The Farm Report

Category: family

  • To the lake

    To the lake

    Tom’s family owns a condo a few hours away. It is where they spent many summer days growing up—swimming, boating, and enjoying their time together.

    It hasn’t had as much use in the last decade. With the boys spread across the country, it was tough for them to get there. And with babies, it’s tough to travel that far. We took Neko out on the boat as a toddler, and she just got really grouchy about the life preserver.

    With the kids a little older, we’re thinking it might be a nice place to visit again. Or as a getaway weekend for just one of us if we need a little quiet space.

    I ran away for a few days to make a few updates and check the place out after five years away. This is the view off the back porch at sunset.

  • Pumpkin family

    Pumpkin family

    Before the pumpkins went to live in the forest and become dinner for the deer, I thought I should capture this drawing.

    Neko drew this picture of our family, and above our heads is something we each care about (records, chickens, horses, Blob, and butterflies).

  • Pumpkins

    Pumpkins
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    We didn’t quite get to the carving part, but pumpkins have been hollowed out and are ready to roll. We also discovered that chickens love to eat pumpkins.

  • Corn maze and pumpkin picking

    Corn maze and pumpkin picking

    Despite the fact that everyone looks grouchy, they actually had a spectacular time in the corn maze. Neko grabbed the map and took the lead, as I nervously told Tom to make sure we knew where we were going. I am one of those people that could be stuck in a corn maze for weeks. Even with a map.

    Neko grew tired of leadership halfway, and instead puttered on about the litter she found. “I can’t believe they just left it here in the middle of this field. And it’s even STYROFOAM!”

    We passed on the whole picking experience, and went straight to the farm shop where the kids picked out absurdly big pumpkins. I have no idea how we’re going to carve them. (I’ll think about it tomorrow, Rhett!)

    And then they all got what they declared their very first caramel apples. Is that possible? Have we really been that restrictive?

    Okat, it might be possible. Dig in, kids.

  • What’s the story, morning glory?

    What’s the story, morning glory?

    A few days before Farm Day, Otto’s ACL went out. After weighing the options (none of which were particularly appealing), we decided to go ahead with the surgery. They operated on Friday, and we brought him home on Saturday morning.

    He might be one of the most sad and pathetic things I’ve seen in a long time. He has the e-cone, which I have since been informed stands for “Elizabethan” for obvious reasons. Neko decided he looks like a flower, which we narrowed down to a morning glory. He’s been shaved in three different parts of his body for surgery, the IV, and his morphine patch. And when he needs to move around on slippery surfaces or stairs, we have to follow him around with a ridiculous dog sling.

    Did I mention these shenanigans go on for the next eight weeks? (Although he will no longer be Elizabethan in seven to ten days.)

  • Farm Day 8

    Farm Day 8
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    Another Farm Day has come and gone, and despite the fact that I carried my camera around for several hours, I took maybe ten photos. REALLY, one of these years I’m going to have an amazing photo set the day after.

    A big thank you to everyone for coming out for another fantastic day. I’m always amazed that people carve time out of their busy schedules to come our way. The weather was downright perfect, and the food was spectacular.

    This day has come to be my annual reminder that we are so very lucky to be surrounded by such good people. Our families come from near and far. I see our oldest friends deep in conversation with our newest ones. Kids run and chase and romp until well after dark, when they crack out flashlights and glow necklaces. And the most inspiring musicians always close out the night.

    I might be a bit biased, but I think there’s something a little magic in these here parts.

    Mark your calendars for Farm Day 9: October 8, 2011.

  • Happy anniversary

    Nine years…can you believe it?

  • Perfect fall day

    Perfect fall day

    If I didn’t have a three-year-old to be responsible for, I would totally have taken a nap in the hammock on this perfect day.

    On another note, happy birthday to my amazing mother. I. Love. You.

  • Family bike time

    Family bike time
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    Tom decided to go out and ride his bike, and he invited others to come with him. It was 6:30pm, and we all rode bikes up and down the driveway enjoying the perfect weather.

    Hooray for getting outside, especially on what was mostly a dreary grey day.

    And then Neko dropped her new horse on the concrete and we had to end bike ride time in the name of plastic horse surgery.

  • Uncle Jeff visits

    Uncle Jeff visits
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    Jeff came to town this week. The kids have been super-excited to see him, so it’s always a fun visit. As a special bonus, he took them out to buy birthday presents, since he wasn’t in town for birthday season.

    Shep got this hex bug on steroids, complete with remote control. Neko got this horse and trailer (inspiration courtesy of Horseland), and created this still life and demanded I take a photo of it.

    Thanks for visiting, Jeff, and maybe next time we’ll get YOU in the photos.