The Third Fair Tale

I promise. This will be the last fair post for a long time. 😊

 We went to another fair last weekend. It was a county fair, and I didn't want to go - too big, etc. But Ward and Wally were interested, so I went along to spend time with them. (If I didn't have encouragement, sometimes I wonder if I'd ever leave my house.) Anyway, I went and had a good time despite my reservations. The weather was good, and although many people were there, they were all in a good mood. Despite the warm temperatures and crowds, I didn't see one person get upset. People-watching was fun -- especially the people on the carnival rides. I think half of the fun of a carnival is the squealing that people do. :)

Below are pictures from the day. There are many of them, but you can scroll quickly through them if you want.

These were decorated pumpkins.

This felted owl was over 3 feet tall.

Notice the flies' bodies are wrenches.

Until next time...

Another Fair Tale

 Last time, I described our local community fair and how much I enjoyed it. As promised, here is an accounting of this year's fair. Even though I managed to go to the fair three times, I didn't see most events (or get pictures), so you'll only see a few things going on from my perspective. 

Some years, I have been crafty throughout the year, and I have things to enter. Some years, not. That was this year. So, when I looked around and saw nothing to enter, I got to work making a collage. I've been making a collage for the fair for the last few years. I used to enter photos, but that category has gotten really competitive since almost everyone has a good camera on their phone. I decided to focus on the art area even though I have no drawing or painting abilities. But I can cut and paste, so collages it's been. Some years, I've won a ribbon, and some years, I have not. And quite truthfully, some of my collages have not been very good.  

The collage in process. One of my self-imposed rules is that I can't buy anything to make my collage. This presents a challenge sometimes as I try to find the right things for it.

I asked Ward to help cut tape to put around the edges, and it got to be an involved process. The tape certainly didn't come off after all of this.

I titled my piece "Appalachian Sunrise" and was a little disappointed that it didn't get a ribbon. However, it couldn't hold a candle to the dragon collage that was the champion.

Look what I found the next day! The ribbon had been hiding behind it all along.

Meanwhile, Ward entered a few things in the woodworking area.
These were a set of pencil boxes made from maple, oak, and walnut.

In the novelty class, Ward entered a puzzle box made from paint stirrers. 

He also entered this puzzle box. It takes 12 steps to find the two hidden drawers inside. Ward didn't want to enter it because he thought it was too complicated to judge, even with instructions. However, he won a second and Special Kid's Choice Award. The local 4-H club picks their favorite for the class. I don't know if they figured out how to open it or just appreciated how complicated it was. BTW, I can't open it even with the instructions. 😀

I also entered 8 cut flowers from around the yard.
This zinnia and a rudbeckia got blue ribbons.

Our entries were rounded out with some basil and wax beans. Both got red ribbons.

Here are a few more photos in the entry hall.

Ice cream-making contest. 

Well, there you have it. My version of this year's fair.

Until next time...

A Fair Tale

 Kris commented on my last post that it was nice that my community fair was open to everyone. Well, that's the first thing that attracted me to it. 

My first ribbon

The little town I grew up in had a big festival every fall. It was big enough that we got out of school a day for it. It had a carnival, parades, food, music, and a band festival. Along with those were exhibits of things people made and won ribbons for. They were standard country fair-type things with big pumpkins, baked goods, quilting, etc. However, the only kids who could enter things were those in 4-H. That wasn't me. I was a Girl Scout. I was always envious of my friends who got to enter their projects at the festival for all to see.

Jump ahead 30 years, when we moved to Maryland, I discovered that our community had a fair every fall, and everyone was allowed to enter. I was excited about the possibilities and the fact that I would finally realize a childhood dream. That year, I entered a cross-stitch piece and got a blue ribbon. I was hooked. 

The exhibit hall

As time passed, I realized that the fair organizers encouraged you to enter as many things as you wanted, even giving prizes for the most entries for various ages. So I started entering more things, not worrying much about whether they were winners. It was a way to support the organization. The fair was also generous with ribbons; you would probably get one if you entered more than a few things. The rewards for winning a ribbon are just a token, with currently, a first-place ribbon winning $2. We usually take our winnings and go out for ice cream after we pick up our entries.

Lucky and Lucy won ribbons for Best Groomed
and Sweetest Face, among other things.

When the kids were younger, they entered things, too. They entered art projects from school, something they built at home or in scouts. One year, they did the pet show with our cats, Lucky and Lucy. Ward has entered some of his woodworking projects, and we all took turns entering vegetables from the garden and flowers from the yard. I don't remember everything I've entered, but some entries have been flowers, veggies, photos, jewelry, knitting, cross-stitch, cookies, and canning. 

Black Walnuts from our backyard that Theo entered.

I have a tradition, of sorts, with the fair. Entries are accepted Thursday night and then open to the public on Friday afternoon after the judging is finished. I meet one of my sisters Friday afternoon, and we have a hotdog lunch from the fire department auxiliary group. They grill the hot dogs outside, and you get to pick the one you want from the grill. You used to be able to get a hot dog, potato chips, and a drink for $2.50. Well, inflation has hit here as well, and now the price has doubled- which is still cheaper than any fast food around (and it's for a good cause). Then we go inside to see if we won any ribbons. I not only get excited when I see one of my things with a ribbon on it, but I also get excited when I see that someone who I stood with in the entry line has one, too. 

The tractor playground is always a hit with the younger crowd.

The fair is definitely a feel-good experience for me and reminds me of the small town I grew up in. (Although my town's festival was larger than this fair.) For the last two years, I have even done storytimes about our fair, talking about things the kids would see there. Some people were unaware of the fair and have come back and told me how much they enjoyed the fair after learning about it during storytime.

Next time, I'll tell you about this year's experience at the fair.

Until then...

Hello, Again!

Time has gotten away from me. I'm unsure where it has gone, but it's been a few weeks since I've checked in here. Let me see what I can remember.

--We have been busy helping my FIL, who had heart surgery. We are very thankful that the surgery went well.

--There is more to our car saga. You may remember that we got a new car last January. After owning it for only a couple of weeks, someone ran into it and totaled it. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it took four months to get a new car and resolve all the paperwork. However, a month ago, the new car started to make a knocking sound, so we took it to the dealer. Thankfully, they heard the sound but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. After a week and consults with Honda headquarters, they still couldn't figure it out. We picked up the car and took it back yesterday when a specialist was flying in to look at it. Unfortunately, he was called away due to an emergency, so we have to take it back again next week. 

In the meantime, we got a big crack in our windshield, and the whole windshield has to be replaced. It is an expensive job because there's a camera in it. (These new-fangled cars. 😕) We are very thankful that we have more than one car during these times.

There are so many interesting things to see at the fair. This was a child's entry.

--Yesterday was the first day of our community fair. We participate in it almost every year, and this year was no exception. Ward and I both entered things and won a few ribbons. I love this fair. It's free, family-friendly, and really brings the community together. I am very thankful for all the volunteers' hard work in bringing this event together.

--About a month ago, a big apple tree came down during a storm. Yesterday, a tree guy came and processed the whole thing. With the proper equipment, the job went about 100 times faster than if we had done it ourselves. I am very thankful that we had the money to pay for this service, and when it was time to pay the bill, he charged us $100 less than he quoted.

--That's about all the time I have for catch-up this morning. I have to work all weekend and should start getting ready. I am not thrilled about the schedule, but I am very thankful that I get to work with people I like—both customers and coworkers.

Until next time...