It's been a long time since I've blogged. It's been a long time since I've done much else then cook, clean, work and mommy. Well, that may be an exageration, but it seems like time has definately flown by without much other then the necessities getting done.
Our chickens are getting big. No eggs yet, but we are hopeful that any day now they'll start laying. We might have a rooster on our hands, but aren't totally sure. (That could explain why we don't have any eggs, huh?!)
Adalee and Ryland love to help feed Eliza, Sunbeam, Harvest, Kerrigan and Alusa. We give them our food scraps and grass clippings. Adalee and Ryland think it is fun to put all kinds of green and brown growing or used to grow materials into their "cage". There isn't a day, or moment, that doesn't go by without Ryland asking to go outside to see the chickens. I think it is great they are getting an "agriculutural" experience in the heart of Burlington's most densly populated and poverty stricken neighborhood. The Bantu Refugees think the chickens are great too!
Outside of our chickens, I'd say my children get other rich agricultural experiences. Living in Vermont we are blessed with the opportunity to "pick" just about any fruit that grows in this hard climate. We've gone strawberry picking, blueberry picking, raspberry picking and now apple (and pumpkin) picking.
Shelburne Orchards is BEAUTIFUL. It is such a gem. The orchard sits on top of this hill right on the lake. As we walk and pick we can see leaves changing color in the Adirondacks and Mt. Mansfield beginning to get covered with snow. Nick, the owner, has this rather stately house that sits right on the lake. It is mostly hidden by huge Weeping Willow trees, but I try to sneak a peek every time we go just so I can dream a fancy dream that night. Oh and their donuts are to DIE FOR! Hot, fresh, delicious cider donuts that melt in your mouth are worth any hard labor one endures while picking the best and juiciest apples on this side of heaven.
Besides the innate joy and pleasure apple picking brings, I'd say my children really look good in an orchard. Watching them sit all cozy like in the nook of an apple tree just makes me think of childhood as it should be. They are truely priveledged!
I only wish Ryland would eat the whole apple instead of chewing it to pieces and then spitting it out. He calls apples, "Bubbles", just like he calls pumpkins and bubbles. I don't feel too bad when Ryland and Adalee eat bites out of about 10 apples in the short hour that we are picking. Apples litter the ground. Some have human teeth marks. Some have deer and squirrel teeth marks. Others are just rotten because they fell from the tree without anyone around so they didn't make a sound and no one was able to rescue them.
Well. Enough. I'll have more later. I'm home with my kids for the weekend by my lonesome. I'm sure I'll have nothing else to do but take pictures and blog away.
It's been a long time since I've blogged. It's been a long time since I've done much else then cook, clean, work and mommy. Well, that may be an exageration, but it seems like time has definately flown by without much other then the necessities getting done.
Besides the innate joy and pleasure apple picking brings, I'd say my children really look good in an orchard. Watching them sit all cozy like in the nook of an apple tree just makes me think of childhood as it should be. They are truely priveledged!
