Denton FarmPark

Newsletter

Volume 2 / April 2023

LAST MONTH…

We went through the General store rearranging and adding a few things so make sure you all stop in and take a look around.

had the Carolina Antique Pickers Festival the last two days of March and the Last day of the event is the 1st of April.

We hope everyone has a Happy Easter!

Recipe of the month:

Creamy Lemon Squares

Ingredients

Crust:

-4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for pan

-1½ cups (about 24 squares) graham-cracker crumbs

-¼ cup sugar

Filling:

-2 large egg yolks

-1 can (14-ounces) sweetened condensed milk

-½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)

Directions

-Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush an 8-inch square baking dish with melted butter.

-Line the bottom with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides.

-In a food processor, finely grind the graham crackers.

-Add in the sugar and butter and blend to mix.

-Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish and 1 inch up the sides of.

-Bake until lightly browned, 8 to 12 minutes. Cool crust for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the filling.

-In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and condensed milk.

-Add lemon juice; whisk until smooth. Pour filling into cooled crust; carefully spread out to the edges.

-Bake until set, about 15 minutes.

Cool in the pan on a wire rack then chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

the proceeds will go to the repair of our 1942 50 Ton Class BSI Porter Steam Locomotive – AKA #9.

What to expect this month

Hello April!

We are off to a Great start this month!

The Carolina Pickers Festival will have its last day on the first of this month from 8am-5pm and is an event you shouldn't miss!

Its fun for the entire family, Enjoy hundreds of antique vendors, live music, train rides, cars, a live auction with Hathcock Auction, wood carving shows, golf cart rentals, various food vendor’s and MORE!

Another update is about the General Store. We finished reorganizing, So when you come to the park make sure you go inside to see how it looks... and what goodies we have added just for you!

Another event this month is the Military event!

The Military Vehicle & Gun Collector’s Show will be at the Denton FarmPark! April 22 & 23, 2023

Come see Military Tanks, motorcycles, jeeps, trucks, & amphibious vehicles that will all be on display for visitors! Explore the swap meet and gun show areas, participate in daily events such as convoy rides and shoot a machine gun, take a train ride on the Handy Dandy, and be sure to experience a Huey or Cobra helicopter ride!

Those who bring a Military vehicle will have the opportunity to display a card in the windshield for the chance to win Best in Show!

The Denton FarmPark will be operating the Handy Dandy Railroad for families to enjoy and we will have Laramies Cakery open in the gingerbread house for all to enjoy freshly baked goods!

Something Exciting

Choo-Choo!!

Howdy y’all, the RailRoad has some exciting Information!

During the Military event on April 23 and 24th we are allowing adults to Drive the train!

Denton FarmParks At the Throttle Experience

Take the reins of the “Iron Horse”! “At the Throttle” is coming to the Handy Dandy Railroad. The program is a unique opportunity for railfans to live their dream of running a diesel locomotive.

No previous locomotive experience is required. A qualified engineer will be in the cab at all time. Participants will enjoy going around the park operating the engine (including safety orientation). This experience will be $225.00 for 30 minutes as an engineer and the proceeds will go to the repair of our 1942 50 Ton Class BSI Porter Steam Locomotive – AKA #9.

For this session

You will first spend 15-20 minutes observing and learning how to operate one of our diesel locomotives and review the safety procedures from our engineer. You will then spend 30 minutes at the throttle of the locomotive on the Handy Dandy railway, under the supervision of your engineer.

Additional family members and friends may ride in the caboose for $10 per person.

-Participants wishing to have their picture made should bring a camera. Friends or family or a member of the crew can take a photo of each “At the Throttle” participant and will be given a free railroad hat to remember the experience!

Participants must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license. Clothing appropriate to a working rail yard should be worn.

· Gloves (optional)

· long pants

· long sleeve shirts (optional)

· closed toe shoes (are required)

You will also need to be physically able to climb up to and enter the locomotive cab, and able to operate the locomotive controls. Please arrive at the Depot, 15 minutes prior your time slot. Safety glasses and ear protection are recommended. Release forms are required. Please bring cash for payment. Please print and bring the release form with you.

Recap: For $225 you get to

· Operate a train for 30 minutes around the park.

· Get a free Railroad hat.

· Take pictures.

· Free admission to the event for the rest of the day.

NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. EVENT OPERATES RAIN OR SHINE. PLEASE LIST PARTICIPANT'S NAME IN THE TICKET HOLDER FIELD AT CHECKOUT.

"Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind."

Puzzles

“ your a-maze-ing!”

What was the Easter Bunny’s favorite vegetable?

EGG-plant.

This month we asked The Denton Orators very own, Kelly Bledsoe to write our newsletter article. As you know Christina Frost had her baby and was not sure if she would be able to write again soon.

Happily, Christina submitted her article last minute and will be after Kellys.

So please enjoy and Happy Easter!

Easter Memories “Aggie and Saggie”

By: Kelly Bledsoe

Kellybledsoe1986@gmail.com

Easter was my mom’s favorite holiday. She loved it because Easter was not about elaborate

decorations, presents, or feasts…it was about hope. How can you not be hopeful when everything around during the Easter season is coming back to life. Dormant trees and flowers are bursting with color everywhere you look. Wildlife wakes up nurturing babies and the circle of life continues.

Growing up my older sister and I looked forward to this holiday because it was the one holiday where we didn’t travel. Easter morning we could wake up slow, discover our Easter baskets lined with treats and enjoy a simple Easter egg hunt…which oftentimes lasted all day. My dad was notorious for finding extremely difficult hiding spots and surprising us with something unexpected once in a while.

I remember one year we searched for hours. Dad kept telling us there were two eggs left. Determined to find these two missing eggs my sister and I continued scowering the house and yard. We listened as mom and dad shouted out, “You’re getting hot or cold.”

All of a sudden, my older sister let out a squeal of delight, she had found the two eggs. However, these were not ordinary eggs. In fact they were extraordinary…and coming to life right before our eyes.

Tucked underneath the back shrubs we watched as two tiny beaks pecked and prodded their way out of the fragile egg shells. Mesmerized, watching this emergence of life happening before our eyes my sister and I fell silent witnessing this miracle.

I remember my dad explaining how these two baby ducks were now our responsibility. Their life was entrusted to us and we took the responsibility very seriously. The first job was to name our “babies.” I was studying Lewis and Clark in school and decide to name my duck Sacagawea. My sister really liked her Sunday school teacher, Sister Agatha, so she named her duck Agatha. “Saggie and Aggie” for short.

Mom and dad made sure we had everything we needed to nurture these baby ducks to adulthood. We had the incubator, and the eye droppers to feed them at first. As they got bigger, we had a fenced in area for them to explore complete with feed and plastic swimming pool.

Each week we watched as they matured. Gratified and proud of our accomplishments. This simple gift taught me and my sister many life lessons. As Easter approaches each year I think about Aggie and Saggie and the hope those ducks provided me and my sister.

We live in a day and age when hope seems to be missing from every-day life. People search and search for it in things like new jobs, new relationships, new homes and sometimes something as simple as a new pair of shoes. Jobs come and go, relationships can fail, homes get outgrown and shoes get worn. But true hope comes from something much more powerful.

Sometimes hope is just a memory away…

I couldn't work out how to fix the washing machine,

so I threw in the towel.

Springtime Joy

By: Christina Frost

The Frost family has officially welcomed our precious daughter into the family! She is soft and snuggly and excellent at letting us know she is hungry. We are over the moon excited to have her in our lives now.

It’s funny because her arrival reminds me so much of fields in springtime.

The fields we drive past every day are the constants in our days–work, sleep, hobbies, entertainment, time with family and friends…these are the fields of our life.

But when a baby is born, the fields are suddenly covered in a rainbow array of wildflowers. Everywhere you look, you find yourself marveling at the magical display of yellows, pinks, reds, violets, and white all set against a majestic backdrop of green.

The world feels more beautiful now. It reminds us that hope can still fuel our dreams and there’s always a chance to fall in love with someone new. That’s what having a baby feels like…

And yes, there’s a plethora of pollen and the occasional storm that stirs up in the spring–just like the sleepless nights and piercing baby cries causes disruption amidst all the change.

Yet, all the loveliness of new life seems to outweigh the hardships.

What sorts of things do you look forward to as winter draws to a close and spring starts her chapter? There’s so much to look forward to–baby lambs, Easter egg hunts, eating out on porches again, flying kites, or hitting up local festivals as they pop up.

There’s just something about the temperature of the air shifting and changing that lets us relax and take deep breaths and enjoy the blessings bestowed upon the earth.

So from our family to yours, may your springtime be filled with wonder, new growth, and many enchanting days ahead.