A few snippets of our day at the Newark Valley Apple Festival last weekend. Every year I plan and hope to go to this event, but for one reason or another we've never gone. This year, however, I was not going to let that happen. So the kids and I went. As excited as I am about apples, the real feature of the day is touring the grounds and buildings of this gorgeous historic farmstead. And the kids busied themselves making old-fashioned crafts, playing traditional games and watching (and helping) the living historians at work.
After spending a day in such a place, I felt a little torn about leaving. There is something I love about the beauty and simplicity of days gone by. Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong era. Of course, I am also reminded of how easy I have it. The woman spinning flax talked about how it would take a full year to make a single linen shirt- from growing the flax, preparing the fiber, weaving and sewing. I am so fortunate that I may chose (mostly) how to spend my time. I am not required to sew or cook from scratch. Our livelihood does not depend solely on our gardening ability. I do happen to enjoy such pursuits, but perhaps I wouldn't if all I did was labor away.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Making history
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5 comments:
what a cool place! I especially like that picture of Rowan working so hard!!
Sabrina -- fab post, gorgeous photos. But now I simply cannot do a post on the heritage crafts festival we attended today, because it would look like total copycatting. Right down to the small boy grinding corn -- HA!! Although the difference would be that my photo would feature TWO little boys fighting over the turning of the crank (which would be RED instead of black). As for your musings on living a simpler life, this is why my sister spies on the Amish people who ride by her farm. They must be blissfully happy -- she says they're usually singing at the top of their lungs!
P.S. There's a chestnut festival at an old farmstead here next weekend. Let me know if you, Ava, Rowan and Lilla would like to attend... >;-D (Ed is welcome, too, unless he's still working on the firewood...)
Beautiful photo's. What a fabulous festival...all those handicrafts and games for the children. So good for them to also learn to appreciate and enjoy a sampling of things of old and like you said how "easy" things are for them today. I absolutely understand your thoughts...such a different world. I like the idea of the care and value that is born out of making things so slowly and lovingly by hand....
Wow, I'm away from the internet for just a little while and look at all the fun I've missed on Mama Craft! Gorgeous photos Sabrina. (I love all the shots of apple picking too.)
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