end of summer bonfire

There have been summers when I have missed going to the beach to watch a sunset or enjoy one last daytrip as a family. It isn't a mental list that I check off for the summer, just a feeling that I have missed an opportunity that won't come along again for a whole year. It's kind of like it won't feel like a complete summer without it. This weekend felt like an experience that just added to our overall summer. I might not have felt like it was missing, but it certainly added to our memories of a wonderful summer. We visited Andrew's brother and sister-in-law and got the opportunity to join their spiritual community for their end of summer bonfire. We arrived at a friend's farm and travelled through the neat rows of grapes to the bonfire site. Some of us walked, while others got a ride on the tractor.

The weather had been beautiful all day despite earlier reports of rain all day. When we walked out to the bonfire, a dark cloud sprinkled down rain, but quickly moved past us.

We arrived at a circle of trees with a campfire blazing in the centre. People started roasting hot dogs and the kids enjoyed the swing and tire swing.

Andrew took Jesse on a swing ride.

After his hot dog supper, Jesse was quick to find the tiny sandbox and tractors. Here is pointing out the moon to Oma. Before we arrived we told Jesse that we were visiting a farm with chickens. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any chickens. The best he got were the farm dogs and a few barn cats.

After supper we had a hay ride into the forest and between the grape plants. I love this shot of Abigail and Selah with the sun setting behind them.

Aunt Heidi was teaching Jesse how to be a real farmer with a piece of straw between his teeth. This was a tricky shot to get as we were travelling on the tractor over bumpy ground.

Before we left there was time to roast a few marshmallows and for Abigail to have one last swing. We left just as the sun disappeared behind the horizon.