Oakview Park's Heritage Day

I thought I'd take a break today from my "Capture Your Grief" series and share about our outing to Historic Oak View County Park yesterday.  It was "Heritage Day" and there were a bunch of interesting things to see at this beautiful old farm.  Animals, antique cars, horse drawn wagon rides, vendors, bluegrass music, quilt auction, etc.  (The farmhouse was built in the 1800s and they farmed cotton.)

Hunter and Solomon loved the old Ford tractor.  Hunter liked to shift while Solomon steered:

Tabby was excited to see goats:

This might have been the first rabbit Solomon has seen:

We all like antique cars.  Tabby liked this one:

I've always liked these - reminds me of the mafia:

Antique tractors are a hit too:

One really neat thing we watched was a group of men put a car together, from parts, in under 7 minutes.  The parts were all cast off old car parts that they used to build a funny old looking car that actually ran!  Here is how they started:

 

When it was finished, a man drove it and then let people sit in it.  Solomon thought it was interesting but the steering wheel a bit hot:

Hunter studied the car from every angle and even asked questions:

Turn the crank to start it, Solomon!:

There is an education center near the farmhouse that is a really neat set up.  My favorite area is like a cabin with old kitchen.  The wooden piece here is an icebox:

 
There was even an antique pump vacuum cleaner in that room!  We have only seen one of those online.  (Hunter has loved vacuum's since he was a toddler.)

Solomon was happy to find cabinets to open and close (still his favorite activity):

Other outbuildings of the farmhouse included a kitchen, stable, and barns.  One big 2-story barn had cotton processing equipment in it.

Do you know what this is that Hunter is holding?

 

Answer:  Ford ignition coil.  We found it recently under our car hood and have no idea why it was lying loose under there.  (All the other coils seem to be in place.)  So Hunter asked for the part.  That is what he brought to Oakview and carried it all over the park.  Except at one point, he put it down and lost it.  He was so sad!  As we were leaving Frank suggested we check the lost and found, not thinking we'd actually find it.

But there it was.  Someone had actually turned it in!  The employees were shocked that someone actually came and claimed it!  They had no idea what it was and told each other it was the weirdest thing ever turned in and that there was no hope it's owner would come asking about it.  We all had a good, amazed, laugh.  Hunter thanked God and rejoiced!

The day had turned out pretty hot and it was good to take a bath that evening!

There - now do you feel like you've been to the park too?  That was a lot of pictures, I know.  Oakview is a fun place and the educational center has some neat learning activities for children.  You can see the park's website here.  (The park is located in Raleigh, N.C.)