Bee-Bee's!

Sapphie is crazy about strawberries. Our neighbor Becky has been bring us a quart everytime she goes to Pennsylvania, since April. Sapphie goes nuts when they get here. She starts yelling "bee-bee's" and then stuffs them in her face, green leaves and all. And, for the next 2 days, that's all she wants to eat. She comes in the kitchen yelling "bee-bee's", reaching up to the counter. It's so funny. Kevin and I couldn't wait to take her strawberry picking so she could see where these yummy berries come from. We did take her last year, but she was so little. I remember it was such a hot day and I didn't really think she knew what was going on. I was so hot. We lasted maybe 30 minutes. Well this Saturday, we had our chance to take her again. The forecast was 90 degrees, full sun. We decided to go to the Charlotte Berry Farm first thing in the morning, to beat the heat and the crowds.
What an excellent idea! We will make it a tradition. The weather was perfect. Low 80's, sunny, with a nice breeze. And, since we were there at 8am, we were practically the only ones there! It was a blast.

Sapphie picking berries with daddy

She went nuts. She stuffed her face.

Crouching down...what's in there?

Bee-bee's!

When she got tired, daddy put her in the back pack.

Look how many we got!!!

It was so fun. We can't wait to take her blueberry picking!!

Late Spring Pics

Here's a post with some sort of old photos. In April, Sapphie had a big month. She learned to walk!! And, she started becoming more independent. She really likes to feed herself, and not have any help from mummy! Also, she's been talking a lot and adding new words every day. She loves to organize the cupboard in the kitchen...it's so funny!

Enjoy the pictures, and the walking videos!

World Hunger (by Kevin)

It has been interesting to see the recent out pouring of support for agriculture in our society. Maybe the message is finally getting through to the public. I see more and more bumper stickers that tote pro-agriculture messages: "Buy Locally", "No Farms, No Food", "Got Milk", "Got Cheese", etc, etc.

We need to take a deeper look into what is going to happen in the coming years as our global population grows and where US agriculture fits into that picture. Here is a short video off of "You Tube" that I received today that is worth watching. Pay close attention to the facts and in a couple of days I will have a follow up post that gives you a closer perspective of agriculture in Vermont and the economic machine that the industry is in the great Green Mountain State.

One Hunger Planet

Let's educate ourselves about these practices before we criticize something we may not know anything about. You may find a great steward of the land he works and a sheppard to his livestock the next time you take a minute to talk to a farmer.

Being a steward and a sheppard sounds pretty nice.

Hug A Farmer Campaign (by Kevin)

As I think more and more about my work and my current role and position that I am filling at this very moment in time it is just not dairy nutritionist/sales person for Poulin Grain. Sure that is what my business card says but I do more then that. If you read the previous post Farm Report you would have grasped some sense of what these guys are currently facing for dairy economics.

Well I am adding a title to my business card: Farmer Support Person or Farm Therapist. There are days that when I am on farm we do not talk cows or crops. We talk family, stress and how they are going to pull themselves out of this hole. How are we going to grade the ruts out of the road and get back up on an even playing surface? By the time you leave you want to give them a hug, pat them on their back, high five, knuckles or a general thank you. But something to show them you appreciate what they are doing and you respect their determination.

I came across this piece that was produced by Right Side Production. They generated a campaign for Cabot entilted Hug A Farmer. In this short video you will see David Conant, the farmer, who farms the land next to the Kitchen Table in Richmond. If you head down 89 South towards Waterbury his farm is the big red barns off to the left hand side as you come down the hill and approach the Richmond exit.

Watch the video and realize and understand the message it is trying to convene to the general public.

Hug A Farmer Video Farm Cabot Creamery

We need to protect this vital industry in the State of Vermont and the rest of New England

Grace Potter and Sapphire Kouri (by Kevin)

Now that the three aunt retrospect has been completed I feel I can jump back into the proverbial waters of the blog world. I did not want to disrupt Emma's chronicle.

I saw a couple of pictures from Grace Potter's performance on Church St this week and I immediately thought of Sapphire. She has this thing about her. She loves to move her body, loves all types of music, has a fashion sense about her. We believe, as all parents do, that Sapphire is blessed and will do great things in life.

I had a vision of Sapphire being up on the stage one day performing in front of millions. Backed by Hannah Wall as her vocal coach, Kristen Kouri helping with her outfits and Soe Wall Alger with dance moves along with being assistant art director. Emma would be her touring manager coordinating the next move for the next up and coming Super Star Sapphire Elizabeth Kouri.

The other day I caught her practicing in her room by herself. She was sitting in her closest strumming the guitar that Hannah gave her.

Aspirations and dreams are good things to have for your children but the important thing is to not push them into something they have no passion for but to support them in what they truly want to do.

Like Auntie Like Niece, part Three

My sister Penelope has always loved to dress up. It always used to bug me so much when we were little! I am very much like my grandfather - no nonsense. Who has time to dress up and play 'tend?? Well that was Penelope's favorite activity and I had no time for it at all.
Now that we're older, I like dressing up too! It feels good. Still, both Hannah and Penelope are more creative at dressing than I am. I usually feel like a total square when they're around. Kevin has helped me to branch out though, and he always encourages me to buy fun pieces to spice up my wardrobe.
Sapphie seems to have inherited her auntie's passion for fun clothes! She loves to dress up. Seriously, she already does it with abosultely no prompting from me. She'll pull out her basket of shoes, and choose the Frye boots that Zoe let her borrow. Or, she'll through on her wellies with a tutu! I just can't wait until she starts school and tries to leave the house in one of her get-ups. Daddy will be wild....

Here is auntie Penelope. I think she's about 4 years old here. She was so proud of the outfit she put together!

And here is Sapphie, playing dress-up with Cooper.

She loves putting those boots on!

As you can see, Cooper was not thrilled. He's very no-nonsense, just like his mummy! xoxo

Like Auntie Like Niece, part Two

I've always been jealous of Kristen's hands. They are long, delicate, and so feminine. Everything that my hands are not. Of course I've grown to love my hands; they are perfect for working in the garden and they are quite small for my height. But growing up I was always so aware of how short and stubby my fingers were.
As you know, I'm posting a series to show how Sapphie is like each of her aunties. Luckily for her, Sapphie inherited her auntie Kristen's hands! I knew it as soon as she was born, and I was so excited. Maybe she'll play the piano with those long and beautiful hands!!!

Here is a picture of auntie Kiki's hand. Yes, she thought it was a little weird when I asked her to send it:

And here is Sapphie at 6 weeks old. Look at those fingers!!!I think she also has Kristen's toes but I won't bug her for a picture of those...

Like Auntie Like Niece, part One

Sapphie is small for her age. Her little feet are so tiny and she's still in size 6-9 months shoes! She's also very lean and petite. People call her a peanut, but Nonna Liz always says "she's not a peanut, she's just petite like her auntie Hannah." That got me to thinking how similar they are. See for yourself!

Here is a picture of Hannah as a newborn. I'm not sure of her age, but I'm guessing about 2 months.

And here is Sapphie at 2 months old. Don't they look like they could be sisters???

I think I'll do a 3-part installment, comparing Sapphie to each of her aunties. Sort of like Penelope's retrospect series. It's going to be so neat to see these family likenesses as she grows up. I can't wait to see whose eyes, nose, mouth she inherits. We are already quite certain that she has inherited my temper!!!

Easter Weekend

I am SOOOOO behind on posting photos. Over the weekend, our camera stopped taking pictures because the memory was full! So this week, I am going to make a post every day and update everybody with what we've been up to the last 2 months. Starting with Easter!! We had a very special Easter weekend in Newport, with everybody there! Soe, Hannah, Colin, Mummy, Papa, and the dogs. The only thing missing was the cats, but I'm sure they were happier at home.

The Easter bunny went crazy this year and really showered us with presents!

I love these eggs and Soe and I will fight over them when Mummy kicks the bucket.

Here's Sapphie opening her Easter basket
On our way to Church

What else did we do? We had a hike, spent lots of time outside because it was SO nice out, and we ate lots of yummy food! Papa made the most amazing coffee. It was so good, even Kevin had some!!

It was so warm out, we ate our meals outside.

Sapphie had a blast and got into a few naughty things. It really put Daddy on edge, but then he realized she was having so much fun, so he let her be.

She had a ton of fun with her aunties, as usual
And of course, she found mischief with auntie Hannah and Cabot...

She had so much fun in the bucket of water!!

When we got home, Sapphie continued the mischievous behavior and decided she likes to play in the cupboard now. In the slideshow of pictures, you'll see that this became her favorite activity for several weeks!! It was so funny.

Busted in the cupboard, organizing jars.

I'm working in here! Go away!
And her are some more pictures, and video from that special weekend: