Great Country Farms

So as I mentioned before, this year I joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and bought a half share, which means I get a box of veggies each week. The farm I belong to is not terribly far from my house, and also has a vineyard and winery.

I hadn't had the chance to go (it seems to rain every weekend I have free)- but finally on Friday I did. Every week, along with your box of veggies you can also pick a certain amount of something else that isn't in your box. This week it was English peas and black raspberries.

Anyway, Here are some pictures from the farm, and I wish I had kids to take them here. They have a ton of kids activities. If you come my way at all this summer or fall, and you want to go, just say the words. It was a fun day and very relaxing.

Here are some pictures from the Black Raspberry fields (and me hard at work):




Here are some random pictures of the farm:





Here we are on the way out to the pea field...


On the way we saw the zucchini's getting ready... they look lovely. The farm is 300 acres.


Here is the pea field.


After picking we had some lunch and visited the petting zoo.

This poor duck has a third leg, see it in the back? I wonder if he uses it to steer?
They also had some baby annimals... and the cow and the donkey were pregnant.



After our "farming was done" my friends and I decided to go to the winery. They have a lovely tasting, and I came home with some wine. (Don't worry Mom and Dad, one bottle is coming your way). The winery is wayyy up this huge hill. I know the grapes grow better up there, but I have to admit I did not realize it was going to be such a hill. The view from on top was spectacular. They say on really clear days you can see the Washington Monument.



Saturday I spent de-cluttering, putting things in boxes to sell at a yard sale and getting rid of a bunch of things we don't need/want. A one-bedroom clutters up easily and I couldn't take it anymore. I want to be one of those people that other folks can drop on by at anytime and see a clean house. Not that anyone will likely come out to where I live just to drop by... but still. It's nice to live in an uncluttered place. It's taken me the last two weeks to really make a dent. Now I have to go through a few piles I created in the dining room. It's the last to do besides the closets. I've made a lot of progress. Today it is chilly and rainy - so it makes a good day to clean. Hope you have a happy 4th everyone!

Hi Everyone, Time to share more pictures.
These clouds were from the other night. Aren't they wild with color?



Today my cousin Bob and his wife Trish came over, and to please all the relatives, I made sure to take a picture of them today... unlike the last time when I met Bob and forgot. I got some grief.

They were very nice and brought me flowers for my upcoming birthday... They smell wonderful. The lilies have a really beautiful scent.




I made some lunch and some cherry pie...



And then we went to the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum





Clearly the space room is my favorite...



We had a really good time, it's a nice, big, spacious museum and it has a lot of planes... helicopters... and space stuff! We went up to the control center, which was kinda neat to see the planes from up high. But since I live so close to the airport, planes landing isn't exactly the thrill it was for some of these little kids. :)

Paintings and gardens

What is that? That bright object in the sky? Could it be... the sun??

Oh my, I don't know about you, but I am tired of this rainy spring we have had. I never knew VA had a rainy season. Finally - the sun is peaking out right now (after yet another heavy rain this morning).

So in that quick moment I decided to take some pictures of my "Garden" for you all to see. For so early in the season things are looking good. I have a bunch of herbs (and more to come from the farm each week, so far I have gotten Dill and Basil, and my Dad also gave me some Basil... so lucky me! I love the stuff.)

So here is the garden. The Aloe plant has become massive over the winter (even though I have cut off its biggest leaves, it's still about 2 or 2.5 feet across).




And here are some watercolor pictures. The Sunflowers are my favorite one I have ever done. It may need to get framed.

More WWII airshow Pictures...

WWII Airshow

I may never get the rest of my Charleston trip up. I'm on the go too much, not at home long enough these days to get blogging, and when I am home I want to relax...

But here are some pictures from my brief almost 24 hour long trip home to go to the airshow!!
I have a lot of pictures I'd like to post, I have half of them on here today... so tomorrow I'll set up the 2nd set. And I really promise it will be tomorrow.

Here are the pictures around camp...