Last summer, the girls and I volunteered at the American West Heritage Center, on the historic 1917 farm site. To say the girls loved it would be an understatement. In fact, I think going back to the farm was one of the things they were looking forward to the most this summer. So, once school was out, we started back at the farm, and the girls couldn't be happier about it.
(Ryenne with her ladybug friend on her hand.)
At the farm, the girls work in the garden, feed the chickens, gather eggs, milk the cow, and do butter-making and laundry demonstrations. It's amazing how fun chores are when they are wearing old clothes. Just the other day we were working around our house, when Ryenne asked me, "How come chores are so much more fun at the farm?" I suggested maybe she could dress up to do her work at our house, but it still didn't seem to have the same appeal.
It's so fun to watch the girls interact with the visitors and share all they have learned about life in 1917. Along with all the chores, they also love to play a game of jacks or marbles in the farm house parlor, start a game of farm ball with the other kids, explore the other sites at the center (there is a pioneer site and an Indian/mountain man site), ride the train, go on a pony ride, and pan for gold down in the creek.
And of course, eating lunch at the farm table with the rest of the volunteers is always a highlight. Something about eating fresh farm food that has been cooked over a wood stove makes everything taste better!
I had to laugh when I was getting everyone rounded up to go home one hot afternoon and found Claire at the laundry tubs, taking a soak in the soapy water. Leave it to Claire to find a way to cool herself down!
Ryenne loves to carry a tin pail with her to the farm, in which she packs a rag doll, a book, and a little blanket. The other day I walked behind her as we walked from our car down the lane that leads to the farm. Swinging her tin pail and dressed in her farm clothes, I could watch her transform into a little farm girl as she walked. She is so, so happy at the farm. Everyone keeps asking me why on earth I am taking the girls there this summer when I am eight months pregnant. As I watched her walking and as I see the contentment and joy the girls find each week while we are there, I answer this question in my mind. Why do we go to the farm this summer? Because the girls love, love, love being little farm girls. As long as they do, we'll keep going back!
Last week, we stopped off at Grandma and Grandpa's house to walk the lambs before going to the farm. Grandpa snapped a few pictures and I had to laugh when I saw them. The only thing that would appear more odd to city folk than some girls walking lambs down the street, would be ones walking lambs who look like they are Amish. In Utah, nonetheless.
1 comment:
Kelly, you don't totally look amish, you have your sunglasses on, so you're fine. :)
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