apple pickin' at Evans Orchard in Georgetown, Kentucky

last week while the munchkins were on fall break from school i took them to evans orchard to go apple picking.  we met up with some dear friends and had a marvelous day.  this orchard is fabulous because it has a playground, a petting zoo, orchards, pumpkin patches, hayrides and more.  my favorite part though is meandering through the orchards looking for the most perfect apples to bring home.  we ended up with two baskets full.  one basket full of apples for pies, and one basket with fuji apples for eating.  i think that we've had apples with every single meal since we brought them home.  they are so delicious!  do you have a favorite local farm?  or better yet, a favorite apple recipe?  please share!

Things to do in Augusta, Kentucky

stroll through town

hold hands

throw rocks in the river

cuddle with your papa

ask your mother for ice cream

ride the ferry across the river

eat at the beehive tavern (i haven't yet!)

watch the river roll by while you have a snack

chat with your brother

ride on your mother's back while travelling across the river to another state

admire the view & dream about a slower paced life

a visit to the art museum

last week i took the kids to the art museum. that's right...four small children at the art museum. i was nervous at first, but felt much better when we arrived and i saw busload after busload of noisy little children entering the museum. i have always thought of the art museum of a quiet, peaceful place, and i was not quite sure how the munchkins would do in such a setting unlike our usual boisterous outings. i was not sure if they would appreciate the beauty and understand the magic of looking at fine art. all of my worrying was for nothing. they loved the art museum, they spent their time looking around, taking it all in, asking questions and making guesses as to what the pieces were or what they meant. it was as if the peacefulness of their surroundings had a calming effect on them. they spoke in hushed, almost reverent tones, and looked around with wide eyes while holding tight to mama's hand. it was truly a magical morning. and when we got home the pencils, markers, and paper came out and their own masterpieces were created.

the exhibit that excited the children the most is an instillation that is in progress of being put together right now...artworks: the american road. they are in the midst of painting a rather large mural on the 2nd floor, and have numerous neon signs & the like ready for display. i cannot wait to go back and see what the finished product will look like. the kids were excited about "big boy" being a part of the exhibit (can you see him in the picture below?).

we only saw a fraction of the artwork at the museum, because we just stayed for a short while, but since it is free to visit (you only have to pay for parking) we will surely be back again before the summer is over. i am hoping to tie some things that we saw at the museum into some art projects i have planned for the coming weeks.

Field Trip

Today my children and I went on a fascinating field trip! We went to visit my Auntie Annie, who works at the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We got to meet all of Aunt Anne's friends, tour the part of the center where braille books & magazines are made, visit the art gallery, and talk to artists who were working on masterpieces for the gallery. I learned so many new things...so did the children. And we saw some beautiful artwork! It was a grand day.