Homestead Farms

Last night at dinner, Zack and I told Macie that she was going to be doing something really fun with her friend, Hayden.  BIG MISTAKE...that lead to her getting out of bed talking about the "big red barn," all the animals she would see, and roosters she didn't want to see at 4:30 a.m.  Boy for 4:30 she was full of energy but luckily she went back to sleep until 7.  Anyway, when we told her we were going to the farm she knew exactly what she would wear and she told me I needed to wear my boots too (I did by the way)! Macie was up and ready to get that farm first thing this morning.  Once we arrived she had a great time. She was a bit disappointed to not see the Big RED Barn because we have read this farm book called that so many times that I think she has the same image of a farm in her head that I do mine.  The farm was the real deal...it smelled like one right when we opened the door. Homestead Farms is a small farm run by a couple with a little girl.  The  sell fresh produce, meat (a couple of the pigs we fed are going to slaughter tomorrow) and goats' milk.  They seem to have a simple life but really it doesn't seem so simple...it looks like a lot of hard work.

 

 Ready to be farmers for the day...Weston, Macie, Hayden, and Walker

 HATS off to the farm life!

 Macie and Hayden liked the pigs but they were so muddy.  The lady warned the kids not to get their fingers too clothes to the pics because they were hungry.  The pigs were very hungry and fought over the food being thrown.

 The  goats loved eating from the kids.  These were all the female goats that they have.  He said they have a total of 75 goats.  After feeding the goats we watched goats being milked.  Weston was crying and crying so I was not in the milking area (took the shoes off and he was as happy as can be); however, Macie was able to help get the goats ready to milk.  My friend, Lauren, took her picture.  She was eager to help.

 Macie has a huge fear of chickens because we went to Pappy's work two Springs ago and they had a petty zoo for the kids.  Well, the chickens decided to chase Macie and give her a scare.  Ever since then she has talked about those chickens and has not forgotten that she didn't like them but Blake did. She retold us the same story last night at dinner.  Anway, we went in the chicken coupe together.  She cautiosly threw the food and also got to get an egg out of the coupe.  I thought that was funny because one egg we saw looked like it had poop on it and she reached to grab it and then decided on the clean egg.  GOOD GIRL! I was thinking the same thing.

 After feeding the animals, the kids planted a long row of squash.  Macie loved doing this so I told her next year's garden could be planted just by her.

The kids made puppet goats and then they made pizza.  The farmer told them about each item that was made and how they came from farmers (wheat, tomotoes, etc)!  I think Macie couldn't wait to get her hands on the pizza.  I noticed each kid got one piece of pizza but Macie and Hayden both grabbed two.  They were wanting thirds.  We had a picnic  after that.  It was a great ending to a great day on the farm (thank goodness for the nice weather and breeze...fall has to be in the air)!  I asked Macie if she wanted to go back and she said she did next week when the baby goats are going to be born. What a fun experience!