Meet Baby Jones

Wowza. Almost an entire month without an update! Yes, we admit we have been bad, bad bloggers. One more day and our blogger cards would surely have been revoked. But I did tell you guys that updates during the summer will be sluggish because, well, it’s summer!

Alright, so yesterday we checked out the annual Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show and Country Fair in nearby Uwchlan, PA. Avery had a wonderful time, and really so did Melvin and me, but it got waaaay too hot out there. We came totally prepared to take photos and videos, but were unready to enjoy being outdoors without suffering a heat stroke or sunburn.

I don’t know what I was thinking or had expected, but as I looked around at other parents, I felt like such a rookie! Other parents came prepared with umbrellas, hats, blankets, water, stroller - you know, stuff you need when you expect to be out in scorching heat with a toddler for an extended amount of time. But us? No. But we did have a fully-charged camera battery and a clean compact flash card for photos we couldn’t take anyway because the conditions were simply not ripe for picture-taking.

It cost $7/adult to get in. I guess that wasn’t too bad. But the food prices were simply astronomical! For example, $7 for a cold cheeseburger, $2 for a can of soda and $6 for funnel cake. $6! My lord, when it probably only costs 15 cents to make. I swear Melvin and I are in the wrong professions. Don’t be surprised if you hear that we’ve decided to sell goodies at fairs, people, because obviously, this is where the money is.

But Avery really did have tons of fun, despite my grumbling. We sat and watched a carriage exhibition and then a jumping competition, all the while he squealed and clapped his hands with delight every time he pointed out horses. He also got to ride a real live pony for about 2 minutes even though it hurt me to my heart to watch those ponies go ’round and ’round in a circle over and over and over again. What an awful way to live!

Well, gotta run. The little boy is starting to stir and I’ve yet to start a load of laundry. ’til later!

Sunday, July 20

Avery loves to death some blueberries. While looking for something wholesome and outdoorsy to do, Melvin and I got the idea to go on a Pick-Your-Own-Blueberries adventure. We chose Highland Orchards in West Chester, PA.

Avery’s adult companions (Melvin, my mom and I) didn’t have as much fun as we thought we would. But, it wasn’t about us. It was all about Avery. And lemme tell you, Avery had a blast!!!

Yeah, Avery really enjoyed picking and eating blueberries. He so obviously could’ve stayed out there all day, but his adult companions were this close to succumbing to heat stroke (it was hot as heck out there!), so we called it a day after about 45 minutes.

This was our picken’ at the end of our adventure. The entire tray cost about $7+, quite expensive considering we could’ve bought them at the store for as much or cheaper sans the hard labor. But hey, the activity was immensely enjoyed by Avery and for that, we’d pay anything.

Saturday, July 19

Avery’s Pop-Pop and Nana visited from MD today. I unfortunately had to work (darn having to work!) so I couldn’t join the fun, but hubby tells me a great time was had by all.

First stop was the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester, PA. I’d suggested the place because Avery’s Pop-Pop is an amateur pilot (he flies Cessnas) so I figured he’d be able to appreciate it. Besides, it was too darn hot to do anything that involved the outdoors so it was perfect.

(Playing with a propeller)



(Cap’n Avery in the “cockpit”)



(In a kid-sized helicopter)



(Avery following his Pop-Pop around. Maybe one day they’ll fly together, huh?)

The second half of the day was spent at QVC Studios. Hubby used to do IT consulting work there and had always wanted to go, so what better time than then?

I don’t know whether flash wasn’t allowed inside (very likely), or if Melvin left the flash home (even more likely). In any event, this was the only photo taken inside (Avery watching a live broadcast from the glass-enclosed catwalk above the studio) that came out half-decent because of the lack of lighting thing.

After the QVC Studio tour, the fun really got started!



(Questions: How many Joneses does it take to change a diaper, how much powder does a child’s bottom need, and why did the diaper fall off 2 hours later? *Hee hee hee*)



(Daddy flicking Avery with bird bath water and Avery thinking it is the absolute most entertaining thing in the whole wide world)



(The two loves of my life having such a great time)

Presenting, our new (but really old) home in Glenmoore, PA!



She’s 200+ years old, but still really pretty



Most of her is original with the exception of the addition to the right side of the house.



Melvin and Avery sitting on our front lawn watching one of the horses, Desi.

More photos of the exterior of our new home can be seen here.

I love Fall.

Melvin and I are selling our duplex in Wynnewood, PA. I’m sad to see her go, but we both think it’s time. It had become so much of a headache to maintain [1] and manage [2] from such a distance that it was no longer worth it to keep. I still like the idea of having an investment property, especially in such a desirable location, that it’s something we might consider again in the future. But for now, we’ll just concentrate on this house [3].

Anyway, because Melvin had to meet up with our realtor on Saturday, we cancelled our plans to go to Tyler Arboretum. And since Sundays are when we prepare for the upcoming week, we didn’t want to do anything big.

The alternative: drive the unbelievably scenic road that leads to J. Maki winery in Elverson, PA.

We had driven this road just once before, in 2005 when our friend Stef from Cali Cal visited. Back then, I wasn’t too impressed because afterall, I was a city girl at heart.

Or so I thought.

Since that time, I have developed a deep sense of appreciation for the quiet and beauty of the countryside. I don’t think I could live anywhere else, to be quite honest. As a matter of fact, during our drive I mentioned to Melvin that I really would like to retire on a farm somewhere. He said he would like to do the same. Perfect.

We planned to go out on this drive in the morning after breakfast, before the sun was high (it would create shadows in photos). Avery had different plans though. By the time we got him all cleaned up, wouldn’t you know it, the sun was high.

So before sunset, we made our way out. The exact location of the winery is only about 12 miles from where we live, but our trip lasted almost 2 hours. We stopped at 2 different farms where Melvin took some really cool photos. We wanted to take pics of lil’ Avery, but since we were on private property, space where we could put him down was kind of limited. We resorted to capturing images of horses and the lush countryside instead.

[1] Melvin tried to fix stuff up by himself. He had some success, but to truly fix the joint up the way we wanted would’ve cost thousands of dollars.
[2] Manage whom? Our second floor tenant, Deb, moved out in March.
[3] The house we would lose if we didn’t sell our duplex.

Avery visited the pumpkin patch last week with his grandparents.

Where we live in Chester County, PA, hot air ballooning is quite popular. As a matter of fact, a lot of hot air balloons take off and land at a nearby field. Melvin has been trying to get me to go up with him in one and although I have an intense fear of height, I said I would consider it this fall.

Until I read this article this morning.

I knew it!

I knew a huge wicker basket with a giant, non-fire-proof nylon fabric that flies on bursts of flames cannot be the safest form of entertainment!

We’ll keep looking for things to do as a family, but in the meantime, hot air ballooning has just been added to my list of things not to do. Sorry, honey.