Earlier this year, I was invited to participate in a very unique school project. The Third Grade Class of an Elementary in Benicia California read a story about 'Flat Stanley' and wanted to re-enact the story themselves. Stanley had cousins who lived on a farm, and one summer, when he couldn't visit them in person, he mailed a cut-out version of himself to visit them instead. The farm folk made up a diary of the things 'Flat' Stanley did while there.

The teacher, Diann Danska, helped each student create a flat image of themselves, and made up packets to mail out to the farms that were selected. How excited we were to receive 'Flat' Lauren in the mail in October!

Before I send 'Flat Lauren' back home, I wanted to share some of her adventures while visiting with the animals and doing some chores on our farm. There are quite a few photos on this page, please wait while they load up for you.

TLauren, above, and with her classmates the day they departed for their farm projects.

Here we are, hauling and stacking hay for the goats and llamas. It had been raining and we had to hurry before the hay got wet!

 

 

Lauren is shown here giving carrot slices to the llamas! The wind was blowing and the llamas weren't too sure about the 'stranger', but they'll do anything for a carrot. Lauren just finished helping in the pens, and still has her garden hoe handy.

 

John and Lauren at his jobsite! John is an electrician for major industrial facilities. You can't see it, but Lauren has her hard hat just above her head, as required. (Neither she nor I knew exactly what we were seeing, but we certainly were impressed!)

 

 

This photo isn't very good, but I wanted you to see Lauren was very helpful while she was here! She's on a ladder, holding a pipe for John while he works on the greenhouse project.

 

 

 

On my way to work every day, I drive passed a lot of undeveloped land. Lauren rode with me the day this picture was taken; right after the Navasota River flooded. These lowlands are home to deer and wild hogs, besides armadillos, skunks, and other small animals. We have to be very careful when driving this road in the dark every morning now that the forest and fields are underwater.

 

 

I have a few more rolls to get developed, and one I discovered I missed when I sent the other rolls in to the film laboratory. (I hope it's the photos of Lauren milking Althea!)