I knew I missed the morning recipe card distribution, but there was a very nice man in the information office, who, when I asked, offered me one of every card! Including today's!
Love this cow quilt too!
Liz had never been into the Annex, so we were heading in when I ran into this family! Sheryl & Scott were the witnesses to my first aid heroics the other day! They were at the fair five or six days, and this was the first actual encounter!
Their daughter Megan had posted earlier on Facebook, that if anyone found her at the fair they would get a prize. I won! Super delicious panda cookie from the dollar store! Lol.
I took Liz around for all the free samples, soup, wine slushie and the new iced tea vendor.
I love the signs, people would actually attempt to fill a cup? Funny.
I did warn her against the "dipping" places, even with a pretzel length, I would never dip into the sour cream or mayo dips, not only due to being room temperature, but you know there are double dippers. (The same people that fill their cups at the tea place!)
We got outside just as the parade was going by. It was fun to catch a glimpse of the Chinese dance school dragons!
We headed up to Fine Art because there was some things I had not seen. Lots of things, really, but Liz wanted me to see a pencil drawing that looks like a photograph.
As we were admiring it, I heard my name and turned to find a family that I used to care for, ages ago! Evan on the left is going into 6th grade and Henry is starting second grade. Henry was always one of my tallest kids! It was fun to the whole family!
The following are all just art pieces that struck me.
Photograph
Cow
Blanketed deer
Woodcut. Liz remembered doing that back in elementary school. Mine would never have made it to Fine Art!
Giraffe?
Birds on a box
Lost my marbles!
Trash vs treasure
Love this fish!
This is funny!
This piece was made by Tacoumba Aiken. He did an art residency at Linwood when Stella was little!
After fine art, I grabbed a foot long hot dog from the booth outside. This one restored my faith in foot longs. As I sat on a bench eating my lunch, I was joined by Kathy, who had earlier, been in the Admin building, and was possibly the first non employee to know the previous day's statistics. They were carefully recorded....using a post it note. LOL. Saturday, in fact, had set an all time record attendance. The fair was on pace to surpass the overall total record too.
As I finished up my lunch, I was greeted by this family, working hard to complete their game cards! Claire & brother Finn were both in Jackie's room upon a time, but we did lots of team teaching in those days.
Finn thinks I live at the fair. Little does he know my dreams!
Here is Kathy, helping out with little bean bag throwers!
Moms neighbors & friends the Mackey's stopped by! Bart was coerced into this photo op... By me. LOL
Another family stopped by (for the second time this year!) but little Annabelle was crashed out both times. "All Done" is a first baby sign language tool!
Her big brother Matthew was having fun tossing bean bags!
This guy. We had not worked together as often this year, as in years past. This would be my last shift, so I asked for a quick pic!
Tom was glad I was feeling and looking a little better than I had the last time he saw me (post hospital visit!) I hope to work with him again next year!
At one point in a busy photo booth, I looked down at the comments and I reviewed a compliment! Always nice to get those. I like the "no, we are not related" part!
The gang was working I acquiring seats for the Talent Show finals as Kathy and I finished our shift. We got word they were already seated in section F, rows 11-12. That meant Kathy & I had time to run for food and beverages. Kathy & I were moving fast, heading to margaritas and meat. I texted to see if anyone needed anything. Kathy suggested we should go get entrees before we tried to carry drinks, and that was an awesome idea. We zigged and zagged through the crowds. Kathy would call out from behind me as we serpentined to assure me she was still there! We got to the West End, Kathy picked up a maple bacon BLT from the Blue Barn, while I waited for Bang Bang chicken tenders and Bull Bites from Axel's We bagged up what we could and got a message that "Worlds Greatest" French Fries were requested. I messaged back if "Fresh" would do and, with an affirmative answer, we veered to the far left side of the booth outside the Midway and got a big bucket. Kathy expertly pumped ketchup and filled a ziplock bag (that I am always carrying) so with Kathy's hands full and my bags full, we headed for Cafe Caribe for margaritas! The lines were long and I asked for the large "beergarita" size (that Estella purchased Friday for $8.50). I was informed that I could get a large glass, which was two margaritas....so, not in a mood to argue and super thirsty...I paid $24 for two "double" large margaritas and off we went.
We climbed up the Grandstand ramp to get to our seats without stairs and Kathy was reminded as we passed the spectacle shoppe that she needed to get her free glasses cleaner. I was in a hurry to find our seats and lighten my load....and drink. So I discouraged her from stopping.
We got to our seats, and this was the food frenzy picture. Many hands helped! Kathy was a serpentining rock star. We made it from the northeast end to the west end and back, with food in less than 40 minutes. And it was ~crowded~!
Mom was off getting corn and a pork chop. I inhaled the bang bang chicken. They were really good. I might have shared a bite, but not much. I did have left over Bull bites that I shared. Cynthia liked the look of the margarita and (after drinking mine like a glass of water) I offered to run for a second round before showtime.
I passed by the spectacle shoppe, feeling badly I didn't let Kathy stop, requested a cleaning cloth, stuffed it I my pocket and ran down the ramp to the bar. This time, I made the mistake of going to a different bartender....because his line was shorter. I even thought twice about it, but time was of the essence. Sadly, he was not willing to put two in one cup and call it a "large". There is also a "two drink/I.D." policy, posted....so that might have contributed to his reluctance also. So, with only two small margaritas I returned just in time for the start of the show.
Small vs. large cups. I'm sure it was a better value to get them one at a time, but value was not important to me!
This crew watched a talent packed Show!
Liz joined us a but later.
We get a program printed in about a 9pt. font, that we are always trying to read in the dark! This year, I took a picture with my phone, so I could enlarge and light it up!
Just before the show started a bucket of cookies arrived via David and made the rounds!
My friend took this picture of a sad cookie on the ground earlier in the day. This picture says so much!
Mom, Kathy & I decided to get a head start before the rain. Mom had to be back at 8am to volunteer and the judges were still deliberating after four songs to pass the time.
I put my hands in my pockets and found the glasses cloth for Kathy!
I think she forgave me! And with the rain starting, now it would come in handy!
We exited the fair just as it started to rain. Texts from family warned of the incoming rain, but we were already in it...
I dropped Kathy off at her house and I stopped to get gas I got a message regarding all the winners.
Preteen division: 1st place was Gabby, an 11 year old opera singer, 2nd place: the Butters sisters, two little Latin dancers and 3rd place: Brody, another amazing little dancer. I think at age eleven, I was playing in the dirt with Barbies and my brothers G.I.Joes....not singing opera. I was hoping for my little Mariachi man to win, but the talent was so strong I this category!!
In the Teen division: 1st place was a pianist Amanda Chan, (the only one I picked to win) and 2nd place was another incredible opera singer Lauren Senden. 3rd place was Izzy Cruz, a ukulele player with an original song. Third place was a toss up in my book.
In the open division we were all surprised by the first place winner, the cellist, Anne Goetke. Not that she wasn't very talented, it was just a very unusual piece. "That's different!"
Second went to the St. Paul dance troupe Elite a Family, who were my picks to win a couple years ago. They have gotten better with practice and more time together. Third place was another male opera singer, who was very good and entertaining!
All in all, the judges had a hard job and I thought there wasn't an act that didn't deserve to be there and possibly win!
Only one more day....
