Fun on the Farm!

With Sam and Leezie in tow, we made a day trip up to New Paltz/Gardiner on Saturday. It was an absolutely gorgeous day made all the more beautiful by the lush country setting of upstate New York. We first met Bec & Ula at Rose Lane, where Bec showed us some updates on the house (looks even more awesome now!), then we headed over to Brook Farm. This is the farming co-op Bec & John belong to--they have to put in some work picking produce throughout the season and in return get dibs on the bounty. When we arrived at the Farm, there were some aging hippies milling about, and we were told a 65th surprise birthday party for Wendy was about to take place. No worries, Farmer Dan told us we could still check out the chickens and hang out while the party went down.

When Wendy arrived, the party-goers immediately froze in place, some acting as though in mid-sip of their wine. Wendy kind of stood there for a while smiling before finally saying "you can all move now!" Then, the aging hippies broke out into Happy Birthday--I guess it was the opposite approach to yelling Surprise when the guest-of-honor enters? Maybe a holdover from the 60's? Either way, it was funny to witness.

Not wanting to crash the party, we walked to the fields and checked out where Ula Bec had picked their patty pan squash, and showed Sam the pigs and hens. They were both totally "farm" and a bit icky--not quite the clean, sweet animals you'd interact with at a petting zoo!

It was great having Sam in the country--in one day, he was "introduced" to a frog, chickens, pigs, hens, and horses. Quite a day on the farm for this city boy!

Later on, Bec & John hosted us to a yummy summer dinner of sweet corn on the cob, BBQ chicken, turkey burgers, and tomatoes. And for dessert, ice cream and Bec's own culinary delite--fresh peaches and berries baked in a handmade pizza dough, otherwise known as "peachza." Look for it in a bakery near you! :-)

We didn't want to leave, but by 11 p.m., everyone's eyes were getting heavy, especially the more active ones of the bunch who'd ran and biked about 100 miles earlier in the day. So we zipped back down to NYC/Hoboken, getting home late but very relaxed! Can't wait to go back!

See lots of pics from the day below...