Down on the farm and other random thoughts

It is 8:53 a.m. and Ella is STILL sleeping. Tired girl. I guess we wore her out this weekend. We (my SIL, sister, nephews, neice and mother) went to a festival at Salomon Farm on Saturday. And it was really cool. It’s this beautiful farm sitting off of Dupont Road in Fort Wayne, and I’ve always wanted to go, but not sure what they have or when to go. I knew they had Wednesday night Farmer’s Market, but it just never occurs to me on a Wednesday.

Anyway, my friend Holly told me they were having an event and we went right at 10 a.m. when they opened. It is a beautiful property. Big red barns and rolling fields. They had free hay rides, a really nice petting zoo, a pumpkin display, awesome-looking organic produce and some natural soaps and other products. The kids loved petting the animals. The baby pigs were especially a hit and Ella met a horse name Ellie.

I also found out about this CSA program – Community Supported Agriculture. Basically it’s a subscription to local, organic produce. You support your local farm by paying ahead for your produce and in return you get a weekly allotment of seasonal, organic produce. I’m probably behind on this whole concept because there’s a Web site here that lists them nationally. Anyway, I think I’ll try it next year. The smallest allotment is 10 lbs a week for $25 a week. That may be more than I spend on produce weekly now, but I’m willing to try it.

Sara asked me this weekend if I still worry when Ella’s not in my eyesight. I told her not so much about Ella … I’m now worried about what she’s doing to the house when I don’t see her. She may be emptying a box of tissues or coloring on the floor. Then Sara told me yesterday she’s in phase three of worrying: Wandering what her older kid is doing to the smaller one. Guess it’s always something.

My SIL Rachel had a campfire for us all Saturday night. Hot dogs, smores and fruit pies. We were all raving about the hot dogs. We’re easy to impress I guess. Except my dad, who said the fruit pies needed a cup of sugar to be good.

I’m attaching some photos. Wish I would have gotten some of the barns and property, but when you’re with four kids and looking at stuff and chasing Ella … there’s not a lot of time.