Two Days in the City

I spent Tuesday on a field trip with my friend Sheila, my sister-in-law Jessica, her sister-in law Fannie, and all their children at the Rochester Science Center. Some of you might think that inviting yourself along on a field trip with 3 adults and 12 children is akin to suicide, but for me, it was many times better than the best anti-depressant on the market! I love helping to keep track of the busy little people, but the funny thing is, sometimes I forget that I have small charges, and become engrossed in a display and totally lose track of the children. I guess it's because they aren't mine, and I'm not used to having them around-at least I hope that is the problem!

Tim and Becca going up!

Sheila explaining how the Erie Canal locks work; Janie, Ryan, and Todd operating the canal lock gates.

Janie adjusting her safety goggles while digging for Mastodon bones with Ruthie.

Becca and Janie welding their brushes.

Todd, Carlton, Ryan and Ruthie uncovering more bones buried in recycled ground-up tires.

Don't they make great archeologist's?!

REALLY scary dinosaurs: Becca, Ruthie and Todd!


Wednesday was shopping and lunch at The Olive Garden with my friend Katie, her mom Cindy, and sister Becky.

This is Katie's sweet little lady, Lexi, at Target trying on a hat. She really dresses up a hat, don't you think?!

Beautiful Miss Lexi!

Katie and I sporting our hats. Nope, we didn't buy them, just borrowed them for the picture!

I gotta tell you folks. Today I'm having an identity crisis. Yesterday, I was mistaken for a: Quaker, a grandmother and a lesbian. In that order. Help! what a day! Let me tell you the story.

Katie and I were both wearing long denim skirts and pink shirts from Katie's Mercantile ( Cindy, Katie and Becky's conservative clothing business) shopping in Jo Ann Fabric when a gal said; "Excuse me, but are you girls Quakers?" She was visibly disappointed when we declined the label. We didn't make any further explanation, and decided there were much worse things to be mistaken for. I shared that my mother would probably be gratified that her daughter was mistaken for a Quaker while shopping in Rochester!

On the way home, Katie and I stopped in Dansville to take advantage of the 50% off sale at Salvation Army, our local thrift store. In the checkout line, the cashier rang me up, then I turned to take a wriggly Lexi so her mommy would have a free hand to put her purchases on the counter to pay. The cashier says "O, don't tell me; mommy, grandma and granddaughter out shopping for the day." We shook our heads, and we must have looked at her funny, because in effort to fix her mistake she says, "O, O, I'm sorry. It's mommy and MOMMY! Your little girl is beautiful". We decided this time a full explanation was in order. We explained that I was a friend and Lexi was Katie's daughter. Then the cashier says, "O! Well, I can see she got her big blue eyes from you", referring to Katie. At least she got that part straight!

So today, I am not bothered by being Quaker, and although being taken for a female partner is disconcerting, the part that bites is the fact that someone thinks I look old enough to be a grandmother. Worse than that, I'm only 3 years and 7 months older than Katie. Golly! My life is practically over! I want to be a grandma, but I'd like to wait a few years if it's okay with you guys! I'M ONLY 27!

Pulling Taps & Collecting Sap Buckets

Today my friend Wren and her children came to my rescue and helped me pull taps and gather up all the buckets and barrels out of the woods and bring them back to the barn to be washed and stored. Prince was a very good boy, and made four trips without too much fuss.

Wren pulling taps.

The kids taking a whittling break from picking up bucket. What good workers they are!

Wren was determined to get all the barrels on one load. She got them all strung on with baling twine. They all stayed on until we got home. It looks like a gypsy wagon!

I am very thankful for my friends. Wren and her children are so fun to work with-the day flew by; we got a lot of done and had a great time doing it!

A Day with Aunt Jessie

The other day Diana, Louisa, and Retta spent the day with me. I know this sounds crazy, but I got more work done while babysitting them than I usually do on my own! As a reward for helping me in the garden, we spent some time with Arby, our Arabian gelding. The girls are a bit "horse-crazy" so I gave them a little lesson in reality. We brushed him and talked about never surprising a horse, because when they are surprised, they kick before looking!

They surprised themselves by being scared about actually riding. I put Diana in the saddle and the first time Arby shifted his weight, she burst into tears, terrified. I just talked to her and left Arby tied to the post till she was ready to go. It was hilarious, though-while Diana was crying in the saddle, Louisa was marching around declaring; "I wouldn't cry like a baby. I like Aunt Jessie's horses. Diana, you should get down and let me ride!". That helped Diana get a grip. Soon she was ready to go for a ride. I led her around until Louisa couldn't stand waiting any longer.

When I put Louisa in the saddle, her eyes got as big a saucers and she grabbed my neck! I directed her to hold onto the saddle horn, and what a grip she had!

Overall, they did alright. I think they left with an a better sense of respect for horses. We are hoping to send Arby to their house for the summer, so hopefully they will grow into good little cowgirls :)

I didn't pose them, honest. Well, I did tell Trixie to "Stay"! Isn't this the cutest thing yet?!

Tabatha Twitchit our mama kitty with her six children. Four white ones, one gray and a black! They don't have names yet, I believe in making sure they aren't going use up all nine lives prematurely!
{Once upon a time there was an old cat, called Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit, who was an anxious parent. She used to lose her kittens continually, and whenever they were lost they were always in mischief!-from Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Samuel Whiskers.}

Louisa learning to milk Penelope. She actually got a few squirts! Diana got a some streams going, too. The biggest problem they had was letting up the death grip they had on her teats. I showed them they have to let up, then squeeze again show Penelope can let her milk down.

The girls admiring the black kitten.

Gray kitten hissing at Trixie as she gets too close. Trixie Anne loves all babies, and these kittens prove to be a huge attraction. Tabatha doesn't hesitate about going after her hissing, spitting and clawing when Trixie gets too curious!

Retta helping to cover peas, looking just beautiful.

My best workers making their way down the pea row. Louisa did a whole 120 feet row! Diana came up with a better method than crawling along on her hands and knees. She walked along using her right foot to push the dirt over the peas, and her left to pack the dirt over the seed. She said: "See Aunt Jessie, this foot is the push foot, and this one is the stomp foot. Push, stomp, push, stomp, push..." !

Jessica's Quilt

We presented Jessica with her quilt at the last Ladies' Gathering. Only a small number of the ladies that worked on the quilt are pictured here-it's so hard to get us all together in the same place at the same time!



Louisa took this picture! She chopped off the aunties' heads, but did a great job photographing the quilt!

Happy Birthday Girls

Retta blowing out her candles with a little help from mommy.

New boots (she calls them her "cow boots" because she loves going out to the barn to feed calves with Erin!) and a beautiful pink ball from Grandpa and Grandma Slayton.

And Shoes from Aunt Sharon, of course!

My siblings with my nieces. Diana and Louisa affectionately refer to them as "the aunts and uncles" -so funny!

Loretta getting her quilt from her great-grandma Graham, my mother's mom. Four generations!

Joanna's 3rd birthday portrait; she's such a dainty little lady!

Love the expression on her face! I really enjoyed watching her take time with her cards-like she was reading every word!

The cluster of anticipation!

Can we unwrap the present now?! Isn't it funny how when it's YOUR birthday, each moment is savoured, and the onlookers want to tear off the paper for you?!

Niece Sarah playing "Ride 'em Cowboy!"

The Last Run

Sap season is over for this year. These photos show how we collect sap after the snow is gone. I stand behind the seat and pour the sap into the tank for Kelvin so he doesn't have to climb in and out of the wagon with the buckets. Prince can make the job difficult if he doesn't stand still while I'm pouring. The reins are hooked to the seat on the wagon and if he fidgets and tries to take off, I grab the reins and grip them with my knee and the back of the seat. Sometimes, between Prince and me, we manage to splash the sap on the inside AND the outside of the collection tank!

I love Kelvin's posturing in this photo-he looks like he's gonna tip over backwards :)

Early spring woods.

Getting ready to entire the trail into the woods. It is very steep, and I have so little faith ( or so much common sense!) that I always get out and walk, and let Kelvin drive. Pictures never seem to show depth very well-Kelvin is literally driving over a four-foot bank to access the trail head. When they are going over the edge, the wagon is higher than Prince's back before it follows the horse over the edge. It makes me think of the pioneers and what it must have been like crossing rivers and mountains to get to their new homes! Before next sap season, we're hoping to get some bulldozer work done to connect the field with the logging trail, so we won't have to risk life and limb to get the sap collected.

I will be posting more pictures later detailing the final clean-up process and the maple syrup labeling & storage project :)

Easter with Family

We spent Easter at Erin & Jonathan's house this year with my side of the family & Kelvin's Grandparents. Here are some photos of the Easter egg hunt.

John Perno & Kelvin visiting with Ma & Pa

Molly & her fiance Peter.