Farm Show 2026

The Farm Show was a big part of the last two weeks.  It's traditionally about good food and agricultural education for us but as the Blossoms grow, our involvement and responsibilities change.

We were there a couple of days in multiple family configurations.  Blossom1 and her fiance were with us one day ~ tasting delicious food, purchasing local skyr yogurt, and exploring exhibits.  Oh, and the Rugged Mountain Man was VERY happy with his turkey leg, but not the parking situation.  

Blossom2 was involved with the Culinary Connection stage,

helping with demos, preparing tasting portions, and 

competing in a Chopped-type competion with other culinary and baking and pastry arts students.  We got to see some stuff in person and some through a livestream.

Let me just say, it is intense to watch your daughter do this.  I was talking to the livestream,

"Check the rice!  Somebody PLEASE check the rice!!!"

"There's only five minutes left, SOMEONE get the plates out for plating!"

(The camera panned over to Blossom2 arranging plates.  That was a proud mama moment!)

Her team won!

Blossom3 did a presentation with another 4-H State Project Ambassador.

They've been working toward this for a few months now.  They wrote the presentation themselves, practiced, tweaked, pulled together a game, and organized a craft.  

It was a major victory for Blossom3 to own this project from start to finish with very minimal involvement from me.  

They also spent time researching categories for future exhibition by other expressive arts 4-H members.  

This is a growing part of 4-H and they are excited to be a part of it.

Blossom4 has been along to support her sisters, be a part of the games, and be inspired by them - her real life role models.  

It's a beautiful part of sisterhood~

learning from their victories AND their bumps, watching their goals from start to finish, and being the best cheerleader a sister can be.

Ag education was another big order of our days at Farm Show.

Blossom3 was inspired... maybe there's an upcycled greenhouse in our future.  Pretty inspiring since her presentation covered the topic of upcycling.

There were bovine organs to be explored.

The alpaca fiber arts were some of my most favorite.  

Mom and I love to admire craftsmanship.

This booth featured 'Paca projects from makers from all across the Commonwealth and we were in awe.

The miniature landscapes are one of our most favorite exhibits.  

We came away determined to exhibit more next year.

Considering how much the girls have matured, I'm excited to see the determination become goals and grow into fruition. 

America's 250th is a big theme for PA Fairs this year, which is no surprise.  Patriotism is strong in the Fair world and it's something we love.

We signed the bell

and marvelled at how many signatures were collected in

only FOUR days.

With tired feet and full bellies 

(with deep fried cheese cubes, bloomin' onion, pierogi, flavored lemonades, cheesesteak pretzel roll, and milkshakes... the list goes on), 

we greeted the police horses, and trekked toward home.  

Dominique

This January Week

Back at the steady plodding of everyday life here.  Clearly, Binney and Finn are adjusting just fine.

As for the humans, we kicked off the week helping to get Blossom2 moved into on-campus housing.  That will help with the very late nights and crazy early mornings of her work and class schedule.  After a pow-wow over assignments Sunday evening, Blossom3 and Blossom4 managed their Monday schoolwork well so that I could help Blossom2.  I briefly mentioned to them how thankful I was for this.  I needed to really recognize this aloud to them though.  

I don't tell the Blossoms often enough how thankful I am for their hard work or cooperation or growth or effort.  Sometimes I mention it others, because y'all know I'm a talker. 

It's something I'm working on - 

speaking the good things out loud to them.  

Young people have so many messages inundating them, including self-doubt and temptation and discouragement.

My voice needs to be that positive echo and reinforcement of Truth, of all that is good and beautiful.

For a little bit more coziness in our living room, I gathered some birch logs from the Rugged Mountain Man's stash and strung twinkle lights over top.  We're enjoying this in the evenings because home should be warm and welcoming.

Here's a little snap of our "Joy Jars."  Blossom2 and one of her comrades decided to write down one thing each day that brings them joy or that they are thankful for! They wanted us to get on board, so the younger two and I have been doing this in the morning about the previous day.  At the end of the year, maybe we'll scrapbook the little slips of paper. 

(Yes, the Christmas books are still out. That Alcott Christmas Treasury is a gem.)

Mmmmm, I managed to bake a few loaves of English muffin bread this morning for a few people in our lives who needed a pick-me-up... and also for those starving humans in our house.  

A little festive iced coffee for tackling my errands this afternoon, because why not?  

Keep the faith, friends!  What we're doing every day matters!

Dominique

Thoughts on Christmas Break

Just like everything else in this season of our lives, Christmas break looked different.  It's what I'm learning lately; things can look different and still be good.  Will I spend that time mourning how it's different or will I embrace it and diligently seek out the moments and opportunities for connection?

Connection has been a huge theme for me.  When the Blossoms were little, connection came about by reading books aloud even though I was exhausted or carrying on a conversation about rabbits when I didn't feel like talking about rabbits.  I wonder if many parents at this stage of the game are just too tired to keep trying to connect.  It's much easier to focus in on my own interests, interests that have take second, third, fourth, or twentieth place for the last twenty-ish years of my life.  

I thought connection was important back then.  I zeroed in day and after day out of a desire to lovingly raise our children in a Godly way.  The mission!  And now, as they are launching into adulthood or inching closer and closer every day, connection is crucial.

Some days I struggle to remember what they said to me.  My brain is processing so many different things at once, it seems and it takes a little discipline on myself to stop and look them in the eyes.  Some days, I'm sleep deprived and I bite my tongue.  Some days, I'm weary because going against the flow is not easy.  Some days, their sass is strong.  Some days, I'm discouraged.  

The same grace that covered me and enabled me to soldier on each day that the Blossoms were little is right here, right now for me in this season.  

To connect.  

To love.  

To support.  

To train.  

To exhort.  

To ask the questions.

To rebuke.  

To engage.  

To be with.

To parent.

Lord, today help me lean hard on Your grace.  

Help me notice the opportunities for connection and seize them.  

Whatever I do today, I do all for Your glory.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Dominique