Orlando meets Anna

Today there were just two.

Orlando came along for his first day at the farm with us ... though he knows the farm well as he has been coming along to visit with mum for some time now.

Anna came back to start a new year and it was the sweetest and gentlest of starts to thursdays.  

Orlando and Anna meeting and getting to know each other.

I had some surplus apples from a friends tree and we started the day together taking some of them to feed the horses.   This was a big hit, especially when Mickey the donkey joined in and took his apple bite by bite ... very delicate and polite next to the horses chomping with great gusto.

Next stop was the barn as Heather the cow was soon to arrive for milking.  Both children were really excited about doing this and happy to have Anita's guiding hand near by.

Orlando's turn

Anna's turn

Orlando announced at the end, 'I can't do it.'  To which I replied, 'Yes you can Orlando, you did a great job.'  To which he then said, 'But I got it on the floor.'

I suddenly got a sense of him really caring about learning to do things well and that he'd really applied himself with the cow milking only to discover he couldn't quite get it in the bucket.   Quite a quality in a young man.

We talked about lots of other things we could do and a picnic sounded good until Anna piped up with, 'No, I don't want a picnic, I want to do some eggs.'

Great that she felt she could change her mind and have her difference ... best of all was that Orlando thought this was a great idea to and Anna found one egg in the chicken house to collect.

The children were quietly taking each other in and Orlando was reaching out to make conversation with Anna the whole time which was so lovely to see.   He just seemed immediately comfortable and safe with us.

A wander down the back ...

Past the windmill

Following a peacock

... and we soon ended up in 'The Witches Garden'  ... and first thing on the menu was ... well ... the menu ... it was picnic time.

Both children were really comfortable in each others company and Orlando kept reaching towards Anna for conversation ...

"When's you're birthday?"

"Well do you know my favourite colour?"

"It's yellow."

It was like he was reaching inside to find all the things that really mattered to find out and share when you are getting to know a new friend.

It melted Anna's reserve ... she warmed up with him and they began to chat and laugh and share things they had to eat with each other ... asking with so politely and caring to say thank you.  Very gorgeous between them.

A little magpie lark came to visit.   Very close to us all it came ... looking  for tidbits and Orlando had a very up close interaction with it which was pretty special for him and also for Anna and I to see.

Laying some crumbs to as temptation.

Coming in for a flutter

Then off for a moment before back for more.

Meanwhile, Anna was now really warmed up for things and once she'd eaten, there was no stopping her.   She bounced up in total delight to entice Orlando to come and play and explore ... which he did.  Together they had the loveliest of times.

Orlando soon got involved feeding the goats and Anna met a new little friend Ella who was more than happy to have her face painted by Anna ... in exchange for painting Anna's face too.

'What colour would you like?'

'Green.'

'OK, I'll get some.'

'Here, I'll put it on now.'

Once time for Ella to go had come, Orlando had finished with the goats and it was back to Orlando and Anna ... already feeling like there was a lot of warmth and very good feeling between these too.

Such a lovely start to thursdays ...