A Visit to Duvall (say it with the accent on the Du...)

My cousin Lyn and her family live in Duvall, which is really only an hour from Seattle, but is worlds away when you have to take a ferry to Seattle first.  I've been wanting to go see her on her mini-farm for quite some time, but hadn't made the effort until this summer.  Actually, they've only lived in Duvall for a year, before that they lived in Woodinville for several years, which is a bit closer than Duvall.  I never made it to visit them in Woodinville, though. 

Anyway, my sisters and I planned a trip, made lunch provision assignments, and eagerly awaited the day.  Unfortunately, Tifanie got sick a few days before the trip and wasn't able to join us, but Corey, Hyrum, Jonah, Landon, Jillian, Kylie and I all made the trip.  The girls and I walked across on the ferry, then piled into Corey's van and headed out.  It took a little over an hour to get there thanks to some road construction, but the drive was very scenic and it was nice to get to visit with Corey. 

Lyn's family lives in a cute farm house built in the 1940s, right next to a dairy farm.  She homeschools her kids, Henry and Fern, and they have an amazing "classroom" all around them.

Hyrum, Jonah, Fern, and Henry eating their lunch

Lyn, Me, Corey, and Landon.  Lyn's mom and my mom are twins...can you see any resemblance between the cousins?  Maybe a little? 

 After lunch, Lyn took us on a tour of the farm next door.  It's a fully functioning dairy farm. Lyn's house was the original farm house, but the owners built a bigger home down the road.

Right on the other side of Lyn's garden fence are about 100 of these "cow-gloos", so dubbed by Henry and Fern, where the baby cows live.  They are taken from their moms shortly after birth and live here until they are "teenagers".  Not sure how I feel about that, but I'm not a dairy farmer. 

What farm is complete without barn cats?  There were several kittens running around. 

Here's where the teenagers hang out.  After seeing what they live in, I don't feel so bad for the babies in their little igloos!  These guys were knee deep in muck.  What a stench!  It's obvious they're teenagers...they have easy access to outside and a pasture through the door on the far side, but they prefer to be inside, wallowing in the mire.

Here's the barn.  The teenager cows live in the second level, which slopes down to the ground on the far side.

Lyn's garden is amazing!  I have serious garden envy.  Even with the dismal weather we've had this summer, she has a jungle of a garden.  Fourteen huge rhubarb plants, tons of kale, chard, green beans, tomatoes, zuchinni...incredible!  She gave us lots to take home. 

We were only able to stay a few hours since the girls had a young women's activity to get home to (kayaking...yeah, they're getting hooked!) but I had a great time seeing Lyn and her kids in their element.  Next time we'll stay longer!