What Do May Showers Bring?

Have you noticed a shift in seasons?
It seems that in recent years, seasons change a little later than they used to.
As a result, those April showers that we used to sing about
are happening more and more in May.


And right now we are in the midst of them!

Friday morning we were scheduled for a preschool visit.
Friday morning we awoke to rain.
Luckily, the rain stopped in time for our little visitors.

We had such a wonderful time sharing our farm and our animals with
this enthusiastic group of preschoolers.
The turkeys were in integral part of the day... following us everywhere we went.


They were happy to get up close and personal with all of the animals.
I couldn't convince any of them to give the donkeys a kiss, however.
(Donkeys love kisses!)


We collected freshly-laid eggs and the kids were amazed at how warm they are.

I took them in the horse lot, two by two, so that they could touch all of the horses.
Moonbeam reached his head down and snatched up
a gold glittery barrette from one of little girl's pigtails...
moving it around inside his mouth like a lozenge and them spitting it out on the ground.

"Here you go," I laughed, as I handed it back to the little girl's Mom.
I'm pretty sure that one will never be worn again.

One of the most interesting parts of the morning was meeting
the great-grandfather of one of the preschoolers....


Harry, pictured above, used to live in our old log cabin.
During the mid 1950's his family lived there.
There was a small barn in the lower area of our front pasture,
where his family raised meat for the family.
They had a smoke house and preserved the meat that way.
Because there was no indoor plumbing, the family had an outhouse.
There was, however, a pump in the kitchen that pumped drinking water up from
the spring in the basement of the house.
They cooked on a wood-fired cook stove,
and heated with another wood stove in the living room.
Harry said it was his job to get the wood ready for the morning's fires.
He remembers being 10 to 12 years old while living here,
and working in the summertime on the neighbor's farm for 50 cents a day.


His stories were fascinating, and we were so happy that he came along for the visit.

Their visit ended with a picnic in the pavilion.


And, of course, the fairy gardens were a big hit.

Saturday, Jack and I got up early (it was raining again),
and drove to Maryland for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.
I was in heaven in the midst of so many wool vendors.
(I found a new sweater pattern and some wool for that sweater...
and yes, I did already start it!)

There was lots to see.
Sheep...


of all types...


and Alpaca...


I do have to say... I wish we had a couple of alpaca!

And once again, the rain stopped in time for our adventure.
As you can see... Jack found his own fun, while I traipsed through the fiber vendors.


Sunday was a complete wash-out.
It poured all day long,
so everyone stayed indoors.


The garden is happy with the rain...
except, perhaps, Minerva.


She just returned from her winter (summer) in Australia,
and reports that it was the hottest one she ever experienced.
She's glad to be back to the cooler spring of Pennsylvania.

Comments

colleen said…
Another fun blog. I love seeing all those children having so much fun on the farm. The history that Harry had to share must of been something. I just couldn't imagine what Jack found so interesting at the woolen festival and when I scrolled I literally laughed out loud!! Then you end with wool and a sweater pattern...oh my. Can't wait to see!

What a gift you give to those children when they get to visit your true "haven".

And how fun to meet the man who lived in your cabin as a child, and for him to see it so well cared for and kept in it's "natural" state.

Anonymous said…
WOW! How fascinating for you to meet Harry and to learn some of the history of your log cabin.

I'd volunteer to give the donkeys (horses, pigs, sheep, etc)all the kisses their hearts desire.

Mick
jaz@octoberfarm said…
it's just too cool that you got to meet harry! you got my rain once again! it seems to be the new pattern. it just keeps going east of us. i bet the kids had a blast with many stories to tell when they got home.
This N That said…
I kinda thought that over the past few years that we had almost no Spring or Fall..Winter especially just seemed to go right in to summer..This year we have definitely had a Spring..a wet one..I'm glad that ir was dry for you when it needed to be..Funny story about the barrette..good going MB..How cool to have met Harry and to learn more history about BHA..Fun picture of Jack doing the "husband thing". Poor Minerva..she needs a rain coat..xxoo
Susie said…
I loved reading about the great grandfather who used to live in the log house. What an interesting story. You Aunt Missy told me to pop over and visit. I just love her blog with so many great photos. So sweet of you to entertain the little ones. Blessings, xoxo, Susie