Crop Report

Everyone is excited as we approach May 1st. The children and their families are anticipating the annual May Day Festival, and besides that, our Farmyard Blanket Knitters are preparing for the Square Swap on Friday morning. Twelve knitters will exchange fields with one another, each one receiving a dozen assorted designs. Congratulations to those who have completed their squares on schedule! It has been one full year since we began this amazing group project, inspired by an article in Living Crafts magazine. (see link)

The remaining twelve knitters are planning to exchange at the end of May. Congratulations to all of you for your determination and hard work. Being a part of this group has been wonderful, and I am grateful for the experience. Thank you one and all!

Did I mention how monumental this project is? One year ago, the sign up sheet was posted and quickly filled up with names. Twenty four knitters joined forces in this creative endeavor. Our goal was not only to knit beautiful farmyard blankets for our families and classrooms, but to raise money for the school as well. We purchased yarn and eagerly cast on our first stitches before the school year was out. It seems like yesterday that we joined our hearts and hands....

AN INSPIRING DAY AT THE FARM

The weather this weekend is absolutely perfect for being outside. My daughter and I spend a lovely Saturday afternoon at Wolcott Farm. The skies are blue and the breeze cools our hot faces. A few barn cats lounge in the straw of the cow barn. Don't bother to get up, we know our way to the door.

Quiet, gentle calves in the nursery barn; a cool place for an afternoon nap.

Curtis - what a character - the billy goat of the barnyard, and father of all the kids this year.

What adorable kids. They relax, romp around, and bleat happily in the sunshine. A volunteer picks up the littlest one, and the children gather around to pet her surprisingly soft fur.

This mom is raising four kids without supplementary bottle feeding; a rare and unusual feat for a nanny goat. Everyone at the farm is pleased to watch them nurse, thrive, and grow. As Grampa Beebe once said, "Them sucky smacky sounds is purtier than a whole flock o' meadowlarks!" from Stormy, Misty's Foal by Marguerite Henry. My city ears couldn't agree more.

This little horse shares a yard with Curtis, and they are very close in size. He rolls on his back, scratching his shaggy coat and covering himself with bits of dry grass. A donkey looks on, and then decides to do the same. What fun!

This little chestnut horse nibbles grass without stopping to look at us. He reaches into the next yard where the grass grows taller and greener. Vivian finally coaxes him over so she can pat his warm shaggy side.

A dozen or so sleeping piglets, and their lovely mother, from the Farm at Kensington Metropark. Three cheers for hardworking moms! Mother's Day is just around the corner.



Next week's outing...the Wolcott Mill