I want a (small) farm and a lifetime supply of Claritin

For the past six months I have been daydreaming almost daily about how I want to have my own little piece of land. Not really a farm, but something large enough to grow a good sized garden, and keep a few chickens. Space for my kids (and myself) to wander and explore with their shoes off, dig in the dirt while I tend to the garden, experience the quiet, steady rhythm of caring for plants and animals, have the satisfaction of eating food that they watched grow, run through the sprinklers on a hot day, sit in the yard and watch the sun set. If this sounds like a romanticized version of reality, its because it is. I've never tended a garden or raised chickens, but I would sure like to try. And every time we get to visit anything even remotely like a farm, Adam seems to agree that it would be peachy-keen to live like that always.

He loves (loves) chickens:

And goats:

And horses:

And climbing fences in general:

And grinding his own dried corn to feed the animals:


And how could I forget, the tire swing!

I mean, shouldn't a boy look like this every day at nap time? Tuckered out.

Well, if it isn't our time to have our little piece of land yet, I'm grateful for places like the Elkus Ranch near Half Moon Bay and friends like Heidi, Manny and Atticus that got us together there for their yearly Sheep to Shawl event (Happy belated birthday Atti). And, until we get our own little corner of the world, I'll work on stocking up on Claritin, because I think I'd prefer my fairy tale without the sneezing and itchy nose, thankyouverymuch.
Here's to daydreaming!