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.

Rosh Hashanah

We are far from being Jewish, but we celebrated this (glorious) day in the best way possible: meeting new friends and playing with them on the farm. Naked and muddy, and sticky from watermelon juice, we brought in the Jewish New Year in high fashion!

Roses

We stopped to smell the roses today. Fall is around the corner, but summer does not seem to want to leave (or perhaps I am in denial). It has been a fabulous summer so far, and we have photos to remember it by.

Edible Flowers

A salad almost too pretty to eat with edible flowers and greens all grown from people we know. It tasted as good as it looked!

Rainy morning

NPR didn't have very happy news to report this morning, partly due to today's date, nine-eleven. The sky was cloudy, the fog was heavy. Rain was imminent. I felt a bit blue.


I parked my car, turned off the radio, and looked at Blue Heron farm. I felt an instant sense of relief. It got better when I saw Ellery and her smile. I was put to work right away, but really, it was more like therapy. Earth Therapy. Is there such a thing yet? Is someone going to steal my idea and mass market it?


The farm had a different mood today. We deperately needed the rain, so when the drops fell onto the parched soil, I could almost hear the vegetables sing. The butterflies were gone and even the bees were not humming (the rain makes their wings too heavy to fly). So today was the plants' day to celebrate!


My friend Megan came out to help, too. She is a very wise young woman who is studying to become a chaplain. We were making bouquets together when she said: I am so happy right now. And I love it when I know that I am happy when I am still experiencing it!

I am telling you - if Reiki works (which I have not experienced so myself), Earth Therapy has got to work just as well.

Creatures

Who needs to go to the zoo when we can go to Blue Heron. Ellery found a baby snapping turtle today. Though it is very cute as an infant, the real deal is apparently vicious.


Momo and Claire found a catepillar that later becomes quite a mean pesty hornworm moth. We also caught a frog and attempted at catching more butterflies. There are always potato beetles and Mexican Bean Bugs in the field. Wildlife at its best!


We didn't get to sit in the back of the truck today as it was occupied with some pretty things!

Vermont Weekend: Camping

A week ago today we were in Vermont, sitting around a camp-fire with marshmallows at the end of long sticks roasting away. Randy played the guitar, and Amy played the flute as Carly slept in her lap. Haley bumped her knee on a rock but recovered like a champ! When it was time, I said good-night to Momo, Claire and Jim. I returned to the house and the three of them slept in the tent, under the stars. It was to be the kids' first camping experience.


It felt a bit strange to go to sleep alone that night. I kept thinking that three little bodies would find their way into bed with me during the night. It was a completely clear night, and rather cold. I fell asleep hoping that the children would be warm enough in the tent.


The next thing I knew, the sun was shining brightly into my room. And I was still alone. My first thought was, great, they made it in the tent all night! With that in mind, I spent a moment relishing the big bed, the sunlight, the peace and quiet of rural Vermont. No sooner had I begun to sink back into the pillow than I heard footsteps on the stairs. The door swung open, and two little people climbed into bed with me, their cheeks red and cold from the outside air. Hi guys, I greeted. How was camping? Good, Mommy, they said as they searched for warmth. Jim came in seconds later to report on their successful camping experience. He was (rightly) proud. I was impressed.


They did it again the second night. This time it was just Claire and Jim. Momo opted to stay warm in bed with me. We tried to convince Claire to do the same, but she was determined to sleep in the tent again, with her Daddy. Momo and I slept uninterrupted that night, as did Claire and Jim. Refreshed the next morning, Jim even went as far as to say that he slept better than he had slept in a long time. Wow. We have some campers in the family!


Never underestimate a little girl with a lot of love for her Daddy!

Good Friends

They are each other's best friend, that is for sure. How lucky they are to have each other!

Friday at Blue Heron

We have spent the last few Fridays at Blue Heron with Ellery. I am sad to say that next Friday, it will be just me, as the kids will be at school. The good thing is that I will be able to help out more with the farm work. The bad thing is that it just won't be as much fun without the goobers.


We spent the whole morning picking, loading, arranging, riding in the back of the truck. It has been very dry here, so a lot of vegetables are not productive, but the tomatoes and watermelons get super sweet as the flavors concentrate to the max without water.


As we were gettting ready to leave, Ellery asked if I could do her a favor. Of course, I said. Could you take some of these plum tomatoes home? They are really ripe, and they need to be used up NOW. Okay, I said, I will make you some tomato sauce.


I was busy catching a butterfly for Momo as she picked out some tomatoes for me. When I returned, the back of our car had a WHOLE FLAT of plum tomatoes. Guess what our home smells like right now!


The kids were so good, and so helpful today. And they had so much fun. I can't think of a better place for all of us to be on a Friday morning. We are planning to bring Jim next time so he could help with the potato digging!