Miss P and I started our morning with a quick trip to the fair to visit the baby pigs. I know you guys love the baby pigs, right?
Now, we are baking a chocolate pound cake because my little girl is 3000 days old today and we are having a party!!!
First Day of the Fair
Miss P and I enjoyed the first day of the local fair yesterday.It was all kicked off with a kids bike parade from downtown to the fairgrounds. The middle school band leads the way for all the kids and their decorated bikes.
Many of the kids get dressed up in costumes. This year there was even someone riding a unicycle.
It is fun because so many of the kids in town participate and they get to see their friends. The parade goes at a walking speed and can be a bit challenging for new bike riders so miss P chose to scooter in the parade this year.Some of the first events at the fair are a "trike pull" where the kids try to pull jugs of water in a milk crate tied to the back of a tricycle. There's a treasure hunt where you hunt for coins in a big pile of sawdust, and also the sack races.After the fun and games in the kids arena we went to check on our entries. P was thrilled that she won a blue ribbon on her geranium top. I guess those french seams paid off!
We did well with our entries. Everything we entered won a ribbon and all but one was blue! The kids hobby section can be very competitive.
I love looking at all the entries.
Next, we headed off to see the animals and use our ride tickets that P won from the kids activities! She is a big fan of the carousel so she has to do that every year. Last year she tried the big slide but wasn't quite heavy enough to make it down without stopping. She was pleased to have a fun ride down the slide this time.We always finish the evening with a ride on the Ferris wheel just as it is getting dark and the lights have come on.
The fair is a great event for our community and a wonderful way to start winding down our summer vacation.
On to Bigger Things
After finishing a few more smaller projects I am feeling a little more prepared for the craft show on December 4.
I feel like I can now calmly return to a larger project like finishing another quilt.
I put hundreds of pins in it last night. I will be quilting it on the machine but haven't decided about the design yet.
I don't want to put any quilting on the stars. I really want them to float above the background. Outlining each star would be very tedious but I kind of think it needs it. I would like a lot of quilting in the background but I don't want to do the old meandering thing either.
What are your quilting thoughts?
And isn't this backing fabric great? I had just enough for the back of this quilt!
The Best Ride EVER
It's fair week! I love our local fair. Really. I love almost everything about it.
I love that it is run by volunteers. I love the way it brings the whole community together. I love that it is right before school starts back up. I love that no matter which day you go you will see many of your friends. I love that you can go in the morning before the rides are working and just stroll around and watch the animals. I love that you can enter items for judging. I love that kids of any age can enter things. I love the friendly competition of the homemaker of the year.
We didn't enter anything from our garden this year. This is one of three tables of garden produce.
I didn't enter any canning this year either. There are more entries on the other side of this display.
I entered a bunch of quilts, knitting, and other needlework items. P entered some sewing and drawings. We did well with our entries and got a bunch of ribbons and prize money!In a way the fair is a bit like New Years. We make resolutions that next year we will enter more things. We will have flowers and enter them. We will try entering baked goods. I will try for homemaker of the year. But usually we are scrambling the day before the entries are due and trying to remember anything that we have made and can submit.
Yesterday was opening day for the fair. The fair starts with a kid parade from downtown to the fair grounds. The kids wear costumes and decorate their bikes. P walked with M and his girlfriend this year.
After the parade reaches the fairgrounds there are kid activities in the arena. There is a trike pull where the kids ride bikes loaded with milk crates filled with gallon jugs of water. There are also races. P participated in the sack race but did not want to do the three legged race. The kids all get ribbons and tickets for the rides.
When the boys were little we would all ride the Ferris wheel before heading home. P had her sights set on the carousel and could not be convinced to ride the Ferris wheel.
She rode the carousel horses twice. The second time was after dark! On the way home she told me that the horse ride was the best ride she has EVER ridden.
Thoughtful Sunday
"You will find that the conditions at a fair will surpass your wildest dreams."
Charlotte's Web, E. B. White, 1952
A Day at the Fair
I love fair week!
I like the community effort that goes into making it happen.
It is fun to see all of the entries and knowing so many of the people who made and grew things to enter.
I enjoy the festive colors.
I enjoy the animals and knowing many of the kids who raised them.
The variety of sights and activities is so different from what we experience the rest of the year.
I enjoy seeing people I have not seen during the summer.
I enjoy the activity that brings so many people together to support their community.
I love the fair but I am glad it is only one week in the year!
