Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2013 Visit to the Tree Farm

One of our favorite December traditions is a visit to the tree farm at Rancho Siempre Verde. It's also become an interesting barometer of how the family is getting along. Some years the kids have been chippy; other years they've been joyful. This year was a good year.
Although we used an artificial tree this year, we decided to make the trip anyway. Paul made a great wreath:
We swung on the big tree swings.
The kids loved hanging out with the dogs
And on the way home, we stopped by Duarte's for some of their fantastic artichoke soup (recipe here). 
A joyful day indeed!

21 comments:

debs14 said...

Oh Rinda, what a fantastic picture of you on the swing! What a lovely tradition for the family to do together.

helena said...

oh the joys of a big swing - great smiling portraits

Jane said...

looks like you all had a great time

sky-blu-pink said...

What a lovely day out! And fantastic to see some sunshine; we have had nothing but heavy rain all over Christmas and New Year!

Anonymous said...

It looks like you had a glorious day! Love that picture of you on the swing.

scrappyjacky said...

It sounds like such a joyful day....and a wonderful photo of you.

Cheri said...

Wow, what a big swing... looks like so much fun!

Sian said...

Over the past few years I have loved seeing the pictures of your trip to the tree farm. We don't have tree farms here, so I can't help smiling and thinking about the tree farm scene in National lampoon :) We do go to the Fruit Shop at the end of the road to buy a tree, though, and I can relate to that feeling of some years the kids being more enthusiastic than others. Funnily, as they are getting older again, they are enjoying it more. These pictures would lift any heart!

Miriam said...

What a joyful post Rinda. I have enjoyed catching up with you today. Loving your new picture so much. Glad the little star arrived to wish you Merry Christmas. Thanks for the link to the photography course. I'm in.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

marsha said...

Looks like such a fun day(I am so envious of your weather). I am in too for the zoom in/out, but for now all I can take are snow photos!!!!

The Mann Fam said...

What a great tradition! Wishing you a great 2014.

Missus Wookie said...

Lovely photos - so much joy. Artichoke soup? I can usually get artichoke hearts in oil wonder if that would work? :hmm:

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Wonderful photos! What a nice tradition!

Annie Claxton said...

What an amazing day Rinda - I especially love that picture of you on the swing, you look like you're having SO much fun! :o)xxx

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Oh, these shots really capture that joy Rinda. Loving the new avatar too. Happy New Year to you x

Melissa said...

Oh what a fun day! I'm so glad y'all went even though you didn't get a tree - looks like such a fun time!

~*~Patty S said...

Ahhhh sharing this tradition really puts a smile on my face dear Rinda...
lovely photos and beautiful blue sky day!
oxo

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Seriously? Swinging is my FAVORITE thing and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE that photo of you at the end. So awesome and happy and carefree. I wish that same joy for you all year long, Rinda!

Irene said...

Looks like it was fun fun fun. I want a swing like that only problem is I don't have a tree to hang it from.

Andria said...

Such lovely family photos... families go through lots of "dynamics" over the years, don't they? Love the photo of you on the swing... priceless!

Karen said...

The photos definitely capture the joy! I especially love seeing this post since I was at that tree farm once myself!