If you’re planning to have your wedding in the countryside, you’ll probably want to stick with the rustic, country theme, too. Whether you want a wedding fit for a cowboy or want to plan a more sophisticated day, there are plenty of directions to take when preparing for a countryside wedding.
Planning
• Send out vintage-looking, letterpress-style invites. You can either have modern invites printed to look like this style or find a printer who actually uses a real letterpress.
• Stick with the country theme and plan a menu with good ol’ home cooking. Include fresh veggies, BBQ dishes, baked beans, potato salad and fresh lemonade on the menu.
• If you’re going to hire a band instead of a DJ, find one that knows a few country songs. You may not want all of the music to be country, but to set the mood, a few country songs mixed in here and there will do the trick.
Location
• One of the biggest choices to make when planning a wedding is location. If you’re having your wedding in the countryside, there are several beautiful options to choose from.
• If you opt for an outdoor location, choose one that has the option of holding the wedding inside in case of inclement weather. The last thing you want is to have to cancel your big day because of a rainstorm.
• Hold the ceremony and reception in an old, charming barn. Pick a clean one that looks sturdy and solid. Decorate with white, twinkling lights. Designate an area as the dance floor. Set up tables and chairs on either side of the barn. You can make a makeshift aisle by lining either side with flowers, lanterns or candles.
• You can also have your wedding on the property of a big manor or in a park.
• Set up a bonfire for the evening. This is a great way to continue the party even after the reception’s over.
Decor
• If you’re having your wedding outside, you won’t need nearly as many decorations as if you were having it inside. The natural surroundings will make up a good portion of the wedding decor.
• Scour vintage shops and antique stores for unique decorations, bridal accessories and cake toppers.
• Country color schemes include muted colors, cornflower blue and bright yellow.
• You’ll want to also make sure your bridesmaid match the decor color too such as getting them blue bridesmaid dresses.
• Decorate with country flowers, like daises, wildflowers and sunflowers. You can use these flowers in the bridal bouquets as well.
Tags: country side weddings, outdoor wedding, wedding locations
There are many reasons why visiting a farm as a vacation can be one of the best vacations to take. Read on and find out why taking a trip to a farm can be a great vacation.
One of the best reasons to visit a farm as a vacation is the animals that a person can experience while there. Huge farms will have all types of farm animals and some farms will even have animals that are hard to find anywhere, such as giraffes and zebras. Common farm animals such as cows and pigs will be found on almost every single farm. A person could probably feed a lot of the animals located on the farm. People can also learn about the different types of animals that live on the farm too. Families with kids should bring them to a farm because they will love feeding and learning about the different types of farm animals.
A lot of farmers grow many different types of crops. People can visit a farm and maybe take a tour with a farmer. The farmer could take people on a tour and show them how they plant crops and grow crops. Some people may also get the chance to help and plant some of the crops. Kids will love learning how crops are grown. A lot of people are also allowed to sample some of the food that is grown on a farm while they are visiting the farm. Many farms even have a section of the farm where homemade desserts are made and eaten by visitors.
People who visits a farm as a vacation can also learn how milk is made and even get up close and personal with some of the cows on the farm. Some farmers may even teach visitors how to milk a cow, which is a fun experience that anybody will enjoy. Not only can people learn how to milk cows but they may also be able to get a ride on a tractor, or even a hayride.
These are just some of the reasons why a trip to a farm makes for a great vacation. Anyway, when you’re done with a trip, don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs! Post cards would be a great idea. You could have the kids write in them and send them off to their grand parents. There are many other reasons. A person or a family who wants to take a unique vacation, should definitely take a trip to a farm. because it is a unique experience and a lot of farmers are more than happy to show guests around their farms.
Tags: farm vacations
Teaching your kids how to ride a horse is easy as long as you know what you are doing. Children love animals and learning to ride a horse is something that they will surely enjoy. It is also a great way to bond with your children and teach them a recreational activity that they can do throughout their life. Whether you are from the city or the country riding a horse is a fun activity for the whole family. Here is how to teach your child to ride a horse.
1. Retrieve the horse.
Depending on where you are, teaching your child you may have to lead the horse out of the pasture or stall on your own. Sit your child in another area while getting the horse because at times the horse can get scared and their reaction may scare the child.
2. Place horse in grooming area.
This is the time when your child can become more accustomed to the horse. Have your child approach the horse calmly and quietly. Teach them to brush the horse and advise them to remain calm and quiet while doing so.
3. Teach child how to tack the horse and lead it to mounting block.
4. Teach child to mount the horse.
Have them step up on the mounting block and remind him/her to check the girth before getting on the horse. This is a very important part of teaching a child how to ride a horse so be sure that they understand that this has to be done every single time they ride. Then help them onto the saddle and advise them to sit easily on the horse.
5. Adjust the stirrups and lead horse away from mounting block.
6. Lead horse and child into riding area.
At this time, your child can ride the horse in circles. Remain by your child’s side to ensure that they are safe. At this time, they can get used to the movement of the horse as well as become more comfortable with being on a horse.
7. Take things slowly and make sure that your child is relaxed.
The first lesson should be simple. Gaits can be taught if the child is ready but they can be covered in other lessons as well.
Overall, teaching your child to ride a horse is a fun and easy process. It is all about giving them the skills they need in order to ride one and allowing them to learn at their own pace.
Computers and smart technology appear to be taking over the world. It’s hard to look anywhere and not see someone on a smart phone, tablet PC or a laptop. The world of social media and virtual technology is booming. It really seems like an impossible mission to raise kids on a barn. Surprising, it’s not as bad as most children think. It is only when they experience it firsthand, however, that they appreciate that is done on a barn.
The first difference is schooling. Often times on a Farm it is hard to get the proper schooling in for your child due to the fact that schools often are very far from home. If this is the situation for your child, you may want to think about finding a proper tutor for the toddler. To check out if there are any tutors around your area, visit Tutorspree.com.
The average child may have some idea of the different food groups and where lots of food comes from, but the barn life clears any misconceptions up real fast. Kids that live on a barn get to see all the exciting things that are produced there. The ability to see farm animals run around in this environment can be quite entertaining and enjoyable.
One wonderfully positive advantage is that there is always more exercise for children that live this way. These kids will take a lot more interest in being outside because they are naturally curious. It will be impossible for a child to live in a home surrounded by animals and not wonder about any of them. Their curiosity will force them to go outside. It will give them a chance to become more active and kill the myth of the childlike couch potato.
It will also help them to become more in tune with natural. A break from the world of video games and viral internet videos is important. Kids need to be able to adapt to an environment that is composed of more than electronics. Raising children on a barn can be a wonderful learning experience. They may encounter someone that works with animals or agriculture and decide to follow in their footsteps. The world is always in need of more farmers and people that are willing to dedicate their time to the outside world. Everyone can’t be a computer programmer, lawyer or doctor. Raising kids in this environment may stir an interest that can lead to future farmers of America.
The greatest part about all of this is that it builds work ethic. A child in a work environment will be more likely to work diligently without being forced. This will make them better workers in the home for things like chores. They will also be strong in the adult work force when they come of age.
How to get barnyard smells off your body is no joke. Those who care for animals understand that barnyard odor can sometimes get pretty nasty. Mucking stalls and pens for cows, horses, pigs and other types of animals all carry odor. There is no way to clean stalls and pens and not just plain stink. It is a hard odor to get off of your clothes and your body. Sure people become used to it and don’t smell it as much as others do. If you are a person who does not work in a barnyard you will smell it terribly. This is why it is important to know how to get rid of the smell.
First of all the clothes have to go. If you have a cellar or an outside facility to remove your clothing then that is what you should do. The clothes need to be put directly into a washing machine and use a good soap to remove the odor. Leave your work shoes, jackets, hats and gloves where you change. Make sure all is cleaned periodically. The best pair of shoes to wear are rubber coated if you are cleaning stalls. This way you can hose them off everyday. Now that you have gotten rid of the outer clothing let’s get down to the skin cleaning. Cleaning the skin is just as important as cleaning your clothes thoroughly. It is better to shower so that you can wash your hair well. Remember that barnyard odor sticks to everything. A soft brush or scrubby is recommended for scrubbing your skin with some regular good soap. Rinse very well for a few minutes. Once you have washed every part of your body you can now dry off. Apply skin cream to refresh yourself and moisturize the skin from the weather and feel good that you have completed your mission.
Now that you have gotten rid of the barnyard smell and are confident, you can sit at the dinner table and enjoy the rest of your day. Along with the smell and the work getting rid of it, comes a certain satisfaction of barnyard work. Only those that do it will understand what it means to be a caregiver to domestic animals. It’s a great life!