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Monday, August 09, 2010

Farm Day(s) 2010

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Farm Days 2010.

My family came to the farm for the weekend, just to play. Oh, I love them! It was a small group this year, 26 of us, about two thirds of our usual group.

Fresh air, cornhole and ladderball, picking and shucking sweet corn, eating our fill of tomatoes, chasing ducks, creating masterpieces with sidewalk chalk, picking and eating loads of wild blackberries and catching and cuddling with quail. Tents, bonfires, a huge RV, fireflies, shooting stars, making bamboo & shell wabi-sabi windchimes, eating DeeDee's exotic Thai fruits, playing euchre, walking the path, sitting in the shade, playing tag, jumping on Brian, Don and Peter, looking for pumpkins in the pumpkin patch, eating Lesley and Brian's thawed wedding cake one year later and watching them eat their wedding plum, Peter coming in from LA for the last day. Just being together.

I'll let the photos fill in the blanks. You can click to make them bigger.
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-We are only 21 here, as some had left or hadn't arrived.
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70 comments:

Jill of All Trades said...

Family, food and fun! Great pictures.

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

Oh I want to be part of your Family!@!!!!!
It all looks so wonderful relaxing and bonding.
Glad it all went well

The Bug said...

That looks like a great time!

lovely you said...

Your family is the coolest. Jason and I are counting down the days until we get to be with ours. (20 days to go!) Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. When I come here I feel I am a part of one big happy family.

P.S. Nice shirt, Don.

J.G. said...

Oh my goodness! What a perfect microcosm of what's good about family and farming!

(P.S. Those are some serious sunflowers.)

sandy said...

Enjoyed all the photos and it makes me want to live with you. Is that okay? hehe.

Looks like you had a great time and well this was just cool to see.

rauf said...

you can see absolute joy in every picture. Perfect light and timing. Good weather, you and Don as hosts adds to the joy.

* said...

Stunning photography, family, gathering up of events. Every picture you posted tells a tale, and there are many more, no doubt, that were left captured only in the heart.

Gorgeous summer. Gorgeous family.

ds said...

Oh, wonderful. The conjuring and preserving of memories. So glad Peter was able to make it!
What a beautiful family you have. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

Unknown said...

Such glorious pictures what an album you are creating wonderful. Made the start of my day very sunny - at least on the inside. UK weather getting fickle they say August it wll turn come the thrd week of the month summer wil be gone!

Deborah said...

What a truly wonderful photo essay, Ruth! It made me a bit wistful, because I have never experienced a family gathering like that. Most of MFB's small family was here for the last while, and while everyone enjoys themselves, there isn't nearly the same kind of interaction and fun as was evident in your pictures.

It's great that so many family members can get together at one time and place - and an important tradition for you and yours, obviously. Lucky everyone!

Deborah said...

PS I just scrolled down to your 'Change The World'. I have the book 'The Four Agreements' - and was intrigued to see that a fifth has been added here. Is it his, or yours?

Shari said...

Enjoyed participating long distance. Great pictures. Looks like so much fun!

George said...

It looks like a great time, Ruth, but what about the games? Did you get through them without any professional counseling? Needless to say, I have special fondness for those wabi-sabi wind chimes.

Kate said...

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing your family gathering with us. It takes me back to the days when my family did the same. Now, it seems we are scattered to the winds: by distance - in locations, politics & religions, and by no clear successor to the patriarchal throne.

I'm very happy we had those days, and delighted to get to share with those who still do.
thanks.

Loring Wirbel said...

Best batch yet (photos and food).

Char said...

what gorgeous shots - so much love!

Helena said...

Looks like so much fun! Great photos again!

Jeanie said...

What a grand and glorious time -- and yes, the photos speak for themselves. Your family is fortunate to have you chronicle such events -- you do it so well! (I trust these will be a Shutterfly book for Christmas...?!!!)

Katy said...

Thanks for being our photographer and host this weekend!! I love the one of Jeff and the corn. Once my hand gets better, I'll try and redeem my cornhole skills! :)

margie said...

how fun!! we had a family reunion this summer. over 100 of the family members showed up!

Ruth said...

Thank you, Jill of All Trades, this seems like such a sliver in these snapshots.

Ruth said...

Hello there, Cupcakes, well you are welcome to come along. We are already a big tribe, so more is just fine. We always had a wide open home growing up with many, many "adopted" family members.

And now you're going to welcome a new one into your home! Congratulations again.

cathyswatercolors said...

Just wonderful!This is what makes summer so great,family fun without the work of the holiday hassle!

Ruth said...

Dana, my family can play, and my family can talk. Good at both. I love it. Well I love watching them play, and I love talking.

Ruth said...

Hi, Ellen. Fun it was.

Ruth said...

Tracy, ohhh in less than 3 weeks you'll be home. I know you must be feeling chills. I'd love it if you were in my family.

But now, silly girl, I know you don't like that I heart NY shirt. :) Earlier he had on one I had made for him of NY hearts the Most Interesting Man in the World, but he got sweaty and changed into the white one. Why don't you get a shirt made for you and Jason of I heart Texas?

Ruth said...

J.G., those sunflowers didn't even blossom until about 10 feet! Such loft, such dreams of grandeur, such accomplishment! I just knew we had to have our group shot under them.

Ruth said...

I already adopted you, Aunty Sandy. I'm just waiting for your visit. You already know some of our chickens intimately, by having painted them.

Ruth said...

rauf, the weather was perfect for human skin. Three out of four Farm Days have been like this. What are the chances? The odd one out was a little hot and rained a short while, but still, we didn't have to cancel. And you know how last year's wedding was, with that soft gentle rain for the duration of the ceremony. I think Nature has a special pact with this grass, these maples and spruces, and these green barns.

Ruth said...

Thank you, sweet Terresa. There are not only more that weren't captured on the camera. I loaded about 200 photos onto Facebook! It really was very hard to whittle down to just these.

lovely you said...

Ha! NY hearts the Most Interesting Man in the World, now there's a shirt I would like!!! I also like your Texas shirt idea. Or maybe Australia. Or maybe I would like one that says I heart the World. Or I heart Everybody. But I guess that wouldn't exactly be true because there are some people I just don't heart very much. Like George W and Kobe Bryant, for examples.

I hope you are having a good day.

Let's pretend we ARE family. ;)

Ruth said...

DS, thank you for kindly sharing with me. The way you put it, it makes me think of these posts of Farm Day like putting up preserves.

All blessings and warm health for the niecelet.

Ruth said...

Gwei Mui, it disturbs me how we focus on the transience of summer, even while it is still here in all its grand heat. I think it is very difficult to avoid the temptation to grieve it before it's even gone.

I admit though, that I have a mind of winter.

Ruth said...

Deborah, our family has gotten closer as the years go by. We've always been big, but we've gotten better at the interaction. I am realizing that games are a wonderful way to get to know a person.

Ruth said...

Oh, I forgot, and yes, as I emailed you, Ruiz now has a 5th agreement and a newer book version with it.

Pat said...

Wow - that looks like so much fun. The food looks great - the pictures are stunning! I love the story of the "wedding plum". Great post.

Anonymous said...

only 21? lol. it looks like a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

Croquet, chunky chalk,little kids, a dragonfly, windchimes, bonfires, feet, a tiny frog in a small hand and that splendiforous morning glory. I can only sit here and say "more! more!" Wonderful and thanks for sharing all this beauty.

Arti said...

This time 52 pics in all! My faves are the corns, the bonfire, the shells the dragonfly... what a memorable visual keepsake of your family... just beautiful Ruth. Glad you've had a fantastic time on the farm surrounded by such treasures.

Ginnie Hart said...

After having seen the pics on Facebook, Ruth, I have loved seeing them here in this post. Perfect in every way. I just wish we could have been there. Maybe one year!

Bella Rum said...

Oh, golly, golly! It looks like so much fun was had. Wonderful photos. Wonderful Farm Day!!!

Ruth said...

Thanks, Shari. Neither you, nor my niece Shari who lives a stone's throw from you in Sarasota, were here. It is a very long way for her to travel for just a couple of days, but maybe next year they'll be here for the first time.

Ruth said...

Hi, George! A very good thing about being the one with the camera is that you don't have to participate in many games if you don't want to. So I didn't need any particular mantras or self-help methods to get through them. And guess what, as you see, I finally played cornhole on Sunday after Peter came and most of the spectators were gone, and I got two cornholes! I wasn't bad, but Lesley had to show me how to toss it (you can see in the photo).

Yes, I had a feeling you would like our wabi-sabi wind chimes. Now later I did regret having that camera in hand and not making one myself.

Ruth said...

Kate, it's good to see you. I'm annoyed that I missed your posts relying on Google Reader. Maybe my subscription didn't take the first time.

Our family has evolved since our parents passed away. We didn't used to be this interactive. Gradually we got more so at the family cottage. Then when we started Farm Day in 2006, it got even better. I think the farm's energy contributes to our good feelings big time.

Ruth said...

Oh! I'm glad you think so, Loring!

Ruth said...

Thank you, Char, I'm glad you feel it.

Ruth said...

Thanks, Helena. I don't know how the kids kept going like they did. I was tired just watching them.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Jeanie. I asked Don if it bothered him that I was with my camera a lot, and he said no. I tried to also get involved here and there, and when I take pictures, I talk and laugh with those I'm photographing. But I recognize it can put a distance between you and what's happening. Anywho. A shutterfly book is a great idea. Maybe one day I'll do one of Farm Day over the years. That would be fun!

Astrid said...

That 'glow in the dark' nail polish thing of Lesley really is nice.....
Like Ginnie said, wished we were there too, I do realise it is family of me too, looking at the pictures yesterday and today again make me realise what I have missed all these years, two days a year to catch up with family, doing things or just do nothing, sit in a circle and have laughs and talks........in that regard I am glad 'I speak the language' that makes it more easy.
You did a great job making this wonderful memory.
Maybe next year we will be there.

Babs-beetle said...

Now I want to come and live with you!

It looks like you had a wonderful time with your family. The good side of farm life ;)

jo.irish.rose said...

hey ruth! loved the pics! love the reunion! the hey day looked like soooo much fun, we don't have a big family and don't meet up hardly at all. so i envy families that have regular reunions.

the games, the food, the crafts, the sitting around and visiting....oh man, i could go for some of that too! i want to be adopted! we only had 4 kids in our family, and very few distant relatives. they were all in canada. and when we went there, it wasn't for everyone, just us!

you guys looked like you were having such a great time, and good pics! your a great photographer! good job ruth! can we hire you?

Ruth said...

Katy dear, you are welcome! It was a blast having you and Jeff here. You both have mad cornhole skills, and you see I even played later on Sunday -- two cornoles pour moi!

Ruth said...

Margie, tons of fun! Wow. 100. We would have a tent city over here!

Ruth said...

Thanks, Cathy, well I guess you're right, there were no gifts or Christmas tree to buy, and no snow to plow. I'll modify my assessment of "no hassle." :)

Ruth said...

Tracy, maybe a t-shirt that says "I heart lovely you"? That would say it all, I think.

Adoption papers are complete, by the way. You're in that very special category of sister-niece-soulfriend, the family we choose.

Ruth said...

Pat, and you were family reunion-ing at the same time! Yours was fantastic too. I'm thinking about incorporating that ski game, and I will hope to be changing a grandbaby's diaper on a camp chair one of these Farm Days. :D

Ruth said...

Yes, Kamana, 21 is small for our family. I think if we're all together we are over 60 now. Man, I hadn't realized it until just now.

Ruth said...

Dear Oh, you're so kind to want more. Thank you. Believe me, there was more. I think I snapped a thousand photos.

photowannabe said...

As an only child with few living relatives and Hubby's family gone in every direction, your post puts a real longing in my very soul. I love seeing the wonderful family and all the "real" life going on.
If it wasn't for my Daughter in Law's fantastic family and extended family life would be so shallow and dull.
Saturday there will be 50 of us at an old Hotel in the Gold Country foothills. We will be celebrating her (D.I.L.) Dad's 90th birthday. I can hardly wait.
You have a beautiful family and the farm is so special.
Sue

Ruth said...

Arti, really? That many? Holy moly. And it was so hard to whittle down to this many. :)

Thank you, my friend.

Ruth said...

Boots, well, I hope, hope, hope you will be here next time, with Astrid. Maybe she has new games to teach us. And you will be my camera comrade-in-arms. :)

Ruth said...

Yes, Bella, yes!

Ruth said...

Astrid, hello. No matter where Lesley was on the weekend, I could find her toes. :)

Don and I would love it if you and Ginnie would be here next year. Could it happen? I know you have to plan your trips carefully, and do many things in one visit. I think you could teach us a new game, something Dutch. I used to jump rope, and one way was called Double Dutch -- with another jumper and two people holding two ropes. It was tricky!

Ruth said...

Babs, you and Mo come on over! There's plenty of room, even for your circular washing line and its new base. ;-)

Ruth said...

Hi, Jo! It sounds like you and yours must have been the fun ones, to be the only ones invited. You are very welcome to join my big family. There were 8 of us, I'm the youngest. One brother passed away. At this Farm Day I only had 2 biological siblings present, plus my heart-sister DeeDee. And still it was a good sized group. But we have plenty of room and would love to have you. Just be sure to bring those grandbabies along.

Ruth said...

Hi, Sue! Well it was real fun and games, that's for sure. We really do enjoy each other.

What a beautiful event it sounds like tomorrow, the birthday party for your daughter-in-law's father's birthday. It sounds like he must have been well along in years when she was born? My dad's dad was 70 when Dad was born, and mine was 40 when I was born. My grandpa fought in the Civil War! Yes, I am only two generations removed from the Civil War. Crazy.

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

Wish I could click to make them closer!

Susan said...

Can I be adopted by your family? My attorney could get those papers written up pronto. :)

Were you any better at cornhole than you were at ladderball? Be the ball, Ruthie, be the ball.

So many luscious shots, but I love Audrey's sidewalk portrait and the one of the dragonfly. Very nice.

Grandmother Mary said...

It struck me how lucky we bloggers are to get to share one another's families and get fun ideas of good things to do together. Ours is in the states in July/August and your photos whet my appetite. Thank you for taking the time to share.