City Kids Are Scared of Chickens But Not Goats

We spent two full days in the house this week playing with our new toys. By Tuesday, it was time to get out so I took the kids to the Met. On Wednesday I took them allllll the way out to the Queens County Farm Museum.

Although Queens in part of NYC, it feels so suburban. At least where the farm is located. They have stand alone houses with driveways and yards! One time we even crossed a street without a stoplight! It's been so long since I've seen that. Since we don't own a car, it took us 1.5 hours to get there. Three trains and a bus.  It's been over a year since I drove a car. I've said this before-- I really do enjoy the walking/public transportation lifestyle Manhattan has forced me to live. I never realized how isolating a car can be until I moved here. It's not that I'm talking to everyone on the train, but if I wanted to, I could. I like having that option.

It was beautiful grey winter day to visit the farm. The ground was still muddy from Tuesday's downpour.  Wednesday was their annual open house so we made crafts, drank hot cider, my boys kept sneaking almost all the cookies (so embarrassing, I owe them a box of cookies . . .), and we fed the goats. There's also cows, alpacas, chicken coops, bee hives, and sheep to check out.

While the farm had a steady crowd of people, my kids felt like they had the place all to themselves. When we walked into the gate Ella shouted, "Wow! We're the first ones here!" I had to explain to her that we weren't. She's so used being packed in with 10 million people at any given moment.  Here it wasn't like that. We had space. So much space that my kids started to get uneasy and say, "Mom? I don't think we're aloud back here. Uhhh. Let's go back to the farmhouse." I had to convince them to walk around the farm with me. Bonus: the bathrooms were clean!

Below is a picture of the gift shop. Owen insisted he found a better spot for the picture. Find him? Oscar's holding a purple crayon that he would later use to tag that beautiful red door. I told the shop keeper while Oscar covered his face with his hat. He was so ashamed!

Next year I'm looking forward to their 3 acre maize maze.  Ever been to a maize maze? Can you believe there's one in NYC?