The Farmer in the Dell

A few years ago I had the opportunity to look through some boxes of discarded library books from a town a little ways away.  I was really excited, especially to find some oldies.  

I love old books.  I love farm picture books.  They are my favorite.  And I like things organized chronologically.  So I was really excited to find this 1931 The Farmer in the Dell picture book by Berta and Elmer Hader that is organized by seasons.

I gathered my children around me to read it.  The older ones have developed an appreciation of old books, and none of them ever pass up an opportunity to be read to.  I can just sit down on the couch and start reading out loud, and (most of the time) it is like a children magnet.

 We savored it as we read it, turning the pages carefully, thinking about the seasons, and the beauty of the farm life 100 years ago, and all the work and fun.

(it's a little finger-printy and smudged - which of course means that it has really been loved)

We have read it many times.  For a long time I have had it on a high shelf on my green hutch right by my front door.  I like to prop it open to whatever page applies to the season/holiday of that time.

For instance, Thanksgiving:

I sort of have a thing for this era as it is anyway.  When things were more wholesome all the way around.  And slower paced.  And daily living seemed more deliberate and intentional.

For the last couple of years, I've thought how fun it would be to live like this book for a year, in specifics.

We do in a lot of ways already.

And we do live in a dell.

dell- noun - a small, usually wooded valley; vale.

We are not so wooded though, but we do have a fair amount of trees around our home and the creek.

When 2014 turned into 2015, I thought, This is the year!

 The book starts with Spring, in March. 

Which is upon us now.

In January and February we planned and made a list of what we want to do in each season to follow the book.  Kate was my list writer.  

 My kids are excited about this just as much as I am.  Because it means animals, and food, and fun activities, and because

they

love

this

book

too!

Weston likes the idea, too, especially since he is the main character.

We are calling our little series

The RANCHER in the Dell.

I want to live it side by side.  So activity/holiday/farm chore in the book coupled with our life in the same thing.  

I'm calling it a Year in the Life Photography Project.

I sort of like projects like this.  :)

Many things are already under way for The Rancher in the Dell series, so stay tuned.