Pre Barn Party, family and Homecoming!

 

 

So, regular perusers of the Cowfeathers Farm blog will know from previous September blogs, we have an annual Barn Party. This is a wonderful throw back to the family celebrations of harvest that were put on, perhaps, even in our very own barn in the last 200 years. Live square dance band, lots of food, and an outhouse...it's pretty authentic.  We tried to have one post-harvest, but frankly, we were too cold. The next year we moved it up to September, and usually the harvest is not done, but it is warmer.

This year I thought I'd not write about the Barn Party, but about the time before. First of all, the barn has to have a good cleaning each year. The straw and hay all have to be put in the correct places to make room for dancing, and a nice 20 foot long table. The chaff has to be all swept, and the year's deposits from birds scrubbed off. The strings of lights need to be cleaned, and bulbs replaced. We have to fill any holes the groundhogs have created so no one gets hurt, and of course, the outhouse needs a top to bottom scrub up and makeover. Quilts, old and new hang as decoration, and a pair of ancient milk cans get stuffed with huge arrangements of wildflowers from the bottoms around the creek. I would love to have great branches of fall leaves, but the trees don't change for at least a week post party. As I perform these tasks, some of them alone, some with welcome help, I think about who I will see. And then I realize I am the worlds worst inviter. So many folks I hope I'll see, I haven't invited. This means a flurry of last minute phone calls and Facebook messaging, just in case they happen to still be free.  

This year we also had the added bonus of family here to visit and help! Huz' sister and family came down from Chicago for a few days and an evening in the barn.  

 

Cousins! The youngest joins the Eldest.

 

 Eldest painted Alyssa's nails. This was a great source of excitement for Alyssa, and she was happy to show everyone and anyone the beauty at the tips of her fingers.

 Tramping around the fields. Good fun for the boys. And Dads.

 Cousins eat. In the busy build up to the barn party, it was catch as catch can.

Maarten. Such a pleasant, happy, intelligent little boy.

 Alyssa. Once again, easy to engage by asking her about her fingernails. She thinks she is showing them to the camera, because she can see them. Love toddlers. Same principle allows them to hide under a blanket.

Samuel and Middlest. They are the Middles. And, quite a fine pair.

 

This year's Barn Party had a special twist. It fell on the same night as the Homecoming Dance at the high school. So, Eldest, Middlest and their friends/dates came to the Barn Party for the dinner beforehand and a few squares before heading off to the other dance. I think they had a lot of fun in their finery.

Sisters. Friends. Beauties!

 Did I mention it was WINDY? Seriously, windy. 40 mph straight line winds. The pictures look so pleasant and warm. This is deceit. It was chilly and uncomfortably windy until the sun went down, then it quieted, and became much more pleasant.

My cowpoke. I love that this kid still wants to get "duded up" for the Barn Party. He still puts on the same pair of chaps Nana made for him a half-dozen years ago. They used to graze the ground.

 As the band gets set up, the boys have great fascination, and a piece of hay each for their mouths.

Middlest and her date, Cameron.

 The great wind sent the girls in their bare shoulders and legs searching for a wind break.

Thanks, Jack.

 The "Group".

My gorgeous girls. How does it make me feel to see them looking so grown up and beautiful, and chic? Proud. Terrified. Thankful they've made it so far, sad they'll be off on their own so soon.