Olivia and Grant

After going to the Farmers' Market in the historic section of the city, we took the kids to the walking trail so they could ride bikes and play conductor.

 Benjamin riding the scooter

Sofia

 At the market I met Mr. Mello, a retired paleontologist who lives on about thirty acres of the most beautiful property I've ever set foot on.   Later in the week we visited his farm where he dug potatoes with the children, showed them how to wash and dry the potatoes in preparation for the Saturday market.

 

view from his garden

Hayden and Grant washing potatoes

Olivia telling Papa some wild story she's concocted.

The Mello home tucked among the trees. 

The rustic workshop where he and his wife and daughter hook rugs, weave, and do their crafts.  The family built their own house and the many outbuildings from the trees they felled while clearing for gardens, etc.  

Peaceful paths that curve through the acreage, occupied birdhouses, wild flowers and butterflies, and reclaimed furniture placed everywhere welcome family and friends to relax and enjoy nature.  Mr. Mello also farms mushrooms in logs and keeps bees.  I was so inspired by this seventy-six year old gentleman.