Meanwhile Back on the Farm....

Welcome to Oxon Hill Farm or as we refer to it, the weirdest, most desolate farm in the National Park System.

It started out sweet - a long winding road with authentic farm fencing and antique tractors lining the path....

...and then, out of nowhere, this very bright young man POPPED out of a small barn and introduced himself as "Junior Park Ranger Josh" and invited us to come inside the barn and milk a cow. Josh must love being a junior park ranger because it was a HIGH PRESSURE sales pitch. He told the kids (ages 2.5-5) that it is a "once in a lifetime opportunity" and it's "just like squeezing a capri-sun." Seriously, he said that. Anyway, the kids didn't want anything to do with it (much like you would shy away from a used car salesman) and so I tried it out just to warm them up to the idea.

This is my look that means, "wow, Josh, this is NOTHING like squeezing a capri-sun!"

Many abandoned buildings later, we found this little number. A picnic "ramada" of sorts. Six picnic tables and posters that ranged from "the life cycle of a frog..."

to the more inspirational: "First Think, Second Believe, Third Dream, Lastly Dare."

and while your little munchkins are sitting having their picnic lunch and dreaming about being more daring (!)....

... you should keep in mind that they are sitting under THIS:

Seriously.

Hanging in the rafters tied together with a rope, circa 1843.

Then there was this guy:

A turkey with chest hair.

And right after you saw these sweet pigs minding their own business, playing in the mud....

... you were treated to this:

Aaaah, the visitor center. It actually had a great hands-on kids section where they could touch real snake skins, turtle shells, and various furry wildlife. Unfortunately the whole kid's "corner" truly was just a corner so our kids mostly just ended up touching each other.

There wasn't so much somebody here at this desk to help us....

But luckily THIS guy was there to answer any questions.

One bright, bright, shining spot to the weirdest farm ever was that James finally got to see his MOST FAVORITE BUG EVER - the praying mantis. He was just walking along the path - perhaps on his way to take advantage of a "once in a lifetime opportunity."