Spontaneity can be a good thing A couple of days ago, Rob decided to enter some plant life in the Fair's second round of judging. He's never entered anything besides wine before...and this year a photo of me eating an elephant ear. But our friend's very recent success and excitement over her Blue Ribbon Fuchsia (YAY, Brenda!) inspired him. So this morning Rob entered a grape vine (Vine), a cluster of Riesling wine grapes (White Grape), and a bloom off of our hydrangea near the front porch (Hydrangea Red/Pink). With any luck, some day we will be able to kiddingly brag that we have award-winning wine made from award-winning grapes off an award-winning vine. We will just hope nobody asks exactly what the award was. A ribbon is a ribbon, right?
The hydrangea was something of a flyer. A spontaneous decision just for the heck of it. The plan was to enter a blue bloom but at the last minute this morning, Rob snipped a pretty purple one. "The color looked more consistent." We left the Fair before the Vine and Grape judging had taken place. But we did manage to snag this picture on our way out.
Friends with Fennel While dropping off the grape cluster in the Grange barn, we ran into some friends who had also decided somewhat last minute to enter some goodies from their garden. Rick's fennel was quite extraordinary. It brushed the roof of the barn as he tried to find a proper receptacle. As he maneuvered his ode to Jack's Beanstalk around the grange building, I asked his wife how they got the stalk to the Fair. I believe they have a Prius.
"We brought the truck. The truck to the Fair. It seemed appropriate but...all that gas! It was the only way to get it here in one piece, though." Bummer. I was really hoping for a story of the 15 foot fennel poking out through a sun roof at 25 mph on back roads through north county. Oh well. Bet he gets a blue ribbon!
A peek into how the other half lives The best...BEST...part about this morning's aggravatingly early alarm prompting us to arrive at the Fairgrounds an hour and half before the Fair was open for business was being there an hour and a half before the Fair was open for business. What a blast!!
There was all sorts of activity swirling about. Cars, trucks, and golf carts zipped around making deliveries and moving people with badges here and there. 4-H kids and parents toted gear around. A line-up of cows was getting washed and groomed. The Carnival was eerily quiet and provided some fun photo ops. Crews were sweeping and spraying down the Grandstands. The tables in the Food Court were scrubbed and tantalizingly empty. One food vendor over by the Dairy Women milkshake barn was open and serving breakfast. We sat there and enjoyed some pancakes and scrambled eggs (a Fair first!) while pretending to be a part of the behind-the-scenes scene of our fellow diners. The entire vibe was peaceful yet busy. Routine yet filled with anticipation. Quiet yet roaring with the imagined noise just a few hours away. Absolutely worth the alarm clock.
Cruisin' through the Fairgrounds Also with our pre-Fair arrival this morning came the best ride the Fair has to offer. Nope, not The Zipper at the Carnival. Not that huge sling shot thing with the air horn. Not the mechanical bull that gifted Rob with some "soft tissue damage" yesterday. The best ride at the Fair? Driving around it in your own car! WHAT A BLAST!!!
Because we needed to drop off an entry at the Grange barn, we were allowed to drive to it in the middle of the grounds. Granted, we were just dropping off a cluster of grapes that could fit in the palm of my hand...but the guy working the Yellow Gate didn't need to know that. Turn down an opportunity to cruise the Fairgrounds? Are you kidding??
I was like a little kid on one of those car animal safaris, looking out the window, pointing with excitement to all the things I was seeing, taking pictures of sights that included my dashboard and side mirror. Although we were driving along paths I have been walking daily for nearly the past week, it felt totally different in our car. I felt like an interloper in an exotic land. I felt like I was getting away with something, sneaking around, about to bump into an angry authority figure with a radio at any turn.
Although it wasn't a direct route by any stretch, I insisted that Rob drive down the Main Midway as we exited. I bounced in the seat and kept saying things like, "LOOK! There's the milkshake barn!!" as if I had never seen one in captivity before. Nearly twelve hours and a long nap later, I am still giddy with delight over our excursion today. We are so totally entering stuff in the second half of the Fair next year. And every year. Forever and ever. Weeeeee!!!!!
Prime of my life? Most days at the Fair have a theme or a sponsor of some such. Family Day. Kids Day. Military Day. Since they have never applied to me, they really don't register. Case in point: today was Prime of Your Life Day, a day aimed at folks 50 years old and older. Given my backache and lack of sleep last night, I felt like I was an honorary member today despite being shy a few years.
Always in search of free pens, I approached a welcome booth and ended up with a pen and a bag of brochures and goodies. I now have all sorts of info about a memory care center, a life and medical insurance broker, a local newspaper aimed at "the active 50-plus adventurer," a pension program for veterans and their spouses, hearing aid services, and a pet sitter. I also came home with three pens (score!), some chapstick (double score!), a plastic fan, and a thin magnifying card I can carry in my wallet. As I am starting to realize bifocals aren't too far away, this might come in handy. On our way to watch the Tai Chi demonstration, I stopped at a Humana Insurance booth and snagged a free pill cutter. WHOO HOO!! I usually snap my pain meds in half when I am away from home so having a second cutter in my purse is not a bad idea.
Wait. I wasn't supposed to be the target for this market. Dagnabit.
A little went a long way With only four hours at the Fair today and only one food vendor open for one of those hours, today's Fair Food Parade is a bit short. However, I did walk quite a bit given the short attendance. 2.32 miles this morning. Apparently I had a LOT to look at before the public arrived.
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| Scrambled eggs with ketchup and Tabasco. From the same place where I get my Soft Taco Supreme. Very good, with unintentional bits of bacon from the grill. Nice touch! |
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| MUCH better corn dog! This is from the booth without a name. "That red and yellow one at the north end." Yeah, that one. Good dog + good and ample batter = Happy Fair Food Junkie |
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| A pre-nap snack: Strawberry Rhubarb pie from the Church Ladies. Wonderfulness. |
1 comment:
I just read all of your blogs starting from Day 1 at the Fair. How fun! Your descriptions and photos made me feel like I was actually at the fair. The food looks so good, and I am thinking that I would like the Dairy Wives and Church Ladies pies. I actually would love all of it. The bird perched on Rob's head was a great shot, and I am wondering how the grape vine and hydrangea did in the contest. Again, fabulously written!
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