Showing posts with label Family Friendly. Show all posts

Friday, November 10, 2023

Mayfield Farm Park --Autumn 2023

Sat. Nov. 3, 2023

Kenny, Dana, Gabe & Mia Koogler

Crystal, Michael, & Tessa Lindsey

and Hayden Gibson

Mayfield Farm Park Info

Mayfield Farm Park 2023 Pix Here

Photo album is a combination of two years trips. The current year's trip pictures start where this link takes you. To advance the next photo click the right arrow. I did not take as many photos this season. To get a better idea what this place is like click the X in the top right and it takes you back to the entire photo album from start to finish which is a better illustration of the scope of the place. We still did not do everything after the second season.

We had such a good time at Mayfield Farm Park last Fall we decided to go again. The kids were gang busters to visit. They remembered the fun from the previous year. Even little Mia remembered this place! The staff does such a wonderful job making this nice, trying to get you the best deal for your tickets, etc. that you couldn't ask for better treatment. They have ample restrooms, changing tables for babies and toddlers, food, beverages, activities for every age person. The tickets are $20 per person with ages 2 and under being free. It covers all day. You get a wrist band so if you want to leave and come back later you can. They give military discounts and discounted tickets for large groups. If you buy them online it saves you a couple dollars per ticket. You show up and if you've bought your tickets online you simply show the lady at the ticket window your smart phone QR code. It gets scanned and tells her how many tickets you paid for. She gives you wrists bands accordingly.

We showed up on the very last day this year. It was different and better in some ways.

The weather was perfect. It was warm, sunny, nice breeze blowing. The place had plenty of uncrowded parking. It was not a bit crowded this year. Just enough folks to be fun. Honestly it was a little more fun when they had a few more people. This year they were using the unsold pumpkins to shoot out of a cannon. They had slingshots set up to shoot pumpkins or gourds. They had a pumpkin busting area where you could smash a pumpkin with a wooden sledge hammer or bat!

The down side is Halloween is over and I still had five pumpkins on my front porch that needed something done with them. We only carved one out of six this year. My daughter in law went crazy and bought a bunch of them. The other thing we missed was the cut your own flowers area was finished for the season. The final thing that cut into the enjoyment of the place this year was more serious. We found out granddaughter Tessa age ten is allergic to corn.

We decided to try it anyhow. She did fine, but she broke out in hives on her face and chin briefly. She had to use her inhaler and sit down and cool off one time. She got upset and cried when it came time to have ice cream. Mayfield's ice cream is wonderful, but unsafe for her. It has coconut oil in some of it. It has an allergy warning about tree nuts in it potentially. This is her life threatening allergy so it is off limits. Mia refused to eat hers. I got upset and threw mine away. It isn't worth seeing a child get that upset. We need to find something else to do with her next season. Maybe take the two youngest grandkids and let them bring a friend each. Then do something different with Michael and Tessa. That is a bummer because our grandkids are best friends with their cousins. They enjoy one another very much. Mayfield cannot help any of this. They are not in the hypoallergenic fun business. They cater to the general public and most folks are not deathly allergic to any of this.

Just word of warning to parents or grandparents who have kids with sensitivities... really check the ingredients label on ice cream especially. It has a lot of stuff that makes it package and keep better, but it can be harmful to those who are allergic. Not many folks are allergic to corn, but his place has corn and corn dust everywhere.

We took into consideration the allergy situation and stopped on the way down to have lunch at Bert's in Madisonville. It was simpler than taking a chance on food at the venue. It is fast food and while it is good, it is a roll of the dice. We did not want everyone to arrive and have to start foraging for eats right shot out of the bag. We had pizza and yummy food at Bert's just before arriving. That turned out to be a better plan for us. We love the Madisonville area and Athens, TN as well.

Below: Mia goes right for the giant tractor tire swings. Aunt Yaya is helping her.

Below: all five kids jumping at once. My four grandkids and Hayden, my bonus grandson. He and Michael are so tall now. They are 14 and won't be kids much longer.

Below: Michael in the camo on the obstacle course.

Below: the pumpkin busting area with Tessa, Gabe, Michael in the frame.

Below: more pumpkin busting with Mia, Gabe , Tessa and Papaw Kenny

Below: The kiddos on the giant wheels

Below is the kiddie slide area with shorter pipes used for littler children. Some of the kids complained that they got tired running up that hill to slide. This was a bit easier for them but a shorter ride.

above: the long slide with Tessa up there on the far left. Another child sliding near her. Mia never went down it this year I don't think.

Below: Gabe, Mia and Michael in the corn bin. This was a mixed blessing. It was the favorite thing last year for all the kids. It was again this year, but Tessa could not do it.

Above: Michael, Gabe & Mia in the corn. Hayden got in too. I really didn't take enough photos this year, but I had a good time.

Below are more videos that show the place better. I broke it down into areas this time instead of one highlights reel for the entire time.

Video #1 -- The Zip Line

Video #2-- Bust a Pumpkin Area-- I am fussing a lot in this video for the children to stay back out of each other's way with this activity. Reason being-- my son Jared age 3.. Mia's age... stepped right in the way of his cousin Jay when he was warned "Stay back. I'm getting ready to swing the bat!" when they were playing ball in the back yard. He did not listen. I was on a walk with my niece Leslie. We returned to Jared having been bonked in the forehead by the bat. We had to take him to get stitches. Kids are stubborn and have poor impulse control.

Video #3-- Hamster Wheels!

Below is video #4-- the corn bin which was great fun. They like pouring it on one another because ie ends up in your underwear and all over the place which the kids find funny!

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Cumberland Homesteads Apple Festival 2019

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Saturday Sept. 21, 2019

Pictures are Here starting with frame #177

I posted the link to the information web page here with this blog entry.I realized in a year or less it will be irrelevant. The flyer pictured below gives a good idea what it was all about. It will give those interested a chance to decide for themselves if they want to attend. I love lots of information and photos myself. One photo.. one little photo on the interwebz resulted in a trip to go visit the Old Mail Road bridge and photograph it myself! You never know what will inspire someone.

Below is their neatly done poster from this past year's event.

I visited the Cumberland Homesteads for the first time in 2004. My recent visits of July 2019

were a lot more fun and informative. I was hooked. The history is interesting and relatable. The staff and docents are friendly. I have since met Charles Tyler of the historic society and he is a delight. He really knows a bunch and has some colorful stories. They all do.

I found out during that visit about the Apple Festival coming up in September. I made up my mind I was going. It coincided perfectly with the trip we already had to make over to the plateau for the weekend. Kenny and I both had a good time, and will come back again.

It was fun and very easy going. Lots of people, but the traffic wasn't bad. Finding parking was no problem. They had officers directing traffic and assisting folks to make it safely across Hwy 70 to the grounds. It was very well organized. I found it shadier and more comfortable than other events I have attended. Finding a seat to get some lunch was not difficult either.

The folks all around us were talkative and friendly.

I was able to purchase some goodies that I both needed and wanted. It was surprising how many different vendors there were. Lots of options for eats. We had barbecue and it was delicious. Nothing was too pricey either. These vendors are real people and they are fair.

I met a fellow who I hope to purchase elderberry shrub stock from next Spring. I can grow native shrubs in my yard and harvest berries that will help keep me healthy!

I also found a lady who made purses that I adored. I ended up getting one. I wish I'd gotten two! She is a very talented seamstress.

They had good music playing up on the band stand. I saw Kelly Cox pull up on a utility vehicle, but I didn't get to speak to her on Saturday. It is worth mentioning that while admission was only $5 per person.. the ladies selling tickets made sure to tell you if you kept your ticket stub you could come back on Sunday for free! That is a lot of fun for $5.

I hope to get back over there for the Christmas celebration this year. Its good for me.

I was so jealous of the kitchen in the Homestead's House museum I had to go out and do this.

Above: Antique hoosier cupboard freshly repainted by my sweet hubby.

I helped with the clean up and the greasing the works to make sure it is functional.

I also helped a tiny bit to take off and put back on handles.

Below is the one similar to mine that was in the house kitchen.

Above and below: I made myself some tea towels using vintage fabric for the top one, and a print that looks old fashioned from Wal-Mart for the other. In keeping with the vintage theme.

Big thanks to Kelly Cox and all the Homesteads personnel and volunteers who made the festival possible. It had to be a monumental task in my mind, but I appreciate being able to enjoy such things. Below I am going to post a few photos of the various vendors and such.

If you get the chance you should check out some of their events. It is really worthwhile, wholesome activities in a world that has gone mad. Crossville and the Homesteads and the plateau is a little island of sanity. A tiny taste of by gone days and a slower pace.

One for which I am very grateful.

Above : A vendor with lots of natural skin care products and goodies

Above: Compass Rose Creations is out of Johnson City area TN. They were my favorites.
I bought a large jar of elderberry syrup for $20. I also got some good information from this fellow and his missus. Honey. Natural goodies. A growing number of folks are coming over to the food as medicine camp! Natural is nearly always better than pharmaceutical.

Above: Basket weaving looks very intricate!

Above: This vendor had all kinds of flavored popcorns and pork rinds if memory serves.

Above: Bird houses of all varieties and sizes!

Above: The grounds were busy with people, but it was not crazy crowded. Just right.

Above and below: wooden crafts for sale. So pretty!

Above: Some unique wind chimes! Very creative and whimsical. My favorite is the high button boot

Natural goods for sale for skin care and herbal remedies. All great stuff.

The historic society information tent

We missed out on the ice cream. We were too full after barbecue!

Above: The beautiful lookout tower watching down over the festivities

Above: Kenny purchased our lunch while I went to find us a spot to sit down.

Below I leave you with a little music from the festival. One of my favorites . Amy by Pure Prairie League. This guy was good!

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Knoxville Zoo With Gabe

Fuzzy Hedgehog at the neighbors home

Knoxville Zoo With Gabe

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Nanny Dana

Nana Debbie

Lydia & Gabe Koogler

Cousin Shelby Mobley

Nana Debbie told me one day that her granddaughter Shelby's elementary school was going on a field trip to the Knoxville Zoo. She told me we should all go and take Gabe before it gets too hot to enjoy it. I jumped at the chance as did Gabe and Lydia. Nana Debbie's plan turned out to be excellent! I picked up Gabe and Lydia and met her at the zoo. We all arrived just behind the school bus from Porter Elementary. We had done a good job of remembering most of the important stuff. Our minor troubles began in the parking lot on the way in. I was thrilled to have remembered the stroller. I tried pushing it and it was acting wonky. Lydia tried it and it was no better. By the time we got to the ticket window we realized it had three flat or nearly flat tires! The lady at the ticket window told me I could push it round to the stroller rental booth, and they'd air the tires up for me. We were delighted. We got in at a reduced rate thanks to being part of the school trip. The stroller attendant had us fixed and ready in minutes. All seemed to improve.

Above: Nana Debbie Wilborn, Gabe, Shelby and my daughter in law.. Lydia Koogler

Cousin Shelby Mobley

Gabe, Shelby, Lydia. Porter elementary school boys.

Gabe on playground at the zoo. Stepping on the log pillars.

We went first to the bears. Gabe was liking the zoo, but could not understand why he was not allowed to go pet the bears. He believes all animals are pets. He loves them all. He fears none of them thus far. The stroller was still not acting 100% right, but better. We met up with Nana Debbie and Shelby and her friends at the next area. We saw elephants, giraffes, and zebras. The kids played in a sort of obstacle course and the prairie dog town. Everyone was having fun. We went to see the red pandas and macaws and other birds. We saw monkeys.

Above: daughter in law Lydia and grandson Gabe riding the carousel!

Our friend Andy's goat trying to get Gabe to pay attention and pet him or her!

Gabe was needing a drink by about 10:30 a.m. so we stopped for a dry diaper and snacks.

He had a dance off with his cousin Shelby. They are hilarious. She is a sweet girl and so fun.

He adores her and her older sister, Claire. The stroller was getting worse by the minute.

I heard my daughter-in-law swear at it, which is so unlike her. She was over it and so was I.

I told her not to fret that I would simply park it by the stroller booth and rent a different one for the day. That is what we ended up doing. We checked it before we did for wheel latches and any controls we might have missed. We found nothing. A rental stroller for $10 for the rest of the day solved the problem. Another link to the dance off video

Gabe is a picky eater having been diagnosed with a sensory integration disorder. His brain has trouble making sense of incoming signals from his mouth and tongue. He has trouble with many textures and smells. We finally had to stop for lunch. We had brought Ramen noodles of all things.. and I had dragged along a backpacking stove to be able to prepare them. This is part of coping with this child's special needs. The bistro at the zoo.. the new dining venue... was amazing! They have good healthy selections which we enjoyed. Asian stir fry and rice.

We asked them if they had either hot water or a microwave. They went above and beyond and prepared his ramen noodles! I can't say enough about how wonderfully Knoxville Zoo staff went above and beyond to make this a pleasant family trip for us. That includes the attendant.. a young man at the carousel who was able to fill us in on the best deals for value.

It will really help on future trips. I go so seldom to the zoo that I forget from one time to the next what the best ideas are price wise and other.

Mike mike mike mike mike.. what day is it? Hump DAY! Yeah!

Lydia and Gabe on the camel.

Gabe rode the carousel. He took a camel ride. He rode the miniature train with Nanny.

After lunch and another dry diaper we visited the petting zoo. He was finally able to handle the animals like he wanted to. This helped a lot and he enjoyed himself. He liked the goats and sheep. He brushed them and loved on them. We went to the play area nearby.

He played with other kids and us on this part of the trip. He climbed rope nets. He climbed towers. He went down slides and through tunnels. All these things are part of what his occupational therapist has said will help his brain make sense of incoming signals.

We wore ourselves and him out. After the play area it was hot and little man was super tired.

We were over it and ready to go to the car. We stopped for a break to play in an old utility vehicle that is pretend. Gabe loved it. I had to work on engine trouble He had to as well.

We took turns driving. He took turns driving with other kids and pretending with them.

Finally we made it back to the jeep. He got a dry butt, a bottle and a blanket and was asleep in no time. Our ride home was easy and uneventful with little traffic. All in all a great day!