On Friday, Ethan’s school was closed for Veteran’s Day so we planned an adventure with the Coadys. Erin and I took Clara, Ethan, Jared, Aidan and Matty to Ardenwood Farms. I was underwhelmed.

Ardenwood Farms is a working 19th century farm that was once 6,000 acres. But there was little to do there for kids, even though the Website indicated they were in full gear until November 15. There were two blacksmiths working in a shop which was really great to watch, but you have to be a tall, tall 5 year-old to be able to see over the railing. There was a flock of peacocks that tried to steal our picnic food. There were various, typical farm animals around the large property. Mostly the kids just climbed trees as that was about all there was for them to do there. Erin and I were glad we missed the sign that said “No Climbing Trees” when we went in or we would have had nothing to do! It’s a shame we paid full price for the farm, when we would have had much more fun for free at Coyote Hills Regional Park a half mile west. It also used to be part of the Ardenwood Estate.

Saturday’s adventure was more successful. Lindsay Wildlife Museum and Hospital is an organization about 50 miles east of us in Walnut Creek. They take in wild animals that are injured or sick. The animals are re-introduced to the wild if possible, or kept there if not. You can get REALLY close up to these amazing predators. We were about 5 feet from a mountain lion who had been de-clawed by some idiot who had tried to keep her as a pet. She was taking her aggression out on a ball and boy, was that scream amazing to hear! Matthew kept going back to the mallard who was an inch away from his nose, on the other side of a class door. We saw a bald eagle and other raptors eating dead chickens. It was a fun trip with our friends the Gladstones. I had thought I was so clever getting 4 tickets for $10 at the CPNS Silent Auction, but then it turned out we could’ve gotten in for free with our Coyote Point membership. Duh.

So, you win some, you lose some. Hopefully the kids are getting SOMETHING out of these various trips. Ethan was very happy to see Gefen again, that’s for sure.