Such a lovely day today. Wonderful sunshine and a nice breeze. Ron’s mother, Anna May planned on attending the Rome NY annual Memorial Day Observance at Veteran’s Memorial Park. She goes every year without fail. Her grandson, Jesse stopped by to give her a ride but she had already headed out on foot. At age 95, the woman walks as much as she can. What Anna May didn’t know is that was another plan was in the works. Don and Jesse met up with her at the ceremony and insisted on giving her a ride home. By way of Tiny House Farm.
Ron had gone out there early this morning to get a few things done. I was at home getting our picnic food ready. We had planned to get out there together so we could water the trees again, but yesterday we had a torrential rain storm. Everything got a good soaking so we have the next couple of days off. By 10:30 I headed out with coolers packed with food and ice. Ron came with the 4 wheeler and trailer to collect me and we got started cooking the burgers. There was no firm time for Don, Anna May and Jesse to arrive, but lunch was set to be first up.
We talked and talked, with Anna May telling her favorite stories about her father deciding out of nowhere to buy a farm in Rome NY. He moved the whole clan, 9 kids in all, out of the city with no idea of how to actually be a farmer.

It was primarily a dairy farm with a garden for their own food. Nick kept his job at Spargo Wire, walking there every afternoon for his shift. It was not long before the boys were old enough to tell Dad that they were going to get jobs in the local factories. They wanted to have money of their own. Hard to have any fun without money, even back in the 1940’s. Without his sons to help with the work, Nick was not able to keep the farm going. He sold the farm and moved the family back into town.
Now we had to decide just how we were going to get Anna May across the stream so she could see the mushrooms. Even though I had a pair of boots for her to wear, no way were we going to try having her walk across. The creek bed is very rocky and would make for some seriously unsteady walking. Ron’s plan was to take the front rail off the trailer and have her sit there while he drove the 4 wheeler.

No hesitation at all, she got herself up on trailer and with faith in her boys, off they went.

I don’t know that she had ever seen mushrooms growing like this. Ron describes it as an explosion. He soaked the logs last week and then we covered them with the plastic sheet. Good thing too, as the rain yesterday would have pretty much ruined them.

Ron was so happy to have his mom out on the farm to show her what he is doing.   I don’t think she fully understands it all; this looks nothing like her father’s farm, but she thought it is a pretty place and really enjoyed the day.  Jesse tried hard, but she had no interest in spending the night though.  Too worried about bugs and possible snakes.  She’s no longer a “country girl”.