Being an education major apparently means you get to do some cool reports. Theresa had to take a couple of field trips to places that would be good to take children to; educational type places like science museums. On Saturday, I joined her on one of her trips. We went to the Queens County Farm Museum. It’s the only existing fully functioning farm in New York City. One of the coolest things is, admission is free, as long as there isn’t a special event going on.
Now for those of you who grew up on a farm or out in the wilderness someplace, you probably won’t get this but we think the whole farm thing is extremely cool. “Oh, look!! There’s a dog!”
Okay, yes we have seen dogs before. We even have one. But ours doesn’t wear a blue bandanna. And this dog may not look terribly scary to you but these guys were keeping a close eye on him:
Then there was the bored goat. He didn’t pay any attention to the dog. He didn’t pay any attention to anyone unless you happened to have some food for him. (They sell food that you can feed to the animals. Most kids get a big kick out of that.)
Since it’s still early, they don’t have a terribly huge crowd of animals yet. The horses don’t arrive until May. I seem to recall there being pigs there, as well. I guess the horses and the pigs go down south for the winter. We did discover a cow hanging out with her friends:
Tell me that look doesn’t say, “Yeah, that’s right. I’m friends with poultry. You have a problem with that?? Don’t you even think of messing with them or I’ll stomp on you.” I did notice, despite her arrogant attitude, she shunned the poor rooster who was having a bad hair day.
April 30th, 2007 at 5:29 pm Quote
The idea of you visiting a farm is pretty funny!
But only ONE functioning farm in New York City? No little truck farms tucked in ANYWHERE? You’ve got to be kidding!
April 30th, 2007 at 10:21 pm Quote
There may be a field or 2 left where they plant crops (none that I can think of, though) but no place where they do that and have hens laying eggs, cows that need milking, & all that stuff. They have a little shop there where you can buy honey and I know you can buy eggs. I think the last time I was in there was when Theresa went on a school trip so it’s been at least 12 years.
BTW, I love that colorful looking rooster. (Not the bad hair day one. The cow’s friend.)
April 30th, 2007 at 10:52 pm Quote
You make me homesick.
May 1st, 2007 at 4:05 pm Quote
Gin - How ironic it would be if I now live closer to livestock than you do!
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:53 am Quote
Actually, it’s still so rural here in town that I can hear cows and roosters, and if it weren’t for the trees, I could see a farm. (BTW, I strongly suspect the roosters are fighting cocks, but don’t tell anyone.)
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 am Quote
Gin, I was thinking of you this morning when I read this blog post about The Cutest Cow
May 24th, 2007 at 3:33 pm Quote
He reminds me of Nubbins, only she was a cow, not a steer. Looks can be deceiving. Nubbins looked shy, sweet and docile, and actually she was…until she had her first calf. After I found her and the calf, if I remember correctly, it only took me 9.5 seconds to cover the 100 yards between her and the pickup. That’s easy enough to do when you hear bellowing and the thud of hooves just behind you.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:31 pm Quote
I bet you miss that part of those days, eh?
May 25th, 2007 at 2:43 am Quote
I thought of Monk and Gin when I posted this on my blog: http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/confessions_of_a_pioneer_/2007/05/post_ 6.html