the third day of camp

Well, we got through the night alright! The freaked out cats (they are not keen on house guests), the three kids keeping each other up, a very calm and unruffled Ed, and me.

I didn't have a portable clock to give them so I brought over the big wall kitchen clock, leaned it against their wall and told them that no one is to come into my bedroom before 7:15 the next day.

What I neglected to say was that it was equally not okay to get up and play vivaciously downstairs at 5:40 a.m.. The three of them are writing a play and when they weren't squealing with laughter over one line or another, they managed to guffaw their way through scenes enacted and taped for posterity on someone's tablet. By 6:15 I gave up hope of sleep. May as well work in the garden. 

(So early that the majestic "trumpet" lilies aren't fully opened yet)

(catching the first rays of sun)

(do I see a child there?)

(and two more?)

 

Breakfast on the porch.

 

 

 

The older two begged to skip Shakespeare today so that they could continue their play. Fine with me, so long as they spend some time looking over their lines. (Parents agreed.) They play, they read, we do crafts. Clay, potholders, bracelets.

 

They laugh over the video clips they had put together.

 

 

 

And Snowdrop writes out a campers' pledge. I'm not sure where she got the idea -- she's never been to sleep away camp. Of loyalty, kindness, respect. They all swear to it. 

 

 

 

And then we set out. 

Our adventure for today is a trip to the New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm. This one is to the northwest of Madison and it's a bit of a haul -- some 50 minutes away. But, well, this is lavender season!  

We stop for a lunch at Culver's.

From there we make the trip to the farm. 

I suppose it is somewhat reassuring that they, too, had a tough winter with their plants -- not enough snow, too warm. Still, their lavender fields are lovely. We take a ride to the further ones and walk through the maze and take in the scent of... lavender!

(I hope you noted that we are in our lavender attire! And that Snowdrop is just about three inches shorter than my 5 ft 5 in!)

A complicated trip back: one girl has to go to a Girl Scout meeting. I need to pick up clothes for the big two. Their mommy joins Primrose, Sparrow and me for a Mexican meal nearby. 

 

 

 

I then pick up the Girl Scout, drop off the mommy, and take the three kids back to the farmhouse. For dessert and a movie. 

 

 

 

But only until 9! I have to be firm with this. We all could use a good night's sleep after an unusually beautiful but packed day! 

with so much love... 

 

the second day of camp

The second day of Grandma Camp starts early, ends late and has a speed of about 1000 orbits per hour running through it. It was not intended this way, but things had to be adjusted to meet the moment. So forgive me if my post is brief and half literate! 

I have an early start to the morning, because daylight comes early to the farmette, waking a little guest, and confusing her about the wake-up hour. Besides, the bug people arrive early to correctly spray some "natural" stuff to deter the newcomers -- mosquitoes who didn't get the message the first time around.

As long as two of us are up (Ed sleeps through it all), we may as well have breakfast. Outside, of course.

Now is the time to clean up the lilies and take stock of the flower beds, in a relatively mosquito free environment.

(two lilies with frogs and one without)

My visitor plays, listening to music.

And quickly enough it is time to pick up the cousins from Shakespeare camp. 

We eat a very quick lunch at Barrique's.

We have a 1 pm appointment at Hinchley Dairy Farm. This is a wonderful place, about 25 minutes east of Madison. They devote time to give tours of the farm to families. There are milking cows. There are pregnant cows. There are calfs. A few months old, and a few days old. And there are pigs, goats, turkeys, ducks and geese. And lots of cats. Lots. 

We take a tractor ride and are given an explanation of the cow feeding process -- the growing, harvest, storage of corn and hay. The digestion. And then the impregnating process. The birthing process. The milking process. Finally we see it all. Well, not the impregnation and birthing!

It's all extremely mechanized... Robot controlled in fact.

But here's the part I looked forward to: we also get to milk a cow. I dont remember ever doing this before. And now I have. All four of us have.

Another new adventure for me -- having two calves suck my fingers. Delightful!

 

(just days old)

Of course, there were, too, the other animals to admire. Including barn cats. Lots and lots of barn cats.

There was a second family along for the demonstration and observation and participation. When it came time to collect eggs though, I held back my threesome: you can do this at the farmette! Let the others get a thrill of reaching for eggs! And indeed, back at the farmette, all three went out with Ed to collect eggs.

(affection)

 

 

And climb trees. 

And prepare for the next art project which we will start tomorrow or the next day.

The plan was for Primrose to visit her cousins in their home tonight and indeed sleep over there. Unfortunately, little Sandpiper came home from school sick and so the only way the big three could have a sleepover was to do it at the farmhouse. My downtime is suddenly switched to a slumber party here. All three, packed in the little room upstairs. 

I had no special foods prepared for them. Time to order a pizza! And watch a movie. And I am so hoping for an early bedtime but that's just not likely given the level of excitement here right now. 

It was a full day!

with so much love... 

Family Sunday

It is the pinnacle of the peaks: (in chronological order) maximum lily count ever (986 this morning! I wanted to reach 1000, because, well, why not! But the lilies are as they are. I could not find 14 more to snip!)...

 

 

  

And maximum family love. All here, at the farmhouse, for brunch. Total bliss.

(The arrival of the Chicago kids -- both plow their way along the super secret path.)

 

 

 

 

 

I did one of my easy peasy meals: Madison Sourdough has the croissants, breads, and pastries.

 

 

 

I have the peaches, turkey, smoked salmon, local blueberries, and of course -- farmette eggs. 

The big three love closing themselves off in the art room. The little ones are still tied to the toys in the playroom. Everyone is content. Just the way I like it!

Shortly after the noon hour, all parents depart, taking with them the two littlest ones. But wait, the kids are feeling playful...

 

 

 

And there is a group photo to take. (Thank you Ed.)

 

And now I'm with the older threesome and the official summer 2025 Grandma Camp begins.

We start with cleaning up the toys left behind by the little ones. And then I launch one of my two projects for 2025, gratis guidance and suggestions given to me by crafts person extraordinaire, my friend Barbara. We do Mod Podge tissue cut outs, over glasses hiding battery candles. 

One fantastic aspect of this is that it allows for many mistakes and tears and irregularities. Perfect for us.

 

Next -- swimming at the big kids' neighborhood pool.

And finally, dinner at their local eatery -- Longtable. Grilled cheese, mac and cheese -- all fun stuff.

One more activity for this first day: a movie for Primrose and me, back at the farmhouse now. But I'm pushing it timewise. We stop in mid scene so that I could point her toward her bed already.

Camp ends with lights out. For Primrose, not for me. I exhale, on the couch, with Ed. But not for long. I have a very early morning tomorrow. I need to be ready for it! Day two of camp begins at sunrise for me. I am so hoping that the lily count will drop, but if not, I'm there for them. And for the kids. With July strength to meet the moment. 

and so much love...