Pony Penning Day at Chincoteague Island - Rural Thursday

I've wanted to see Pony Penning Day at Chincoteague my whole life.  We woke up very early on the big day to catch a shuttle to the swim site.  We got there early, so we had a two hour wait.

This picture was taken before things got crowded.  By the time of the swim, people were really packed in.

Cort kept wanting to sit on my lap, but Reid didn't want to share my lap, so I told him to sit on Pierce's lap.  They thought this was hilarious.

While we waited, Pierce entertained the people behind us by introducing himself to them as The President of Virginia.  He then asked them for their votes.  They were happy to oblige, amidst a few chuckles.
We waited and waited for the red flare to go off, which was the signal that the ponies were on the move.  We could see them on the distant shore of Assateague, tiny dots on the horizon.  Finally, the Coast Guard sent up the flare!

I wish we had been closer, or that I'd had a big zoom lens, because it turns out that we didn't get the best view.  We had expected them to swim across in a different spot.  But we were able to watch clearly from where we were at least.

After the swim, we headed over to Pony Swim Lane to watch the pony parade.  The ponies have an hour of rest before the parade down to the carnival grounds.  So we sat and waited some more.

The smart folks had waded out in the marsh to see the pony swim, so there were lots of folks with muddy feet trekking by.

Finally, things were coming together for the parade.  I had a prime spot to see the ponies, aside from the sun being in my eyes.

Once the fire department came by, I knew it was about to start.  Each year, the proceeds of the pony auction go to the fire department to buy new equipment and to provide vet care for the wild ponies.

And then, here came the ponies!

I couldn't believe how many paints there were.

The cowboys kept them boxed in pretty well.

They kept the horses moving along at a good pace too.

And before I knew it, the parade was over.

So then we walked.  And walked.  And walked to get to the carnival, where they pen the horses before the auction the following day.  We grabbed some food for some very hungry and thirsty boys, and then looked in on the horses.

We let the boys go on a carousel ride.

And then caught the last shuttle (aka school bus) back to our townhouse.  What an experience! 

How about you, readers?  Is there anything you've dreamed of doing since you were a child?  Something you're just itching to scratch off your bucket list?

It's Rural Thursday!  Time to link up your stories of the rural life with Nancy from A Rural Journal and myself.  Just grab the code below the button and paste it into your blog post.  Then come back and add your website to the linky. Please be sure to comment on the posts of at least 5 other participants.  I can't wait to read what you've written! 

Junior Park Ranger Pierce

The National Park System has programs for 4-5 year olds to earn Mini-Junior Park Ranger badges at their parks.  Pierce decided he wanted to try to earn one for Assateague.  We picked up our booklet and then did some beach explorations for ghost crab trails, plus smells and sights on the beach.  Pierce drew a really cute pictures of the dolphins we saw swimming in the surf one morning.  Then we went to attend a program called Assateague Detectives.

While we waited for the program at the Tom's Cove Visitor Center to begin, Pierce played with the horseshoe crabs.

Ranger Jenny showed us around the marshes, and taught us how to look for clues as Assateague Detectives.  We found fiddler crabs and many different kinds of tracks.

This shell is from a blue crab.  Ranger Jenny told us that they are much more blue when they are fresh, but when they are empty from the seagulls or other animals that eat them, they become lighter.

Can you spot the trail of raccoon tracks in this picture?  We found lots of evidence of raccoon activity around the marshes.

Pierce earned his Junior Park Ranger badge for completing the program, and he also earned an Ocean Conservation badge for participating in Assateague Detectives.  He took an oath to protect the island and its wildlife and land, and he takes his duties seriously!  I present to you...Junior Park Ranger Pierce!

Night Walk on Assateague Island Beach

Paul and I wanted to make sure we took the boys on a night walk one evening during our stay at the beach.  Granted, they would be up way past their bedtime, but sometimes, in life, you really have to break the rules. 

We hit the beach around 7:45 pm.  We found many drawings in the sand, left by the beach-goers during the day.

And we discovered this wonderful horse sand sculpture.  I had to take a picture quickly, for fear that my boys would be the ones to destroy it.  Thankfully, they didn't.

We watched the waves trying to overtake this massive trench dug by someone that headed in for the night.

And then, on the walk back, we started having races.  We drew lines in the sand with our feet, counted down and then...

They were off!  Everyone thought this was the greatest game ever.  The boys asked to race over and over again.  I can't believe they didn't get tired out!

We finally had to make them walk.  The boys had flashlights and glow bracelets so we could see in the darkness.

We found one last horse sand sculpture before it was time to drive back to our townhouse for a rather late bedtime.

Did your family ever let you break the rules on special occasions as a kid? 

In Mint Condition on Muffin Tin Monday

It's Muffin Tin Monday again!  And there is more from the garden today.  Tomatoes and cucumbers (from the garden), a grilled cheese on homemade white bread, beets (from our garden), and a mint chocolate chip cookie. 

Pierce ate every single last bite.  The twins ate all but the cucumbers and beets.  So not bad, overall. You can find the yummy (and easy) mint chocolate chip cookie recipe from Karen over on This Old House 2.

For more fun lunch ideas, visit Muffin Tin Mom.

Farm Rich Snacks Review and Giveaway

Sunday afternoon the boys and I headed to the grocery store to pick out two items from Farm Rich to try.  We easily located them in the freezer section, and then had a hard time deciding which two to pick.  The boys were definite on mini quesadillas (one of their favorite foods) but had a harder time making a second choice.  We finally picked the queso cheese bites. 

It was nice not having to spend a lot of time on dinner.  The quesadillas took 13 minutes to bake.  I had leftover potato salad that my dad made, plus a watermelon I had cut up.  Easiest dinner ever!  I actually felt like I got a night off, and I loved that it left me with more time to spend with my family.

The boys just loved the quesadillas - and I admit the flavor of the cheese was marvelous.  The white meat chicken was tender and yummy as well.  Excuse Reid's mess....he was covered with watermelon juice when I took this picture of him eating the quesadilla-- 

It was unanimous that we all loved the quesadillas.  The queso cheese bites were a huge hit with Paul and I, but the boys thought they were too spicy.  They are in a big anti-spicy phase, much to my dismay.  However, that left more for Paul and I, who thought the little kick was awesome and we both found the cheese to have a distinctive and wonderful flavor.  If you were hosting a party, these would make the perfect quick and easy appetizer.

Would you like to enter to win coupons to try two Farm Rich products?  Just click on the "Read More" below my signature for a chance to enter!

Disclaimer: I received coupons for two Farm Rich products to try for review purposes.  The opinions stated above are my own.
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Chincoteague Pony Centre - Rural Thursday

I mentioned that in preparation for our trip to Chincoteague this summer, Pierce and I read the classic Misty of Chincoteague last May.  It was fun for me to revisit the book I loved so much as a child.  And it made Pierce excited about our upcoming trip.

The townhouse we rented was a short walk from the Chincoteague Pony Centre, so we walked over one afternoon.  We stopped for a bit to watch the ponies.  Someone was being reprimanded, and we soon found out why...

Turns out, he was pretty full of himself.

Don't hurt yourself little guy!

I'd say he's just about all legs...

When that got boring, he wandered over to cause trouble in neighboring paddocks.

And then he was right back at it.  I started to feel some sympathy for his hot and tired mother. 

See this pretty pony?  She is Misty III.  She's the granddaughter of the Misty II, who was descended from the original Misty, and truly resembles her a lot.  She was very sweet and came over for a visit.

She even took a moment to say hello to the twins.

How about you, reader?  Did you read Misty of Chincoteague as a kid?

It's Rural Thursday!  Time to link up your posts with Nancy from A Rural Journal and myself.  We'd love to see your posts about gardening, wildflowers, animals, walks in the woods, and more.  Just write about the rural life (whether you live it or not) and come grab the code below the button.  Paste it into your blog and then come add your link to the linky.  Please be sure to visit the blog posts of at least 5 other participants.  All are welcome, so if you've been on the fence about doing a link up, now's your chance to join in!  

Happy Birthday Cort and Reid!

The twins are turning 3 today.  THREE.  How did this happen?  Seems like just yesterday they were infants.  We had some family over this past weekend to celebrate.  The twins had been going on and on about how they wanted boat cake.  No clue where they got that idea.  You may remember I posted last year that the store bought cakes had gotten so expensive that I planned to start making my own.  Well I drove all over town to find two plastic boats and took the easy way out on "boat cake".  I made my grandmother's recipe for Indiana Chocolate cake and turned the cream cheese frosting blue.  I was scared the twins would be disappointed, but they were delighted.

We did candles on individual pieces of cake again.  The twins had just had a cold, so we didn't want to spread germs.

Afterwards, there was the added bonus of licking cream cheese frosting off the bottom of the boats. 

A little time on the porch swing blowing bubbles and hanging out with the grandparents.  The baby my mom has is Dean, the newest cousin! 

Cort hangs out with his special buddy, Pop Pop, who made Cort potato salad special, because it is one of Cort's favorite things.  And Pop Pop does make the best potato salad for the past 20+ years - if you remember Justin Wilson it is one of his recipes.

For their birthday, the twins got to break out of their cribs!  We went straight from cribs to big boy beds.  They are delighted with their new bunk bed.

So far so good, although I have had to separate them at times for nap.  Cort climbs down and gets into bed with Reid.  So I have started putting him in Pierce's room to nap.  They do well at night at least.

So happy 3 years to Cort and Reid!  If you missed their original birth story, you can find it here.  These two bring me so much joy.  They are just growing up too fast!  Special thanks to those who visited and/or sent wonderful gifts for the twins' birthday!  We are thankful for all you do for them.