Spring in the Pasture

One job that comes around every spring is to walk or drive the pasture fences to find areas that need repair. It is nice to have the kids along on these errands. They have been cooped up all winter, and then the sun comes out, the grass turns green, the breezes blow, and kids just celebrate! This was such a cool, crunchy green day in May.

Go-Daddy and Goo-Mommy on the Farm

The cows knew that something was up.

When Goo-Mommy fed the calf, though, their fears were assuaged.

Change that cap to a FeedMaster, and they'd fit in perfectly!

No farm adventure is complete without a little target shooting.

Old Dead-Eye

We got some grandparents on the farm! Even though my parents would probably agree that they are not really "into" milking cows, I think they had a good time on the farm.

Maple Syrup

Late February, early March:

I did not get as many pictures of the process as I wanted to, but our neighbors, the Williams family, tapped our trees for syrup again this year. It is a really fascinating process they use to turn maple sap into syrup. We all enjoyed tromping through the snow to empty the buckets from taps around the yard. We dumped them into a big drum, and Mr. Williams would come when the drum started to get full, and pump it into a tank on his pickup. (They have about a bazillion taps. The ones around our yard are really nothing, but we felt like we were helping!) After he took it home, they boiled the syrup. I guess you will have to wait until next year for pictures of that! We all thought (and Amanda was particularly hoping) that the sap would taste at least a little bit like maple syrup, but alas...it's pretty much just water with imagination.

Katie's Making Bagels!

When you are a displaced New Yorker, sometimes you must take matters into your own hands. (The kitchen is gutted right now, as you can see in the background.)

Preparing the dough

Letting the shaped dough proof.

Boiling the bagels.

Good enough to eat! (Even if the focus is off.)

Want a bite?

Baby-San

I found this really cool pattern for kimonos on the internet. (Thank you for sharing, Amy Finlayson!) This is a test run, with some pants from another pattern. We think Leah Carole looks very nice in her Japanese getup.

February Cookout

Benjamin had been collecting the funny pages out of the Meadville Tribune for almost two years. The collection was threatening to overrun the boys' closet and take over their bedroom, there to stage a complete upper story takeover within months. David and I convinced him to get rid of the comics, only by offering to let him burn them in a fire outside. Benjamin, never one to miss an opportunity to press his advantage, agreed to this ONLY IF the fire were accessorized by hot dogs and marshmallows. Knowing when to take an opportunity and run with it, I went right out and got the junk food that day. We ended up cooking the hot dogs on the stove, but there was just enough heat to partially cook the marshmallows. I am glad we did not need this fire for survival!

What Goes Around, Comes Around

Here is a question for debate: Is this wallpaper coming in or going out of style? Either way, it went out the door, along with the paneling that had been on top of it. The "gutted" picture will come later.