On Monday, a group of 8 of us, 6 adults and 2 kids, drove out to the farmer’s market I frequent, where a playground and farm animal petting area has been added over the summer. The playground included a giant tractor tire that has been made into a sandbox, with included farm equipment trucks to play with in it. A tire somehow was cut into the shape of a tractor and turned into a swing. Giant irrigation tube has become a tunnel to crawl through that leads to a slide. The kids loved all of it.
A separate barn/building has been added for miniature and baby animals, including 2 rabbits, about 6 miniature goats, 2 miniature horse colts, and 2 kunekune piglets. We bought a cup of what looked like castoff pieces of leafy green produce and pieces of carrots to feed them. All critters were extremely friendly but the rabbits were a little shy. The enclosures were thoughtfully constructed so that each animal could get outside and each indoor pen had a way for the critters to get away from the children. I loved the piglets best, with their little lower jaw teeth and their coarse hair. One piglet grabbed a broken-off piece of a corn cob in the pen and was throwing it around in play.
We spent about an hour between the playground and the animal pens, then headed for the corn maze. There was a treasure hunt, where each child had a card with vegetable pictures on it. Along the maze were pictures of those vegetables and a different-shaped punch. If the kids got punches on all, they could enter their cards in a drawing for a free pumpkin. They did, but it will be awhile before the drawing.
Both my Daughter-In-Law and her friend picked up information on the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Debit Card Discount (DCD) programs the market has, which makes me happy as both their families and the farm will benefit by their participation. The CSA is where you pay a certain amount and pick up a box of produce each week; the DCD is where you download so much onto the card and get a 5% discount on anything in the store, which includes not only food grown by the farm but food from other vendors (dairy, meat, bread, eggs, pasta, baked goods, salsa, etc.)
On Tuesday was the weekly meet-up at Meijer Gardens. We walked the Children’s Garden area, where Lena Meijer’s childhood home has been reconstructed and acts as rest area/bathrooms. The sculptures are mostly farm animals, and the landscaping is simply stunning. There’s an old hand water pump that grandbaby learned how to use and was having fun with. Afterwards we walked over to the Japanese Garden and saw the bonsai and a few other special things. I’m not a fan of engraving big boulders with poetry, but this poem was too good not to take a pic of.
On Thursday I took a 9-mile bike ride, starting at the nature preserve and riding into town. I stopped for lunch and reading break at The Coffee Factory, then sought out the route to a new MEGA development going on down by the lake. Condos start at $600,000 and up to $800,000, which is big doins in this little hick town. Of course they’ve taken over the waterfront between the condo building, off-season boat storage building, marina, and the giant brewery and restaurant to serve the upper crust. I have mixed feelings about it, but money talks, like it always does.
On Friday, older son and I drove over to Grand Rapids with my bike, picked younger son up and went to the library to pick up the bike younger son borrowed for older son to ride. My bike carrier can carry 2 bikes so then we headed back to younger son’s house to go on a bike ride with us 3 and grandbaby. Daughter-In-Law will start riding with us after son builds her trike, which is still in the box. We had a grand time, although it got a little chilly on the ride. Autumn is definitely here.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my weekly travelogue as much I enjoy sharing it with you. Happy Sunday, a day of rest (I needed it!)
Tao Talk 
A lovely share Li. Love all the photos, especially of the bonsai.
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Sadje, thanks. It was a busy week.
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Most welcome
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Great collage of what looks like a nice and eventful week you had. That children’s playground at your local farmer’s market sounds wonderful. As I noted on previous occasions, Meijer Gardens is a beautiful facility you’re lucky to have. Last but not least, your bike helmet very much looks like mine! :-)
And also reminds me I’ve yet to take my bike for a spin! I know it sounds like a lame excuse, there’s always something else that seems to come up. I need to adopt a Nike attitude and just do it!
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And the beautiful weather just keeps rolling on. Yes, you need to stop whatever you’re doing right now and get out there, my friend!
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I know, I’m starting to feel like a slacker! So thanks for your encouragement!😀
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You Are Welcome, Christian.
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What a fabulous bunch of pix, Lisa, and a fun place to visit! Love the CSA program.
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A delightful read LI
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Paul thanks very much.
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Most welcome Li
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Love the pictures !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thanks, Chris!
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That’s a full week! I love all the colorful flowers. And the piglets.
Money does talk. And it seems like it’s getting louder by the minute. (K)
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Sounds like a full week.
Yeah, exclusive developments continue to spread.
You may have missed it, but I once comments on my blog that one of the first two CSAs in the US is in my town – they both started the same year, 1986 – ours is The Temple-Wilton Community Farm. Being at ground zero, there half a dozen or more CSAs within striking distance of us. Over the years we’ve belonged to a few, but not this year.
Hope you have a great week this week as well.
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Very neat on the CSAs.
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I would have loved to go to that. I love feeding animals… those things are great for kids and adults alike.
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I actually looked up those kunekune after seeing how friendly and cute they are. The females get up to about 200# and the male quite a bit more. Just imagining having one for a pet. I wonder what the cats would think?
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They would probably be scared to death lol… but Martha and the prairie dog get along pretty well.
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p.s. yes, they are fun for adults too :)
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Yes they are….there is a safari zoo near Memphis and you drive through with food….you feed the Emus and Buffalos from your car.
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Busy is an understatement. But it all sounded so enjoyable. Those pictures came out so crisp and clear! You just did it with your phone, right? Incredible, technology today! lol I, too, would have loved to see the piglets and feel very bad that we eat those smart little guys. Thanks for sharing. You did more in a week than I’ve done in six months, Li! :)
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Stacey, it was fun. By the end of the week I felt it. Yes, with the phone and “Picture Tools” on my PC, which can help sharpen and also resize the images so they don’t eat up my gb limit on WP.
Hope life is treating you well, my friend.
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