We met some friends for a field trip to Middleton Place Plantation last week.  This is my favorite Charleston plantation.....I want to just go and walk and walk.  It's the most beautiful place! 

Gameboy and Barngirl posing with swans in the background:

 

 

First order of business, help milk the cow, Rio:

 

 

 

 

 

Next, visit the pigs:

 

 

Okay, now that we've covered some of the livestock, let's go visit the cooper:

 

We love the cooper.  He's always so complimentary of homeschoolers.  Here he discusses 18th century carpentry and coopering.

The main crop in Charleston when Middleton was a working plantation was rice, brought by the African slaves.  He showed us why barrels for rice were made differently than barrels for liquids.  Then we got to see the rice in its dry, unhulled form, then hulled, then with the bran removed.  What a process!

 

Getting a turn at the wheel....used for "turning" wood for table legs, etc.

I didn't take any pictures of the rice.  You've seen rice, right?

Now, let's explore Middleton Place!

 

 

 

 

Just over this is are the "butterfly lakes," where the kids can run up and down the terraced lawn.

 

Which they did!

 

How beautiful is that?

 

Here's what it looked like from the helicopter ride we took:

 

Just kidding - we didn't get a helicopter ride...this is a picture I swiped from their website.  Psyche!

Regardless, is that not breathtaking?

On another area of the property, there are rows and rows of camellia bushes. 

 Here's Gameboy posing on a stump:

 

Now under one of the trees:

My beautifuly Barngirl.........with her stick.

 

Almost ready to head out for lunch.....hey, where's Waldo?

 

Ah, there he is!

 

Okay, I think I'm getting the hang of the new method to get pictures in the blog....thanks Picasa!  More to come!