Pick Parlee Farms

It's time for pick-your-own season.  The season that starts with robust, red strawberries that smell of the sun and end with pumpkins waiting patiently for a face.  This is an unabashed promotion of my favorite place, which I'm almost loathe to tell you about, as I don't want to spoil the uncrowded, not-in-Boston-anymore feel.

Bypass the farms close to the city and those that (gasp) make you pay to enter.  Go straight up to Parlee Farms in Tyngsborough.  It may take you a while, but it's well worth it.  Everything I pick there tastes better, not just better than the grocery, but better than every other pick-your-own place.  On Friday, my kids and I sat amongst the long-rows of knee-high plants and had a hard time choosing which berries we would pick.  Every one was a perfect, magazine-style berry, there are not enough metaphors to describe this fruit.  Evenly red, perfectly shaped, lovely green top.  But they tasted every better - warm and luscious.  My kids had berry-stained fingers and chins all day. 

In a few weeks, the blueberries will be ready.  The last time I went, people left the fields with buckets full of the nickel-sized fruit.  So juicy and sweet and so easy for little hands to pick.  Apple season is as picture-book as you can imagine with hay rides and hay mazes and long lines of pumpkins. 

There is also a small animal petting area to keep your kids busy - baby goats, bunnies, and chickens.  Bring some change for the feeding machines. 

In addition to the fruit, I'd drive all the way up Route 3 for the donuts.  Depending on what they're picking, the donut changes.  So right now, it's strawberry donuts.  Little golf-ball sized bites of melt-in-your mouth pleasure.  The batter is mixed with pureed strawberries and then the cooked nuggets are rolled in sugar.  Hot off the old-style, automated cooker (fun for kids to watch), these are probably one of the five best things I've ever tasted...and I eat a lot!  Although the strawberry shortcake from the farmstand is also a can't miss.  They use their own strawberries, a good biscuit, and top it with ice cream and whipped cream.  It's like everything you'd expect from a fresh, farm dessert.

Before you head to the farm, and you really must, check the site or their Facebook page for a status of the picking conditions.  They're good about preventing over-picking, which means sometimes the farm closes early.  It's best to go early in the morning when the fruit is still plentiful and before it gets too hot.  Strawberry season is winding down, so if you miss it, put blueberry season on your calendar.  I hope it becomes "the" place to pick for your family.

Get Crafty: Fun with Canvas

 After all our holiday traveling across the country to Cali, back east and to upstate NY, a low-key weekend was just what we needed! After a trip to the library to stock up on some new books, H said the only other thing she wanted to do was paint. So on Sunday we headed to Michaels where they are having a sale on canvases – buy a value 2-pack of canvases and get another 2-pack for free!

A Morning at the Capron Park Zoo

Lil' C at the Capron Park Zoo last summer, pre-walking.

Last week, I took C to the Capron Park Zoo. The Zoo is located in Attleboro, minutes from the highway. The Capron Park Zoo provides toddlers, preschoolers, and their families an educational, fun, and affordable outing. First, the zoo is small, which meant C could walk through the entire zoo without tiring and whining, "Up, up." If you arrive close to opening, the zoo is not crowded. This afforded C a prime view of the African lions, snow leopard, and red kangaroos on display. While many animals were napping in the sun or hiding, we were able to witness red kangaroos hopping alongside their mamas, sloth bears wrestling, and a Visayan warty pig playing with a basketball.

There are two different feeding areas at Capron Park. In one area, children are able to feed goats and llamas. Walk across the bridge over the pond and there is another spot where children can feed ducks. Animal food costs a quarter, so if you visit the Capron Park Zoo bring change or ask for change in the visitor center.

After children see the animals, they can play on the splash pad located right near the zoo entry. Outside of the zoo there is a large playground with distinct areas for older children and toddlers. The Capron Park Zoo is located within a large park, so there are plenty of tables and grassy spots for a picnic.

Admission prices are highly affordable. Children under three are free. Admission for children ages three to twelve costs $5.50. Adults pay only $7.00. If you happen to be an Attleboro resident, admission costs even less. There is a concession stand and eating area inside of the zoo, in addition to the picnic areas outside the zoo gates. Wagons are available for rent, which gives tired tykes a chance to rest and watch the animals.

The Capron Park Zoo gets high praise from this mama. If you are looking for something fun and affordable to do this summer, definitely pay them a visit!

http://www.capronparkzoo.com/

Updated: Stir-crazy? Yea, me too.

I, Mama J, figured I would add to Mama Q's list, rather than starting a new post! See my suggestions/activities listed in purple...

As you have probably noticed, there's been a good deal of snow this year. Add in the days with subzero temperatures, and you've got a recipe for Cabin Fever. Before having Baby, I was a classroom teacher and I somehow managed to keep 20 kids busy for 6-7 hours a day. Yet, after a few hours inside with one tot, I'm counting down the minutes to Curious George's debut on PBS. So, for readers' sake (and my own sanity), let's make a list of things to do to keep from going stir-crazy. Add on ANYTHING you can think of that will keep the under 2 crowd busy for 10 minutes or more.

1. Water play: fill a Rubbermaid bin or similar container with water, add in bath toys & cups, spread towels around
2. Finger paint: Slide a piece of white paper into a large ziplock bag, squirt temper paint into the bag, seal and give to baby to squish/squeeze
3. Shakers: Fill [hard to open] containers with dry rice, pasta, salt, flour, water, etc. and let baby shake to see how the sounds differ. Trying to get these open will also keep baby busy
4. Sponge paint: Give baby wet sponges to use on colored construction paper (no paint needed). If Baby eats paper (as mine does), tape it to the fridge
5. Video chat: Call your partner, parent, grandparent, or friend at work/home and chat for 10 minutes. Baby (and you) will be excited to see a new face.
6. Play in the cabinets: Open up the lower cabinets and have pots, pans, tupperwares, etc that Baby can play with safely
7. Walk around the block: Bundle up and walk around your block. Use the ergo/bjorn if the sidewalks aren't shoveled. Even 5 minutes of fresh air can make a difference. And you'll kill 30 min with all the time it takes to bundle Baby up.
8. Play with boxes: If you live in the city, you probably get stuff delivered. Diapers.com boxes are great for painting, coloring, tearing, building, or filling with balls ($10-$15 at Target) and putting Baby inside.
9. Dance party: Start a new Pandora station with the band "Bon Jovi" and dance through at least 3 songs. You'll kill time, burn calories, and if you dance like I do, your kid will get some good laughs
10. Play date: Chances are your friends and neighbors are itching for some contact with the outside world too, so give someone a call. Being bored together is much more fun than being bored alone.
11. Play with food: Put a squirt or spoonful of baby food onto your child's high chair table and let them finger paint withit
12. Empty Mama's Purse/Wallet: I let Marlo sit with my diaper bag/purse/wallet and empty everything onto the floor. Always something fun in there that keeps her attention for a while. 
13. Bother the Pooch: When we are really desperate we walk over to Ellie, our dog, and pet her or rub her belly. Doesn't kill much, time but it is something to do!
14. Play with DVD boxes: I have our dvds all lined up in a cabinet that is within her reach, so I let her pull them off the shelf and play with them on the floor. For some reason she loves doing this. 
15. Tissue Paper Collage: Buy some contact paper (the one that says it is very sticky, not the one for covering books that you can remove) and some tissue paper in assorted colors. Tape a piece of the contact paper, sticky side out, to the wall, or a table and let your kid stick pieces of the tissue to the sticky paper (also works with magazines)
16. Tear up magazines: For some reason my dog and my daughter love to tear up anything made of paper (tissues, mail, receipts, etc.). Since I get so many magazines I will let her sit there and tear them up, and listen to her squeal with joy as she does it. 
17. Parachute Duvet: We have a big fluffy duvet on our bed, so we sit at one end and pretend it is a parachute like we use in class and sing songs (well, I sing) and lift it up and down. This is a big favorite. 
18. Take a bath: Most days we are stuck inside I fill up my big tub in my bathroom and put body wash in it so it bubbles up and I get in with her and play with the bubbles. 
19. Play on Mama's iPad: download some kid friendly apps to your phone/ipad and let them enjoy! (see previous posts about favorite applications for kids)
20. Build a tent: just like you did when you were a kid...get a blanket, some chairs or a table and build your best tent. Bring toys under it and have good times!!


What have you been doing to keep busy? Help us build this list, there's another foot of snow on the way...

Only Teachers Like Snow Days

Okay, so I’m exaggerating with the title of this blog, but after today, I think it might be a little true. J

The past few weeks have been on the Northeast, a bit too much winter wonderland for me. I’ve never really enjoyed winter, at least not since I’ve been a grown up who lived in a world that did not stop when it snowed. Last year I traveled from my home in the suburbs through 3 feet of snow, into the city for a meeting scheduled by people who lived in the city and didn’t understand this was not a matter of having trouble finding a cab, it was a long and seriously drawn out, tedious process. Aside from the joy of trekking in the snow, there was the issue of child care. I was fortunate enough to have a husband who could stay home to care for our daughter, but there was no way our babysitter was getting to us that day…nor was there a chance she was getting to us today.

I’ve been reluctant to call out when there is snow as I know how many others are contending with the elements as well, so on today’s most “glorious” display of mother nature, my husband and I both stayed home to work and share the child care responsibilities since our sitter couldn’t make it out in the morning conditions. I don’t think it is a solution we will be considering again soon.

First of all, I seriously need a new list of tricks from mothers of 2-3 years olds. We colored, did memory cards, played with play dough, used chalk, read books, watched a show, ate breakfast and played store all before 10a. Mamas, PLEASE post some alternate ideas and suggestions that are easy go to for this age range that I can keep around. My daughter has an inappropriate amount of toys, but not much that she can or will do independently at this point. And while I adore the fact that she wants me in the middle of everything, as I was trying to email my boss, and take a conference call, it was not great.

Second, babies have a sick sense of radar for when you need them to sleep. We are blessed with a generally amazing baby who naps (I assume this is because she thinks sleeping in is 6a). However, NOT TODAY! Today, it took almost 2 hours to get her to lay down and fall asleep…and not until there were tons of tears (hers, almost mine), several visits to her room and many attempts to “rationalize” with a baby…who is too young to really be rationalized with. After she finally collapsed in my arms asleep (2 hours later), she awoke abruptly an hour and ten minutes later. Some days she has napped for four hours, most days three plus, today an hour.

So while I did enjoy working in my pajamas today, and treasured the extra time together, it was a far more stressful day than I expected and one that I wish I could have managed differently. Should I have called out of work completely? Should I have requested our sitter to be there in the afternoon, just in case? What did you do with this, and with other snow storms? And what ideas can you share about making the most indoors so that you don’t find yourself losing patience and enjoying the moment less?