagons and tractors are silent.

Produce sits perched on roadside stands.

The scene is peaceful and idyllic.

The air cools and carries the hint of a campfire somewhere.

Crickets begin their serenade.

The setting sun illuminates the silos in the distance.

Fireflies hover over the fields.

Livestock dot the pasture, munching or ambling towards the barn for milking time.

A bowl of juicy watermelon before bedtime.

Your children as they "air dry" after their bath, running from room to room.

The windows open while you sleep.

It's a country life...and I love it.

Fowl Follow-up

For those of you curious about how our chickens are faring, here are some updated pictures.



See those trees in the background? We live just beyond them.





They're two and a half weeks old now, have been moved out to the pasture, are scratching and pecking and growing fast!



Tyson, keeping a close watch.

I must add that I appreciate and am so proud of my hard-workin' man.

Remember that SUPER hot Saturday 2 weekends ago? Well, he was working all day on this cage, in the stifling heat, figuring things out on his own. (Chris would have helped him but he had hurt his foot pretty badly the day before.)

Thanks hon for making this project happen! :o)

Our Experiment

It all started with a conversation after church.

Our friends, the Kanes, recommended this book to Pete after learning he was interested in organic/grow-your-own-food types of things.

And now, it has culminated into this.

My Wordless Wednesday post gave you the first glimpse.

Yes, I did pick up a crate of baby 50 (1 day old) chicks at the post office last Wednesday. As soon as I walked in with the kids we heard the cheeping and chirping. The lady in front of us in line exclaimed, "I hear baby chickens!" I chuckled and said, "Um, those would be ours."

We are, in fact, raising chickens for the next 6 weeks. And yet, technically, we're not.

I've written before about our Amish friends who live a stone's throw away. We've made weekly visits to their farm over the last year to buy eggs (and our very own Wilbur). Well, Pete and Chris often talk about farming projects and we've enjoyed getting to know their young family.

They decided they wanted to enter into this experiment with us. We would share the cost of supplies, they would provide the pasture, we would help feed, water, and move the chicks every day, and in 6 weeks...VOILA! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

[Know where that saying originated? The story goes that in Las Vegas
for many years the chicken dinner special was $1.79. With the standard bet being
$2, a winning bet would be enough money to buy dinner. Hence the phrase,
"Winner, winner, chicken dinner".]

But I digress...

I don't really want to think about the butchering part. I'm already contemplating what illness I can feign when that day comes. Just give it to me dead, clean, and dressed and I'll cut it up. Easy shmeezy.

For now I'd rather look at these cute little things and not think about what's down the road.

Pretty soon we can take their pen out to pasture. More pictures will follow. (Only happy ones, I promise.)