Harvest Days

Every year the Nashville Zoo holds a Harvest Festival around the last weekend in September. We got a zoo membership for Paul and I when we moved to Nashville, so we planned to bring Dad along at least once before we moved. This was his first visit and we had fun showing him around a bit.

The festival was held in and around the Croft Home, an old homestead from the 1800s. They keep the house inside looking authentic and it was really neat to walk through.

We came upon the blacksmith -- which we had been looking forward to seeing most -- right as he was starting to cool the coal. To our surprise, he ended up fanning the flames up just for us, although many others collected around us to watch.

As he worked his metal, he explained what he was doing and gave a history of the art of blacksmithing. (Obviously I did not take notes and can not do it justice here!) But it was fascinating. He credited us with getting him to do one more demonstration (there was a crowd of about 15-20) and mostly looked to us when he was explaining.

Paul was definitely interested.

He finally revealed the product -- a hook with a decorative twist and a nail at the end for easy installation.

Once he was done, he brought the piece over to me and talked about how when he was about Paul's age his parents took him to see a blacksmith who gave him a little horseshoe he had made as a demonstration. When he saw Paul, he said, he wanted to do something similar for him. He gave Paul the hook. It made the whole trip worth it.

Paul holding his prize!

Checking out the clydesdale horses. I didn't know horses could be so big!

In front of the Croft Home.

There was a table set up with a bunch of different instruments. Paul enjoyed trying them out and I enjoyed picking up a violin again after many, many years.

After seeing all the festival had to offer, including sampling fresh-pressed apple juice, we went to the main part of the zoo called Jungle Loop to see the animals. We had hoped Michael would be able to pet one of the kangaroos, but I think they were peopled-out and steered clear of the sidewalks. (If they are not on the sidewalks, you can't touch them.) Dad did take Paul for a ride on the train, which he loves! We can't go to the zoo without riding it.

Paul was snacking on some popcorn while riding Daddy's shoulders and asked Dad if he wanted some (he is very good at sharing). Dad said yes and Paul had a good time helping him out! I thought it was so cute and I had to document it.