Farm America!

The boys took mama on an adventure to Farm America in Waseca on Sunday. The Farm was celebrating its annual Fall Fair -- and what with the new highway 14 open between here and there, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to take part in the fun! I've never been to Farm America before (although every time I see the sign I sing "Farm America is right for you. Farm America!" to the tune of the Pawn America commercial. Groan.) and it's a very cool place. It's huge. Like 120 acres huge. Visitors follow a path around the grounds to different sites, starting with an 1850s era homestead complete with actors dressed in costumes and going about business as they would have back in the day. We stepped inside an old house where a young woman was sweeping the floor and waiting for some water to heat in a kettle on the wood burning stove. Miles was sure she was a witch. Maybe a homely witch in a bonnet.... She talked with Miles about what life was like for her family on the farm -- mom and dad slept on a straw mattress bed in the corner of the main floor (a 10x10 foot room) and the kids slept in the loft above. There were lots of chores to do and summers were very hot. It all went in one ear and out the other - he was fixated on her costume and broom. That witch.

Anyway, here's the adventure in pictures...
The boys couldn't wait to begin the journey through time!

Miles was very interested in this carriage. Perhaps it means he has a future at Wells Fargo.

One of our favorite spots was the one-room schoolhouse. Miles was the teacher and welcomed his best student in through a side door.

 Class clowns. I even caught them passing a note back and forth.

The globe was a hit, too. Hey mom, do you still have the brown globe that lights up? Probably a fire hazard, but the grandkids (all 6!) would love it. Hint hint.

We spent several minutes trying to find Owatonna and Waseca. Let's just say the GPS system used to make this thing in 1900 wasn't very thorough.

Westy was totally confused by the school's playground. So much metal! And wood!

This old car captivated Weston for quite a while.

Unfortunately Mr. Shortypants had to look away from the road while shifting gears....

Honk honk! Beep beeeeeeeep!

We also saw some cows. We're not sure how old they were, but we were quite pleased with their friendliness.

We also watched a blacksmith make tools out of railroad spikes and chains.

And then the highlight....a horse ride!

Miles enjoyed a little trot around the prairie on Vincent, a rescued gypsy horse.

Needless to say, we had a blast and look forward to going again next year!

airplanes and whoopie pies

Today's life in Otown started out with breakfast in an airport hangar and ended with whoopie pies. Blueberry whoopie pies. It goes without mentioning, but I'll mention it anyway... Today was a good day!

For the 3rd year in a row we gladly supported some young aspiring aviators (Owatonna's branch of the Civil Air Patrol). For the price of a few cheap tickets, they filled our bellies with delicious french toast and allowed us to stomp around on the airport grounds.

As usual, the boys talked their way into a cockpit. First Miles -- he does have to show his brother how it's all done, you know.

Then Westy!

All activity came to a hault when a guy (maroon shirt in picture below) flew in on his "trike". It was fascinating! As you might expect, Miles quickly moved to the front of the crowd and drilled the man with questions. We learned that they guy is from Montgomery, has been flying trikes since 1991, bought this particular plane 3 years ago and had it shipped from Australia, and the only thing he had to do was put on the tires and wings.

Beep beep.

How do you make a transition from stories about airplanes to one about whoopie pies? Hmmm. We tried our hand a making blueberry whoopie pies today! They were supposed to look like this --

But instead they looked like this --

Thank goodness for the pretty plate underneath. They tasted fine but didn't look at all like a whoopie pie. Oh well. The boys didn't know any different.

Although Westy did look a little skeptical.

Until daddy gave me the nod of approval. Then it was all good!

Now on to Monday....

The fair is over. Sigh.

The Steele County Free Fair (and the largest free fair in the state, thankyouverymuch) set a new attendance record this year with an estimated 322,000 people braving the smelly barns and greasy food. We took part in the festivities as a family on opening night, then Miles and I went back with his friend Alexis and her mom on Friday night. Even though Miles would argue (and DID argue) that all children should go to the fair every day (for the entire day), two evenings proved to be enough. We got our dose of animals, rides, and treats!

Miles and Weston did such a great job on the tractors that we're thinking about getting them farmer's permits in the next couple of years. As soon as they can reach the pedals, they should be good to go.

Moo!

Miles continued practicing his driving skills with Alexis. Think about how much crazier this world would be if 4 year olds were allowed to drive...and drive together...you know, both at the wheel at the same time. I suppose they do look fairly responsible in this photo, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Ha.

Even better - 4 year olds flying helicopters. Alexis looks like she's offering some advice on which button to push to get the thing going. Never too young to be a back seat driver! Or co-pilot, as I prefer to call it.

We topped off the evening with some Dip-n-Dots. Yummy! By the way, Alexis is a couple of weeks older than Miles. Apparently she got the short genes in her family. She's a cutie patootie and we like her just the way she is -- small and sweet :)

Brrrrrr. I lost count of the number of complaints about brain freeze.

We've biked through the fairgrounds a few times since the fair ended and it looks tired. Worn out and ready to hibernate (and air out) 'til next summer when the fun will start all over again!