Sunday

Started the day at Blue Heron where they played with old farm tools, picked raspberries, and had lunch in a wheelbarrel.



Then we went to wait for Jim at a railway station in Lincoln (Jim had to work in Boston this morning, so he took the commuter rail out to meet us - he didn't want to miss the surprise!).



After the excitement of the train and picking up Daddy, we headed to the Decordova Museum just down the road to surprise Momo with the train exhibit they have going on there. We checked out their outdoor sculpture park, ran around a bit before collapsing in the car from a full and fun day.

Saturday

The day was brilliant.

I feel like I have been repeating myself. But truly, it was a brilliantly beautiful day. When we moved here in June, I asked (prayed) for the best summer possible. And I think whoever is in charge of this kind of thing heard me, and is being very kind.


After a fun morning in the city (ballet class for Claire, climbing structure park for Momo), the kids and I went to Walden Pond while Jim worked at a Hockey game. On the way there, we stopped at Decordova Museum in Lincoln where a Railroad exhibit is held (shh...don't tell Momo - he was asleep when we drove by). Unfortunately it was closed early today, but we (Claire and I) plan to go back there tomorrow to surprise our train lover.

Walden Pond was beautiful. The water sparkled. The sky was peppered with lovely white clouds. And in contrast to the summer crowd, the beach was rather quiet. I think people stopped coming after Labor Day weekend for some reason. More beach for us!

Farm School

Blue Heron might as well be a farm school. There is so much to learn, and so much fun that comes with this kind of learning.


Ellery found a caterpillar for them today, the kind that is about to go into a chryssalis. So she introduced the concept of metamorphosis, and camouflage to the kids. You would think that these words went over their little heads, but a few hours later, I heard Momo telling Claire in the bathtub that he was giving one of his animals a camouflage. Maybe their heads aren't so little after all.


We weeded, picked raspberries, played in mud, and a compost pile. Ellery had a surprise for the kids. Bring your shovels, she said, as she walked toward the compost. She pointed to a potato plant growing beautifully in the compost pile (that has metamorphed back into soil). She had the kids dig a little, and then pull the plant up. With the roots came little purple potatoes worth rather a lot in a fancy restaurant!


Momo soon used his little big head to find other ways to play in the compost pile. He has never made a real snow angel, but he decided that dirt is no different than snow (perhaps even better because it's warm and dry), so he plopped down, and started wavering his arms and feet. Dirt angel, we called him.


While Ellery read Claire a book about a farm by the sea, Momo got busy with mud. First he had his clothes on. Then he discovered it was more fun to not have them on (usually how he ends up, isn't it?). I had to let my anal Virgo self go, and breathe, and know that he was having the best time of his life.


I didn't even bother to clean him up and dress him, for that matter. He went into the car seat nude, muddy, and happy.

We had Ellery over for dinner that was made almost entirely by the produce she grew on the farm. We thanked her for growing our food, and for teaching all of us such good lessons, whether she knows it or not.

Some of me

I know I am usually absent in the photos. I think you know why. Here are a couple of me and the kiddies to show that indeed I still exist!

The little Ballerina

When are we going to work on the barre?

That was her question as she waltzed out of her first ballet class (with tears welling up in her eyes), disappointed that she didn't get to do the fundamental ballet work as ballerinas should.


We had to convince her that she will get there... in three years(!). Apparently the ballet class for 3 year-olds are just plain fun, and a chance for little girls to put on pink tutus and pretend to do ballet.

Not our Claire. She's ready for the jete, the pirouette, the tendus. She knows the 5 basic ballet positions by heart. She even knows that she wants to wear toe shoes. Now.

Well, so far, we have been successful at assauging her, persuading her to keep going to her (pseudo) ballet class on Saturday mornings. She seems to have fun in class, and most importantly, she listens to her teacher. Still, those first moments out of each class are full of disappointment and questions about when, oh when, will she get to do center work, and barre work, and when will she get to be Clara in the Nutcracker production!

Our son

He is growing up fast. His curiousity, his willingness, his love of adventure, all combine to make one remarkable boy. No biases. He is truly one remarkable boy!

The Day

These photos tell the story of our day. It was, in one word, spectacular!

Pumpkins

It's that time of year (even though Hallowe'en is still more than a month away)! We even took Jim's cousin Tim to take part in the gourd and pumpkin display at Blue Heron. Momo and Claire helped Ellery sow the seeds for winter rye (cover crop). We didn't last too long at the farm today as Walden Pond was calling us. Jim took, perhaps, his last swim for the season!

Full Day

We brought the kids' preschool class to the farm for a field trip today. Everyone enjoyed the beauty and activities on the farm. We picked raspberries, tomatoes, leeks, flowers, and even found some neat bugs and insects.



We stayed a few more hours after our friends left to help Ellery with the gourd and pumpkin display. Momo and Claire got to ride and drive the tractor for the first time! It was a full day loaded with fun memorable good times. Thanks to Ellery and Blue Heron, there is never a dull moment when we are there!

Onion Boy

Worshiping an onion at Blue Heron Organic Farm stand at the Davis Square Farmers' Market today.

White Riding Hood

Urban Playground

Sometimes, it's good to go to a regular playground. We had not been to one in a long time, so the kids were quite happy to play with swings,toys, and sand. They even figured out how one trike can entertain them both at the same time.

Personally, though, I will take the farm to any playground any day! Very rarely do the kids squabble on the farm. Very rarely do they require my undivided attention. Nature is full of discoveries - who needs plastic toys and training wheels. These kids are lucky that they can have it both ways, at least before winter comes.

Another Beautiful Day

We can't believe our luck. Can it be that we are having another brilliantly beautiful day? With a couple days of rain behind us, I don't even feel bad that the sun is shining again. I just want to drink it in as much as I can for I know that I will not be saying these same words in a few months time.

So, yes, we spent yet another beautiful and fun morning at Blue Heron, our second home. I have been blogging about it so much that I decided that it needs its own blog. So feel free to check it out for photos and farm stories that you won't find on this blog!

Beach Finds

My college friend, Rebecca, got married yesterday. Today was the reception, and it happened to be near Cape Cod. We spent a good chunk of time on the beach before the rain storm took over. Momo and Claire found all sorts of treasures from the sea.