Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Frying Pan Farm
We met up with Miss Lily and her 'rents over Memorial Day Weekend at Frying Pan Farm and really had the best time. This is definitely a must-see if you have young children and we will certainly be going back (thanks, Suzy for telling us about it!) Lily very sweetly greeted Henry with a big hug:
A lot of animals were born this past spring, including these adorable spotted piglets (they are so cute, they even made me question my love of bacon),
...and this friendly calf.
The farm even had these cool vintage tractors the kids could get to work on.
Ethan assured us that the sheep only have teeth on one half of their jaw, the other half being a palate (like the roof of your mouth). Who knew?
The only way to get toddlers to leave somewhere when they are having a blast? Round them up in their strollers, of course!
Last, we stopped at the country store on site before we left and Henry humored me long enough so that I could snap this photo of him on the scale.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Farmer's Market
I took Henry to the Farmer's Market at Sherwood Hall Library earlier in the week and thought it would be a fun activity for him. Well, he fell asleep on the way there and slept through the whole thing unfortunately. A very nice farmer/vendor let me take a photo of him in front of her lovely display of veggies. I even scored a Shoo Fly pie, although it wasn't as good as I recall my late paternal grandmother's pie being.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Green Spring Gardens
On Mother's Day, we went to Green Spring Gardens, which is one of our favorites places. The flowers were just starting to bloom, and even though the gardens were not in their prime yet, it was a beautiful day.
Henry's favorite part was the scaled-down table and chairs in the children's garden.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Posted with Sadness
I'm not sure where to begin. You may remember from this post, that our dog, Sunshine, bit Henry at the beginning of March, so we've been keeping them separated, and considering what is best for Sunshine and trying to find a new home for her. Unfortunately, given her age (at least 14 or 15 - old for a cocker), her declining health, our concern that she would not adjust if we did find her another home (which we did not), and her increasing unhappiness with being confined in our family room all the time, separated from the rest of us, we decided it was best for her to put her down. It was really one of the most agonizing, difficult decisions we have ever made and it took us a long time to come to it. I had always thought (and hoped) that Sunshine would just die peacefully while sleeping at home, never having suffered or gone through any trauma or discontent.
When I adopted Sunshine in 1997, I somehow had a sense that I would benefit just as much as she would from our relationship. At that time in my life, I really needed her and she needed me. I saw her at the Alexandria Welfare League's Animal Shelter, quivering in her cage, looking quite scruffy (I had no idea she was so cute and fluffy until she got her first bath post-adoption). She was a stray that someone had brought in and the staff said they were surprised no one claimed her, since she appeared to be a young, sweet, pure-bread cocker spaniel. They estimated her age to be 1-2 years based on her teeth. And I was right - she contributed so much to my happiness and well-being.
From the beginning, she proved to be quite spunky. She was a bit skittish at times, but was quite loyal once she warmed up to you. Quite energetic in her younger days, I would take her to the Masonic Memorial Temple to run often (in the days when they allowed people to bring their dogs to run the grounds). Since she didn't like other dogs much (save my sister's miniature schnauzer, Rocky), we often played and ran off to the side, away from the group. Once, she ran up the numerous front steps of the Masonic Temple and even tried to go inside, much to the humor of the tour guide on duty. After I adopted Sunshine, I met so many neighbors and friends on my walks with her.
I sometimes joke with Ralph that he got to go on a second, and subsequent, dates with me because Sunshine seemed to approve of him (and she was quite discerning). In fact, over the years, Sunshine and Ralph became quite close. Ralph even taught her to balance a carrot on her nose and then toss and catch it (which, I'll admit, I never thought he would be able to teach her to do). See the video of this impressive feat here.
We have so many fond memories of Sunshine. The time she got stuck behind the shed trying to get to a turtle comes to mind. Or, when we lived in the townhouse and our neighbor's cat, Frasier, came in through the dog door in the middle of the night and she found him (or vice-versa) - three times! Snuggling with her on the couch. Feeling so excited to see Sun after our long time away from her when we got married and went on our honeymoon. The time she ruptured the cruciate ligament in her knee and needed surgery and recovery in an animal travel carrier (which she took to so easily that we started calling it her "house") . Sunshine howling every time Henry cried for three days after he got home from the hospital. Sunshine wanting to be near Henry or the time she licked him out of the blue. Henry's first word: "Sunshine". Taking her on vacation with all of us last summer to Saint Michaels. Her love of chocolate and obsession with carrots. And so many more.
On her last day with us, Ralph took the day off and we had a sitter stay with Henry while we took Sunshine to a park and field where we used to live for several hours before we went to the vet. Before we left, Henry had a little time with her too.
We got to spend time with her relaxing in the field, walking some trails, and even gave her a chocolate cupcake (she devoured it - she always loved chocolate).
Ralph and I were with her when she was euthanized and we wouldn't have it any other way. She was there for us so much; we wanted to be there for her. We had her individually cremated and plan to plant a special garden for her in our yard, where we will likely spread her ashes.
When I adopted Sunshine in 1997, I somehow had a sense that I would benefit just as much as she would from our relationship. At that time in my life, I really needed her and she needed me. I saw her at the Alexandria Welfare League's Animal Shelter, quivering in her cage, looking quite scruffy (I had no idea she was so cute and fluffy until she got her first bath post-adoption). She was a stray that someone had brought in and the staff said they were surprised no one claimed her, since she appeared to be a young, sweet, pure-bread cocker spaniel. They estimated her age to be 1-2 years based on her teeth. And I was right - she contributed so much to my happiness and well-being.
From the beginning, she proved to be quite spunky. She was a bit skittish at times, but was quite loyal once she warmed up to you. Quite energetic in her younger days, I would take her to the Masonic Memorial Temple to run often (in the days when they allowed people to bring their dogs to run the grounds). Since she didn't like other dogs much (save my sister's miniature schnauzer, Rocky), we often played and ran off to the side, away from the group. Once, she ran up the numerous front steps of the Masonic Temple and even tried to go inside, much to the humor of the tour guide on duty. After I adopted Sunshine, I met so many neighbors and friends on my walks with her.
I sometimes joke with Ralph that he got to go on a second, and subsequent, dates with me because Sunshine seemed to approve of him (and she was quite discerning). In fact, over the years, Sunshine and Ralph became quite close. Ralph even taught her to balance a carrot on her nose and then toss and catch it (which, I'll admit, I never thought he would be able to teach her to do). See the video of this impressive feat here.
We have so many fond memories of Sunshine. The time she got stuck behind the shed trying to get to a turtle comes to mind. Or, when we lived in the townhouse and our neighbor's cat, Frasier, came in through the dog door in the middle of the night and she found him (or vice-versa) - three times! Snuggling with her on the couch. Feeling so excited to see Sun after our long time away from her when we got married and went on our honeymoon. The time she ruptured the cruciate ligament in her knee and needed surgery and recovery in an animal travel carrier (which she took to so easily that we started calling it her "house") . Sunshine howling every time Henry cried for three days after he got home from the hospital. Sunshine wanting to be near Henry or the time she licked him out of the blue. Henry's first word: "Sunshine". Taking her on vacation with all of us last summer to Saint Michaels. Her love of chocolate and obsession with carrots. And so many more.
On her last day with us, Ralph took the day off and we had a sitter stay with Henry while we took Sunshine to a park and field where we used to live for several hours before we went to the vet. Before we left, Henry had a little time with her too.
We got to spend time with her relaxing in the field, walking some trails, and even gave her a chocolate cupcake (she devoured it - she always loved chocolate).
Ralph and I were with her when she was euthanized and we wouldn't have it any other way. She was there for us so much; we wanted to be there for her. We had her individually cremated and plan to plant a special garden for her in our yard, where we will likely spread her ashes.
Friday, April 23, 2010
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