Windsheimer's Dairy Farm

One of our daughter's classmate, Abby, lives in a farm.  Her parents owns a Dairy farm out in  Burgettstown Pa.  We were all excited when they invited us to come over and see how the milk processing is being done, how to feed the cows and a lot of things that's going on in a Dairy Farm.  

 Just driving to their farm was already a treat since the view are gorgeous.

 The beauty of Fall is already visible  on the trees so  it was a fun a drive.

 We headed straight to the barn where they were waiting for us.

 Our first stop was to see how the milking process is being done.

 Here's Melissa and Ben showing the kids how the milk is being  taken from the cows through the use of the machine.

 They even let the kids  insert their thumb through the tubes  to feel how the milk gets suck down by the machine, it was pretty neat!

 This cow was not feeling good so she was resting.  Her legs were a little swolen or something.

 It's amazing o watch the cows fall in line and advanced through the line every time they hear the sound.

 My son loves milk so he  had his first real encounter with the individuals that produces them.

 After we saw  the milking process, we then tour some part of the  barn.  Melissa and Ben explained to us how every cow is being  monitored in the computer room.  Each cow has  something  where they can see if they are in heat.  It's amazing to learn how  the process is being done.

 Then the kids hopped on the tractor while watching the cows eat.

 Their dog Oreo is so sweet!

 My son was very interested  in the quad lol.

The view from their farm was breathtaking.  It's really beautiful out there.  I'll continue the last part of our cow-tale adventure next time.  My migraine is killing me right now.

Apple Slingshots at Half Crown Hill Orchard

There were some picnic tables  in the orchard, a place where you can sit down and  chitchat and eat snacks.  You can hang out and   rest for a while after  you roam around the apple orchard.  

 

One of the activities that you can do at Half Crown Hill Orchard is  the Apple Slingshot.  As soon as my son saw it upon arrival, he immediately said "I want to do that!"

 The little Miss did not have enough strength to really pull the  sling  and let the apple reach the target.

 She tried a couple of shots and did not hit the target.

 So Daddy came to the rescue and helped her.

Our son on the other hand hit the target on the very first apple  that he put on the sling.

 I should have recorded it but did not have the time to  prep the camera.  But he was very proud that he nailed the target on the first shot.  It was definitely  worth the time of driving  in Oakdale and participated to this event.  Our family had so much fun.  There's one more thing that I will be posting  soon so please tune in.

Music Program at Doquesne University

Now that my daughter   attends music program at Duquesne University, we get to explore Pittsburgh more.  The following photos were taken the last time I went with them.  There are so many beautiful buildings in downtown Pittsburgh with  beautiful details.  I like how the  old buildings  stands out  against the modern ones.

Anyway, back to the music lessons, I can already see the  big difference of my daughter's skills in  piano.  She practices more this time  and that's because her teacher there is more strict than the former teacher she had in our area.  It is very neat to go  there because you get to see so many musical instruments and other stuff like the  tce polytune and other  music-related  stuff that I never know existed.  

Apple Picking at Half Crown Hill Orchard

On September 26, the kids had  their Johnny Apple Seed day celebration at school.  I am sure that they had fun as   the homeroom Moms prepared fun activities for them. They also get  some treat bags.  

To top all the fun, we went to an apple orchard in Oakdale Pennsylvania called Half Crown Hill.   One of the engineers of the company where my husband works owns the orchard and he coordinated this event for a cause.  The company's employees and family were the only ones who were there at the orchard that day.

 The orchard is not that big but there's plenty of apples to pick.  I was amazed of how much fruits each tree has.  There were different kinds of apples.  Some are not ready for picking yet.  The prices of apples   varieds depending on what kind it is.

 You can either  buy  the apples that are already picked and displayed at the   receiving/reception/store area or you can pick your own.  The prices  of the apples also varies  on  how big the bag is.

Picking apples  reminds me of the aplle tree that we used to have in our backyard.  Over the years, the said apple   died  and we chopped it off.  We have never  gone apple picking before in an orchard  so this was our first time.  

 The kids were  very picky, they  search for the biggest they could find lol.  It was a good exercise as we  went around the whole orchard trying to find the best apples that we could find.

 My son has very good eyes in finding the  biggest apples in the orchard.  We all had fun  picking.

 I was  just in awe  of how much fruits  are in each tree, it's amazing.

 We will definitely do this again in the coming years.  We love  eating apple as snack so it's a must have in our kitchen.

I will continue our adventures on the next post.   Our fun did not end in apple picking, we did some activities as well.  I will also  post  the apple pie that  our 9 year old pastry chef  baked for us.  Thank you for visiting and for leaving your comments.

Shadow Shots

Planning A Trip? Essential Tips For Your Dog When You Go

If you adore traveling, but also have a family pet, you might find this obstacle a little tricky. You want to get out there and see the world, but you need to make sure that it is the right thing for your pet. One pet that requires effort and work is a dog. Dogs need constant attention and love. As such, you need to make sure that you plan your trips around their needs. Your dog should be a top priority in your household. That means that before you begin your plans, you need to think about his or her welfare. Here are a few essential tips for planning a trip when you have a dog.

Can you take your dog with you?

The first thing you need to decide is whether you can take your dog with you on your travels. A dog is part of the family, and so you should try and take your dog on vacation with you as much as possible. Decide what type of trip you are taking. If you are not traveling abroad, you can likely take your dog with you on your vacation. Make sure that you ask about pets when you book with your hotel. Sure, many hotels don't allow pets or dogs, but some do. For example, if you are planning an adventure vacation is a rural area, many of the hotels there will be more than happy to welcome dogs. 

If you are traveling abroad, it may be hard to take your dog with you. Travel documentation is always tricky when it comes to animals, and you might find that your dog needs extra vaccines. If you are planning to take your dog with you to a foreign country, it is important that you plan the trip way in advance. There will be many things you need to look into and plan for your trip. Most of the time, it is not advisable to take your dog abroad with you, but if you feel you must, make sure you know your stuff before you leave.

Preparing your dog for travel
If you've decided to take your dog along with you on your travels, you need to make sure he or she is ready to travel. Check with the vet whether your dog will need any injections or medication for the trip. If you are going on a road trip, for example, you might find that your dog need tablets to settle his or her tummy. Many dogs suffer from awful travel sickness and so will need medication on hand for the journey. Before you set off, make sure that your dog is in a calm mood. Experts suggest that a great way to prepare your dog for travel is to take him or her on a long walk before you leave. That will tire your dog out, and so he or she should sleep for much of the journey.

Essentials you should take for your dog

If your dog is traveling with you, you don't just need to pack for yourselves, you need to pack for your dog as well. You should take all manner of things with you to entertain your dog and keep him or her healthy. Take a leash, some dog toys, some medication and a flea treatment. Many owners fail to realize that their dog might get ill or catch pet fleas on the trip. When you expose your dog to new environments, it is natural that they pick up something. So long as you have the right things with you when you travel, you should have no issues with your dog. Make sure that you understand how to travel with a dog. It is not all fun and games. Your dog will need constant attention, and so you should make sure you always give it him or her.

Activities for your dog on a trip

What can your dog do on a vacation? It may sound like a silly question, but entertainment for your dog is just as important as entertainment for you. Many dogs get anxious when they travel to new places. That means that you need something to distract your dog with while you are on vacation. If you are taking a trip to the city, what will your dog do there? If there is nowhere for you to walk your dog, it might be best to leave him or her at home. If you take your dog to the countryside, there are likely many long walks to take him or her on each day. Make sure your destination is right for your dog before you decide to take him or her along with you.

Who can look after your dog?

If you decide to leave your dog at home, he or she will need proper care. Do you know a family member or friend who will look after your dog while you're away? Asking someone to pet-sit is a huge deal. You need to make sure that you're not imposing on the person's lifestyle. If you can't find anyone to look after your dog, you should consider putting him into a kennel while you are away. Kennels cost around $30-40 per night, and so are quite a large family expense. Making sure your dog is okay while you're on vacation is vital. Your dog trusts you as his or her protector. Make sure that you take the time to make the right arrangements to suit your dog and your family.

Preparing your dog for separation

Before you leave your dog, you need to prepare him for the separation. When you leave your dog for an extended period, he or she might find this stressful. Before you leave, give your dog a lot of attention and love so that they know you love them. Leave something that smells like you with your dog. For example, if you're putting your dog in a kennel, you might want to leave him or her a scarf that smells like you. Your dog will find your scent comforting when you are away, and it should help him or her to adjust to his or her temporary home.