A visit to the Experimental Farm with Amelia and Roth

June 28, 2010

Going to the Experimental Farm is always fun, but when the kids heard that Amelia and Roth were coming too, they were super excited. Jenn was also a bit more organized than we usually are and so for once we actually managed to see quite a few of the demonstrations. The kids had great fun both playing and learning.

Besides the pig that likes to eat pennies,
there is also this bright new addition to the horse barn that will also gladly take your change.

Sam with a baby angora goat.

The kids watch as the guide plays nice with the mommy goat before picking up the baby goat.

Everyone gets a turn to pet the baby angora goat.

Christopher liked the baby goat: "Awww, he's cuuute!"

Mommy checks to make sure baby is ok.

Time for some egg-speriments!

First some overinflated egg sacs with the shells dissolved in the vinegar,
then these shrunken egg sacs as the water flows out of the sack and into the corn syrup.

And now we get to see where these eggs all came from!

Time to pet the chicken.

Checking out the chicken's dinosaur feet.

The demonstration is over but the kids are eager to keep going... let's weigh the eggs!

Playing at the newly renovated playground.

What else would you ride at the farm but a horse?!

No visit would be complete without checking out the calves.

Twins!

Sammy petting one of the calves.

can't forget to pet this one too... they're all so cute!

Samantha was soooo happy to find her favourite calf Kristmas again...
she hadn't disappeared, she'd just grown up!

Sammy and Christopher with Kristmas the cow.

We followed the yummy smells to the kitchen only to find out the cookies were destined for a bake sale...
we managed to get a small taste anyway.

In the new bee demonstration we found the queen bee (the one with the blue dot).
Which left us wondering which bee is the "painter bee". ;-)

Roth and Christopher in the honey comb play area - the pattern on the floor is representative of the honeybee dance. Honeybees are capable of amazing acts of communication. When a bee finds a good source of nectar, pollen or water she brings word bakc to the hive. There, the bee dances in a way that tells the other bees everything they need to know - the direction of the flowers, their distance from the hive, and how plentiful they are.