On the way home from Rainbow Meadow Farms yesterday, John Alexander, Melissa, and I stopped at the Renston Homestead on the way back to Greenville. Lots of freshly picked veggies awaited us as we pulled in, including fresh tomatillos, patty pan squash, zucchini, green peppers, and the most beautiful grape tomatoes that we had ever seen. If I thought that the strawberries that they sold here weeks ago were gorgeous, these tiny tomatoes were equally stunning to the eye. While we brought blueberries, onions, and squash home with us, the best thing we left with was pictures of the animals that Steve McLawhorn keeps for all to admire and enjoy.
The "stars of the farmyard show" were definitely the piglets who had grown at least a foot since we were here two weeks ago. They first hid under the chicken nest boxes until we came close enough for them to run out into the chicken yard where they spend their days. They ran straight toward their "kiddie swimming pool" and jumped right in...enjoying the water and "smiling" gleefully. No sooner had they douse
d themselves before they ran toward us, dodging chickens and ducks in their paths...These "bacon-to-be" candidates were still jumping and playing among their many chicken companions. Outnumbered, but seemingly unaware, they skulked back underneath the shade of the nest boxes..snorting like full grown pigs.
d themselves before they ran toward us, dodging chickens and ducks in their paths...These "bacon-to-be" candidates were still jumping and playing among their many chicken companions. Outnumbered, but seemingly unaware, they skulked back underneath the shade of the nest boxes..snorting like full grown pigs.Before we left the Renston Homestead, we visited the goats, peacocks, and rabbits housed in the barns near the road. The baby goats, born just weeks ago, had grown big enough to lose their umbilical cords and rabbits snuggling in their cages looked to us for "niblets" or perhaps an escape into Mr. MacGregor's garden. We left admitting that, while there are 
many other riches in the world, farms like this one are "rare jewels" that are disappearing right before our very eyes. How fortunate we are to leave such a farm with warm tomatoes and veggies in tow having walked among real farm animals who know what it is like to wake to the crow of a rooster and dine on real bugs for dinner.
many other riches in the world, farms like this one are "rare jewels" that are disappearing right before our very eyes. How fortunate we are to leave such a farm with warm tomatoes and veggies in tow having walked among real farm animals who know what it is like to wake to the crow of a rooster and dine on real bugs for dinner. 
