Farmhouse in May!

The farmhouse in May and October is beyond my wildest dreams. In the heat of the summer and the dead of the winter, the farmhouse holds little appeal, but in the first warm days of spring, when things are green and alive and beautiful it is just divine. We now have kids that are old enough to stay the night (woot woot!) and keep themselves somewhat entertained (woot woot x a million). So while they color and play in the dirt, E and I relax, read, snack on unhealthy things, and read and relax some more.

A favorite farmhouse tradition is lots of bikes rides (all four of us are on two wheelers!) and evening drives into the country.

 All the lilacs were at the hight of booming, and the entire town smelled of their sweet scent.

Our very favorite Spring City home has taken so well to the full renovation within the last five or so years. Back, before kids, E and I loved this home (still do) because of it's haunted history and derelict appearance. It was abandoned for years, and we were lucky enough to tour it twice. Now it's stunning and sitting on the most beautiful plot in all of Sanpete County.

Evening light that is gold! I saw it and Ethan pulled the car over quickly so we could catch this magical moment.

The cotton from the cottonwoods was heavy in the warm air, and catching little breezes it almost looked too pretty to be real.

 Oh farmhouse days, you're my favorite.

October light is gold {Farmhouse}

Last weekend E and I decided to spend the night at the farmhouse. As the kids get older it is easier and easier to get away for an evening without making it a huge production. Plus, the kids love to sleep there. E's parents joined us on Saturday for the afternoon and dinner. The weather was what all October days should be. And after walking down the lane to the barn for 15+ years, I finally saw an owl perching inside. It was so exciting!

E's Father's Day shirt has been worn a ton. James's handwriting on the back is the best part of all. And this girl loves her daddy.

Connie and I went on a evening drive (nobody wanted to join us) but we had a great time.

Selfie because we are cool. ;)

Cows and rainbows

Remember how my last post I mentioned that my life isn't always grand adventures and golden light? Well, I may have been a little wrong, because that could be my life's subtitle: adventures and golden light. ;)

We went to the farmhouse over the weekend just to relax, ride bikes and spend time with E's parents.

The kids love the farmhouse. They've been coming their entire lives, and they always can't wait to go back.

We often take a drive out west at sunset. It's one of our favorite traditions. We always spot beautiful birds including: wrens, morning lark, red winged blackbirds, hawks, sand cranes, and more. It's a bird lover's paradise.

Golden light, my favorite. Also rainbow sun flares.

The country at dusk, there are few things as beautiful.

I called E to ask him if my solo walk was ok, and if I should come back, and he told me to turn around, because there was a double rainbow arching across the sky.

Magnificent.

Colors and cows. Or bows and bovine. ;)

This one always has her "vee-noculars" to look for birds.

Before Damma and Grandpa left for the night we ate more ribs than our stomachs could hold and Damma didn't leave without reading these two a bedtime story.

The kids did great through the night (much better than our previous overnight there), and woke up happy and excited to dig into the huge stack of farmhouse coloring books.

We took a lot of bike rides. James has become such a good rider, he and E went one morning for quite awhile.

She is a great rider when she's in the mood. If she's not in the mood, watch out, little monster on wheels.

One thing E and I loved doing before kids was exploring all the dilapidated homes in Sanpete County. There are hundreds. They are magical in a way, so many stories and life in these walls, and they are left to crumble. James and Juliet were entranced. They thought seeing abandoned homes was fascinating.

So many layers of wallpaper. Three? Four? Many many stories and memories.

We even took the kid's to Mabel's house (the house where we found our kitty alone and abandoned ten years ago).

The bathroom was just how I remember it (except I swear there were vines in the tub last time I was here) but the kitchen was collapsed. Sad how fast it happens.

I was right about the vines! I went back and looked for old pictures. I found this from November 19, 2004! So over ten years ago. Crazy how much changes, how much stays the same. 

Farmhouse weekends are by far some of the best weekends (along with camping weekends, cabin weekends, garden weekends, and any other weekend really). Can't wait to go back. 

Summer at the farmhouse!

To celebrate our anniversary this year we decided on a overnight trip to the farmhouse with the kids. E was able to take Friday off which is a present in of itself. We were SO stoked because the end of June was ruthless here with the heat wave. It was terrible, over 100 for more than a week.

And then some rain moved in and the heat wave broke! The two days we were at the farmhouse it was in the mid 80s as a daytime high! Which is PERFECT for biking, walking, playing in the sunshine and enjoying the ones I love.

Our favorite thing to do at the farmhouse is take long drives and explore all the funny corners of Sanpete Valley. Since having kids we don't take nearly as many drives, and they aren't long drives, but we still get out and see stuff. Our favorite tradition is an evening drive into the farmland.

We always stop at this bridge to check out the river and look for hawks in the nearby trees.

James set up this picture for me and I could just die I love it so much.

The evening clouds were insane. And see the horseshoe mountain below?

E got a new tow hitch and bike rack for his birthday so we brought all of our bikes and had quite a few rides. One day we even rode over to the Hawaiian sno cone shop.

Bubblegum sno cones for life.

Sky, flowers, sunshine, bikes, farmland.

We always lie a blanket in the shade and relax and tease. This tease didn't understand the "relax" portion of the deal.

On Saturday morning after a rough night E let me take a bike ride while he stayed back with the crazies. I went far down a dirt road I hadn't explored much. The air was cool and beautiful and the sky was cerulean. The fields were all deep green filled with cows, horses and sheep. I rode and rode. Finally when the road turned into a private lane I turned around. As I whipped around a corner fast on my bike I heard a scuffle in the grass. I stopped to look and almost got sprayed by a skunk! I was so happy! Not that I didn't get sprayed (I was thrilled with that fact) but I love seeing wildlife and skunks are no different.

I hopped back on my bike after watching the skunk for a bit. And just moments later I saw a fox off in the fields! Needless to say, it was the best bike ride of my life. (Well maybe this one, and maybe this one too.)

Later in the day we ate a picnic lunch, explored historic Spring City and took another bike ride or two. Such a lovely weekend.