Today felt like a field trip of sorts. We met up with some of Aiden and
my friends at Oliver H. Kelly Farm in Elk River. This historic little
farm has been preserved and runs everyday like the farm in was in the
1800's. If life was "survival of the fittest" in the 1800's I would not
have made the cut, for sure. The people who work on this farm, like
our friend Jill the Gardner, work really, really hard. I was impressed
by the massive garden (maybe an acre), the wash that was being done by
hand and the cornbread that was being made in an old cookstove all while
wearing traditional 1800's clothing even in the oppressive heat that
was today. Aiden doesn't understand time yet so I think all my
explaining that this was how life was like before cars, before
electricity, before toys, computers, and modern conveniences probably
didn't sink in. What did sink in was the big horned cow (the highlight
of Aiden's trip) and the water pump. Aiden pumped many a bucket of
water today. So many in fact that I think other kids might not have
gotten a turn. The kids also got to pick rhubarb in the garden so the
cook could make rhubarb butter, weed the garden and feed the chickens.
Such a lot of work for a 4 year old (and a Mama!). I think we'll all
sleep well tonight and not take the AC for granted.
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