our farm day.

lake farm park came recommended by my friend emily.
we had talked about going for awhile :: just never made it happen.
it's kind of a hike to get there. as it's on the east side. about an hour away.
there were live animals. tractor pulls. demonstrations of cows get'n milked. horses galore.
and miles and miles to run free.

 

the boys got to experience their first tractor pull.
ledger walked right on up the ramp as if he owned the thing.
holden was more hesitant. he needed to be held. but i'm proud there were no tears shed.
they never totally relaxed.
but i think they liked it.
the tractor's first stop was by an old barn.
we got off and checked out what was inside.
it was full of old. i mean OLD tractors and anything farm equipment related.
again, ledger was all about get'n up on them {this was SO against all rules}.
i broke the rules to get these pictures to show grampie. we knew he'd be so impressed.

 

we were anxious to find the animals.
the boys had never been up close and personal with farm animals.
{we do the zoo. but haven't seen cows. horses. pigs. chickens. etc}
we saw some horses in a distance.
the boys were very hesitant of these big beautiful creatures.

i was in heaven. 

the smell. the feel of their coarse hair. the sound of their tails swatting against their skin to make the pesky flies go away.
it all came flooding back to me.
and for a moment. it was just me and the horses. and in that moment, the only difference, between now and then was :: my age. the muzzles over their mouths. and the fence i was leaning on was brown instead of white.

 

 

these beautiful animals were such a huge part of my childhood. they were part of my safe place growing up. if i were around these creatures :: that meant i was with pa and grandma.
and growing up.....there was no place i'd rather be.

we walked into the barn right around the corner.
this barn was full of horses.
all kinds of breeds.

it was a little too much for me to handle.
watching my babies look into the stables.
holding horse shoes.
seeing and feeling and smelling all of this for their first time.
i wish. i SO wish they would be growing up around all of this as i did. but they won't be.
and a little bit of my heart breaks. for them. and for me.

 

 

i miss my pa on a daily basis. even after twenty-two years. i still miss him.
i miss him even more when i am around horses. and barns. and stables.
some days i wish i were eight or nine again. i wish he were holding me. i wish he were making me kiss him :: 'here' as he points to his chin. and 'here' as he points to his left check. and 'here' as he points to his right check. and so on and so on.
gosh i miss him.

we left my beloved horses and checked out the pigs. sheep. goats. and chickens.
holden was all about petting the animals.
ledger stood back and watched his bubby.

 

 

 

 

we had a great day at lake farm park.
us city folk were educated on how the country folk do things.
i'm pretty sure i got the most out of our visit.
but the littles enjoyed all the new firsts they experienced.
what a neat place!