Thursday, October 28, 2010
The *actual* pumpkin patch post
I intended to write this yesterday, but as you know, I only got as far as the group photos.
Last week, at Sarah's suggestion, several of the Woodberry toddler group went to Liberty Mills Farm to pick pumpkins.
I'm glad she suggested the outing. I hadn't heard of Liberty Mills Farm before, but they are local and you can go and pick your own produce. Reading their website, I also found they are going to start a CSA, which I am totally interested in for next summer!
The farm opened at 11, and by the time we all got there and situated, we decided that we would start out with lunch and then move on to the pumpkin pickin'.
The pumpkins were all out in the field, and you could just wander among them and find your perfect pumpkin. Sierra headed out into the promised land of pumpkins like she knew exactly where she was going.
She chose that big round one sitting at her feet (only $4!!).
Lorae, Harper and Reiss searched for pumpkins alongside us.
There were so many to choose from. You can see our friends out in the huge field looking for the best one to take home.
We all know a pumpkin makes a good pie. Did you know that a pumpkin also makes a good chair?
And a good drum?
Sierra's "drumstick" is a green tomato she pilfered from a tomato plant we passed, Sophia has a cherry tomato, and Harper's tool of choice is a gourd.
Spencer reminded Sierra that digging in the dirt is always a fun pastime!
When we had all found our pumpkins, we headed back to the farm shed to pay for our goodies.
The prices couldn't be beat. Sierra and I bought two pumpkins, two gourds (which she found on a table on our way back to the shed and wanted to bring home), and a spaghetti squash for $7. I haven't tried the squash yet, but it is just waiting to be eaten. Yum!
And here's one more little pumpkin before I sign off:
Last week, at Sarah's suggestion, several of the Woodberry toddler group went to Liberty Mills Farm to pick pumpkins.
I'm glad she suggested the outing. I hadn't heard of Liberty Mills Farm before, but they are local and you can go and pick your own produce. Reading their website, I also found they are going to start a CSA, which I am totally interested in for next summer!
The farm opened at 11, and by the time we all got there and situated, we decided that we would start out with lunch and then move on to the pumpkin pickin'.
The pumpkins were all out in the field, and you could just wander among them and find your perfect pumpkin. Sierra headed out into the promised land of pumpkins like she knew exactly where she was going.
She chose that big round one sitting at her feet (only $4!!).
Lorae, Harper and Reiss searched for pumpkins alongside us.
There were so many to choose from. You can see our friends out in the huge field looking for the best one to take home.
We all know a pumpkin makes a good pie. Did you know that a pumpkin also makes a good chair?
And a good drum?
Sierra's "drumstick" is a green tomato she pilfered from a tomato plant we passed, Sophia has a cherry tomato, and Harper's tool of choice is a gourd.
Spencer reminded Sierra that digging in the dirt is always a fun pastime!
When we had all found our pumpkins, we headed back to the farm shed to pay for our goodies.
The prices couldn't be beat. Sierra and I bought two pumpkins, two gourds (which she found on a table on our way back to the shed and wanted to bring home), and a spaghetti squash for $7. I haven't tried the squash yet, but it is just waiting to be eaten. Yum!
And here's one more little pumpkin before I sign off:
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Ever tried to take a picture of 7 toddlers?
If you did try to take a picture of seven toddlers, it might go something like this:
Start with Sophia, Harper, and Sierra
Add Tommy
Rearrange. Add Spencer.
Add Mia and Teddy.
Everybody LOOK! Close, but darn! Sierra's head is blocking Sophia.
Take 2. Four of seven toddlers NOT looking at the camera.
Take 3. Come back, Sierra! Three of seven toddlers not looking at the camera.
Take 4. Come back, Spencer!
Take 5. Welcome back, Spencer. Come back, Mia!
Take 6. Harper needs to fix her hair. Tommy is throwing the straw. Only one toddler looking at the camera.
Take 7. Oh, nevermind ...
Last week, we went to pick pumpkins with a group of our Woodberry friends. I was planning on telling you about that outing now, but Kaia has finally gone to sleep, which means that I am going to do the same. So we will save the pumpkin picking for another day and another post. I will however, leave you with this final photo of our whole happy crew (because I know Sarah wants to see it), which we wrangled some poor, unsuspecting soul into taking.
Seven mamas, three babies, and seven toddlers, at least 3 of whom are trying to escape!
I love how all the mamas have mastered the art of smiling at the camera rather than looking at what the squirming child in her arms is doing.
Start with Sophia, Harper, and Sierra
Add Tommy
Rearrange. Add Spencer.
Add Mia and Teddy.
Everybody LOOK! Close, but darn! Sierra's head is blocking Sophia.
Take 2. Four of seven toddlers NOT looking at the camera.
Take 3. Come back, Sierra! Three of seven toddlers not looking at the camera.
Take 4. Come back, Spencer!
Take 5. Welcome back, Spencer. Come back, Mia!
Take 6. Harper needs to fix her hair. Tommy is throwing the straw. Only one toddler looking at the camera.
Take 7. Oh, nevermind ...
Last week, we went to pick pumpkins with a group of our Woodberry friends. I was planning on telling you about that outing now, but Kaia has finally gone to sleep, which means that I am going to do the same. So we will save the pumpkin picking for another day and another post. I will however, leave you with this final photo of our whole happy crew (because I know Sarah wants to see it), which we wrangled some poor, unsuspecting soul into taking.
Seven mamas, three babies, and seven toddlers, at least 3 of whom are trying to escape!
I love how all the mamas have mastered the art of smiling at the camera rather than looking at what the squirming child in her arms is doing.
Apple Harvest Festival
One the reasons my parents came to visit when they did was so they would have the chance to visit the Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival. My mom just happened to be visiting last year when the festival was happening, and we thought it would be great to go again with my niece and a bigger Sierra.
The Apple Harvest Festival this year, with my parents, Jason, 5-year-old niece, and 2-year-old daughter (and an infant!) was a completely different experience than when it was just my mom and me and a barely mobile 1-year-old Sierra. Last year, there was a lot more time spent browsing in the craft fair section of the festival. This year, we sort of breezed through that in favor of spending more time in the fun-for-kiddos activities.
Sure, there were some lovely things at the craft fair.
But colorful baskets are not nearly as much fun as kettle corn,
and funnel cake,
and apple butter donuts.
Yum!!
This year, we went over to the farm, which we had somehow missed entirely last time.
Sierra really enjoyed seeing the baby animals, and for some reason, she was particularly intrigued by the quails (you should hear her say "quail"; it's very cute).
There was the nice goat, who liked its neck scratched and Sierra touched its horn.
And there was the mean billy goat, who looked awesome with his beard, but who got all cranky and rammed the gate when Harmony went to check him out.
We looked at a beehive that had panels that slid back so we could see the bees at work inside.
I was surprised by how bright peacocks are in real life (it's been years since I've seen one and I guess I had forgotten!)
Jason found out he has a 6-foot wingspan, just like an eagle.
Kaia's favorite was the llama (or, um, it would have been had she not slept through the entire experience).
We headed away from the farm back to the festival area where there were pumpkins!
Sierra and Harmony spent some time climbing and sliding and jumping around on the hay mountain before we got some lunch.
Before heading home, we decided that we would stop and listen to the band for awhile. They were good, and I was enjoying the show, but Sierra let us know that she had had enough and was ready to head home.
The Apple Harvest Festival this year, with my parents, Jason, 5-year-old niece, and 2-year-old daughter (and an infant!) was a completely different experience than when it was just my mom and me and a barely mobile 1-year-old Sierra. Last year, there was a lot more time spent browsing in the craft fair section of the festival. This year, we sort of breezed through that in favor of spending more time in the fun-for-kiddos activities.
Sure, there were some lovely things at the craft fair.
But colorful baskets are not nearly as much fun as kettle corn,
and funnel cake,
and apple butter donuts.
Yum!!
This year, we went over to the farm, which we had somehow missed entirely last time.
Sierra really enjoyed seeing the baby animals, and for some reason, she was particularly intrigued by the quails (you should hear her say "quail"; it's very cute).
There was the nice goat, who liked its neck scratched and Sierra touched its horn.
And there was the mean billy goat, who looked awesome with his beard, but who got all cranky and rammed the gate when Harmony went to check him out.
We looked at a beehive that had panels that slid back so we could see the bees at work inside.
I was surprised by how bright peacocks are in real life (it's been years since I've seen one and I guess I had forgotten!)
Jason found out he has a 6-foot wingspan, just like an eagle.
Kaia's favorite was the llama (or, um, it would have been had she not slept through the entire experience).
We headed away from the farm back to the festival area where there were pumpkins!
Sierra and Harmony spent some time climbing and sliding and jumping around on the hay mountain before we got some lunch.
Before heading home, we decided that we would stop and listen to the band for awhile. They were good, and I was enjoying the show, but Sierra let us know that she had had enough and was ready to head home.
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