Touchable History

Touch.  There is something enchanting in those words for young ones.  We like to visit places we can touch.  And May's family field trip was revisiting a living historic farm.  We could hold a freshly laid, warm egg.  We reached into an ice box.  We let the duckings nibble our fingers.  We peered at the ashes of a kitchen wood stove.  We lifted the dasher on an old butter churn.  Learning through touch- we like this place.

Watching the chickens with a tour guide...

'Milking' water from a wooden cow...

Supplying a sprinkle to thirsty plants...

Hoeing those weeds...(love the concentrated tongue?)

Learning from a lady who has been teaching kids history for more years than I am old(!)...

Hannah adding her part to the butter-making process...

Washing those 'filthy' cloths...

Feeling for one more drop of water...

Hannah adding gravel to the wash bin...

Watching 8 squealing pigs sucking warm milk...

(We just finished reading 'Little House in the Big Woods', and the roasted pig's tail was a treat for Laura and Mary to eat- although they do look cute, we're not sure we'd like to taste them...)

Resting on the veranda of the estate's historic home...

Touching a replica of a historic car...

 

May was...

..."May showers bringing May flowers"

 May was jumping puddles...

...and raincoats, rain boots and umbrellas...

 ...and warm, sudsy water to wash away the cold and mud.

 

May was ant watching- every day of May since the ant farm sat on our kitchen table.  Ants in captivity only live about 4 weeks.

Daddy was their greatest fan - mesmerized by their industry and strength.

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?" (Proverbs 6:6-9)
 
May was flower gardening- with lots of helpers...

...and dirty hands!

"Now, where did I put my shovel?"

May was visiting with good friends.  Daddy was organizing an entertaining game of 'Simon Says'.

May was being spoiled on Mother's Day by those I love...

 

Selah smelling the bath soap she picked out for one of my presents...

May was a visit from Ian & Lenelle- I failed to snap a photo of the engaged pair, but at least I captured a shot of Duane putting Ian to work shoving a landscaping rock up a ramp to place in 'just the right spot'...

May was dinner on the grill...

May was little boys in boots with bucket in tow.  What were they collecting that day- more worms? rolly-pollies? special sticks and rocks? or maybe more clover flowers-picked just for you, Mom...

May was also a family trip to a working historical farm, and eggs incubating, chicks hatching, butterflies emerging, and Memorial Day parades... but all that will have to wait till more posts.

Where Did My Baby Go?

Near the beginning of May our baby transformed into a toddler.  It was Selah to whom she took her first steps.  Now a month later she is trying to run already!  Such an exciting development that is completed too quickly.

"Whoa now, get your balance."
 
"Take it nice and slow..."

"Oopsie-daisy!"

"Concentrate and keep your hands up!"

"Yeah, I'm proud of myself!"