"If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." — E.B. White

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Zaney memories

All a-round the kitchen cock-a-doodle-doodle-doo... 
This GREAT SONG, by Dan Zanes, stars in a very favorite memory of mine!
First when Sarah was a tiny toddler in her carseat. We'd drive around town with baby Sarah, Mommy n Daddy waving our arms in the air while we all sang along to this. To say folks gawked is an understatement. We LAUGHED n GIGGLED n hit replay a million times.  Years later Sarah n Jack still dance around the kitchen table flapping their wings while I join in prepare dinner!

                             


From the concert/video DVD entitled, All Around the Kitchen! on Festival Five Records.
Festival Five Records is a record label making children's music, founded by the leader of the legendary Del Fuegos songwriter Dan Zanes

Rolling Stone named the Del Fuegos "Best New Band" in 1984.

LOVE Dan Zanes!
How 'bout you?
Please join me at this fun farm blog hop

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Rain play /Suburban substitutes


This LOVEly and FREE print out made my heart happy.

 must admit that I'll stick with Jack's artwork...


This pic/story Jack made in Kindergarten is one of my all time favorites.
"We like to/ I like to play in the barn on a rainy day"

Living in the country is awesome.

But it can also be a bit isolated with large distances between houses. It's not at all like the suburbs where kids can just walk outside and find a friend to play with...

We are blessed not only to have lovely neighbors, but also, the bestest clients friends who train with us. Most afternoons my kids are cavorting outside or yammering to whoever's in the barn aisle. They're even known to follow along through the fields on foot, talking nonstop, as riders cool out their horses after a lesson.

But when we have no visitors and the barn's quiet, they make up their own games!

"Hanging out" takes on a whole new meaning here.


As does hiking up hills... (of hay!)



And play simple games...




Maybe they're just simple minded?!

Tho we have no city sidewalks,
chalk drawings are plentiful in the barn aisle (clients often contribute).


As are bikes n rollerblades!


They also ride ponies through the fields with clients
or their dogs or goats following along.

There are no nearby gymnastics centers 
Instead they use their beds!






They've had to learn to play together;
 So they swing

and take turns sharing interests; be they scooters or babydolls!



 "Rock wall climbing" occurs on the strong horse ties hanging down the barn wall... Volleyball and soccer are popular in the barn too. A while ago they made up armbands and tickets for mommy n daddy to come watch their game. We were encouraged to bring our lawn chairs (usually toted to horse shows) and CASH. 


Jack shook his money box and rang the bell to signal game start, time outs etc.
Simple fun for us all on that grey, drizzly day!

I guess they're we're not suffering in isolation after all!

Here's another fabulous freebie from http://lilluna.com/create-your-own-sunshine-print/



Hope you enjoy either sunshine or some rain play today.

* friends, I'm posting some OLD drafted posts to keep the pics n memories alive. We recently had a hard drive crash n lose pics (yes, again. I'm awful about backing up pics) so I value this blog even more as our family scrapbook. 

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Happy 1st Day of Summer!!!

Merit hopes that you enjoyed the 1st day of summer as much as she did! Although the sun isn't always visible she wears zinc oxide to be safe and hopes that you'll protect your skin too!


Friday, June 13, 2014

Memorial Day memories

Late again, but trying to get caught up...

My "baby" brother, his wife and their baby visited us from Austria!
They stayed just two short nights over Memorial Day but
the memories will last forever.

Of course we wasted no time getting the wee babe up on a pony!


It was The Farmer's first time meeting Aden and they really hit it off!

Our time together was very low key.
.

 We learned some bbq tricks from Ben and ate great food



Mostly we hung out on the porch, or grass...


And Uncle Ben played like old times!


The last night we finally lit the lanterns I'd given JoJo for her 70th!



 Keepin' it real
but maybe you'd rather I didn't?
I've mentioned I'm not a flip flop n fashion kinda farm girl...
I was caught in shorts n paddock boots
(no you will not look at my mortifying middle)




JoJo released the last one along with her wish




She shared it with us...
That we'd all soon reunite for more family fun!



She kinda got her wish extra fast as the next day we went to the Bay to play w/more family!




Next I must wrap up the school year and all the other comings n goings on the farm.
(hint~ we've been VERY busy n blessed!)

Here comes another summer, 
hope you're making fun memories!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Gorgeous plays gitbox



(Urban Dictionary)  Gitbox ~ A fairly uncommon slang word for guitar.
"Have you ever wanted to eat chips with a spoon cause you didn't wanna get chip grease on your hand?"

"No but that's a great idea. Greasy fingers are bad for playing the gitbox."

*Make that chicken feet are bad for playing... 


yes. yes. this was an unscripted "normal" farm finding. Another chicken in the house. yes, her name is Gorgeous 'cause she's gorgeous shades of gray. no. I did not put her there. I merely try to document this bizarre life I live.