Governor's Fire Prevention Day!

Today we started with a detour in the morning to work and school to get Stella's schedule all straightened out.  She got all the classes she wanted so it was a GREAT start to the day!  She was excited to have sweet corn since it was almost 9:00am (not 7) when we entered the grounds, so it would be cooking at least! We started hiking down the hill.

 
Stella stopped mid way and said...OOOH  I want spaghetti Eddie's Pizza instead!

Right behind us was the entrance to the Health Kare11 booth, and it was close enough to the top of the hour to score another bag!   There was also this crazy science guy blowing bubbles with a weird siphon and hose instrument.  Someone said..."What is that?" and he turned to him and said "Remember college?"  tee hee. 

Since we were right there, we stopped to get a photo of the Lee Family bench!  This is the first time anyone has balked at moving their butts so I could take a picture.  Seriously folks it is only 9am...how tired can you be?????  They did move and here is the proof!   




Last night Kare11 news (which I watched from home....grrr) had deep fried chocolate chip cookie dough on a stick.  Stella thought it sounded heavenly.  We explored the food building and found it was being sold at the tondo potato booth. We got one and I tried it.  It was interesting.  Stella ate most of it.  (Later my stomach did not feel the greatest, but "iron gut" had no ill effects.) Later Stella described it more like 'batter' since it was so melted, not 'dough' and announced she would not ever have it again



Since today is Governor's Fire Prevention Day (GFPD), we needed to see what great things were on display in three areas specific to today's theme! Under the grandstand bridge, the DNR and down on West Dan Patch.  Beginning under the grandstand bridge, we found the ever scintillating "burned baby" and "burned dude", the dollhouse so you can plan an escape route for your dollys and the climb through practice window in case of a fire.  Stella decided she was too grown up to play with any of it, but we certainly took the opportunity to spin a few wheels!!!   There are wheels to spin all over the fair and today you could get  fabulous prizes like band-aid holders, pencils, chip clips, erasers, frisbees, sun lotion,  and the one Stella wanted most...the gel ice pack!

After some furious texting, we managed to connect with my friend Dawn, her daughter Kris and her beautiful granddaughter Elizabeth!  YEAH a little kid to climb on stuff, play with stuff and wear funny hats!
First stop along west Dan Patch was the Sparky the fire dog bouncy house!  It was a long wait, but Elizabeth got a long jump so it was worth it...I think! :)

Stella and I walked on ahead to do some quick recon, while the others waited at the bounce house.  She did put on one funny hat for me today, and then got a text from friends Kari and Tom  to meet them in the Midway.  That was the last I saw of her for an hour.  I filled my time taking pics of adorable Elizabeth taking in all GFPD has to offer!
Dawn and clan had to fulfill the promise of rides for the youngster so we parted ways as I went to find Stella in the Mighty Midway.      

I found her friends waiting on the side as she rode the Kamikaze!  The fried cookie dough had no bearing on her fun...thank goodness!  There were very few tickets left when I joined them, so one last ride bumper cars.  While I was up at GFPD, Stella rode the "Rock-it"    
Kari and Tom had to head home for a bit (hoping to join up with them later) we got word Grandma (mom) was on approach!  Quick stop at DNR for the Fire Prevention quiz...which I aced and won erasers and pencils!

Then across the street to get the coveted Star Tribune lip balm.  This year, you can choose between Ketchup and Mustard...bring a friend, you can only choose one!  When I opened the fanny pack this season, it contained previous years' maple bacon, corn and butter. They are, in fact, GROSS!.              

On our way to join mom, Stella proclaimed she needed lunch!   I saw my favorite Gyro booth Dimitri's (out of Philedelphia) and got myself a delish dish!   (I was NOT going to forget to eat today!)  The guy offered Stella a try and I said it would be a waste since all she would eat was the lamb and the pita bread.  He said "No problem" and loaded her up a plain one!  She couldn't finish it, but gave it a valiant effort.  I however finished mine just fine!

We planned to meet at the Ball Park Cafe (a great place to join up in case others are late, you have food, beer and garlic fries!).  There was not a table to be found in the shade so we found a wall and mom found us.  Took this picture down the street looking up towards Machinery Hill.  Looks like a saturday to me.  The attendance figures will tell!.     
Stella was done, so I gave her permission to leave! She went back to Mom and dads to chill and Mom and I wandered off to "see some stuff"

First stop Grandstand to find a shirt for Mom at her favorite shop. Then upstairs to get a new faucet sprayer.  Dad informed me it has been broken for three months but could not be replaced until the fair!!!  Look at the water spray now!

We wandered to the far end to the Martin Wholesale guy with the best deal on great outerwear and golf shirts for Randy.  Scored a few for him, since you never know what will be left when he gets here next weekend!
Upon exiting the Grandstand, there was corn.  I think it is very difficult for my Mom to walk by corn and not eat some.  (Same with Danielsons onion rings)  Here is a lovely picture of "butter face" as she has now been dubbed!

Mom heard something about a sign up and win Ellen DeGeneres giveaway at the WCCO TV booth, so we headed that direction stopping in to visit the fine folks at the Minnesota Natural Gas booth. The pretense was to register to win a Garmin and get our yard sticks, but we learned that if you want a lovely, air conditioned, cozy place to relax for a bit...wander in here and stay!  
I also found the drinking fountain with the coldest water on the grounds.  Ambiance and cold water,  a veritable State Fair Oasis!

We had to leave, and who did we find at our next stop, but Ellen herself!  OK, the white cardboard between her legs gives it away as a cut out, but it was still fun to get a picture, pick up our Ellen on a stick BINGO cards and register to win a trip to her show!
I advised mom get a junk email box for all the Fair giveaways...all the best people have one!  LOL

Mom was ready for something else to nosh on and decided a 1919 Rootbeer float was just the thing!  When asked what size, her response was "Jumbo, of course!"  The man said here's a woman who knows how to party!
I zipped through the U of MN building as mom consumed her float and found nothing of interest today except, would you believe, another bong type bubble blower.  Must be a new fad for science geeks!

We decided to head home for some respite care and as we were leaving realized the parade would be passing us by any moment.  We found a quarter of a table to share with some folks from Tuscon who interviewed me at length for ideas and the "best of" ideas for their day!  Little did they know they hit the mother lode of information!  I remembered to shut up as the parade came by!

Since it was GFPD, the parade was great!  The 9/11 firefighter memorial was in it as well as a bunch of fire trucks and fire-cycles!
Mom and I left and went back to the house to rest for a bit.

At around 5:30, Kathy and Paige arrived and we returned for evening festivities!  The girls found the Ellen BINGO card in my bag and really looked at it and it is funny! Find someone who is proud to be bald, a full arm tattoo, big hair, a set of twins, a kid on shoulders, etc...They had a great time checking things off all evening!

We started with finding seats for the talent show. Once Mom and Kathy were settled, I took Stella and Paige for some fun.  We made a stop for juice at the Ocean Spray tent.  The girls put their hands in a cranberry bog!                





Next  we shuffled through the masses down to the Giant Slide!  It took no time at all and they were down and needing a little something  to eat!  Stella got her first caramel apples in a dish with ice cream, since BB(before braces), and Paige needed Mini Donuts.   When I asked Paige if there was stuff she wanted to see that she usually didn't get to do with the family, she told me they usually don't go to the Kidway......I sadly informed her that would not happen with me either!  LOL  We did wander for a bit around the Grandstand, until I got a text that mom requested a hot dog!  I knew she needed food, since Kathy told me she was falling asleep at the talent show!        

Ran through the food building to grab a Peter's hot dog (the only ones edible) and returned to the talent show just in time to see the Yodeler and wake up mom.  Stella and Paige were bored so they went on ahead to the Education building and scored a bunch of fun stuff!

Next stop, the county fair talent show up in Baldwin park where we had our friends the Quinn's waiting to hook up with us and go sing!

Kathy, Mom and Paige remained at the talent show and the girls went to the Sing Along as the boys went to the Eco-Technology building.
I was under the impression that the playlist was set at the Giant Sing Along, but I guess late in the day they just start taking requests!  Great Fun!

Stella and Carrie left us and I sent my baby off to the Midway on a Friday night unsupervised.  Told her to be good and be smart and said a little prayer!

As the rest of us began the trek back to the Bandshell to see Morris Day and the Time, the Quinn's indulged in some favorite fair foods.  Giggles Campfire Grill walleye cakes, and they tried chicken fried bacon with a side of maple gravy....um.... not for me I decided, but a bite of the walleye cake was divine!
We caught up with Mom getting her health screening complete with diabetes screen in the Health Kare 11 booth and once she knew she was fit as a fiddle, she got some Danielson's onion rings!  ( I think I mentioned them earlier!)

The Morris Day concert started and there wasn't a place to see, so we found a bench to listen. Mike, Sara and Tom Quinn took a ride on the Skyride (not for the claustrophobic...ME).  They thought the view of the concert might be OK, at least once a rotation!  LOL
My friends returned to join me on the bench bearing Bull Bites, beer and a hankering for something sweet!  
Luckily I got a text from the girls saying they were approaching Sweet Martha's and could they get cookies???  I told her if she has enough money for a bucket to get it and I'd pay her back! Since milk was needed to round out the snack, we hiked to meet them.  After the carnage there were two left to take home to dad. 

We returned to see the end of the concert which featured all the "hits" of course!  The Bird and Jungle Love as an encore!  Oh-Wee-Oh-Wee-Oh!

It was a wonderful, beautiful, fun filled day, but we are not in any hurry to rush back tomorrow!


Day Two STATS
Distance: 12.67 miles (some 25K steps!)
Food Consumed: Pizza, deep fried cookie dough, gyro, corn, root beer float, cranberry juice, mini donuts, caramel apples, chicken friend bacon, walleye cakes, onion rings, bull bites, beer and tub of cookies!
Funny Hats: only a firefighter hat
Free Stuff: ketchup & mustard lip balm, Ucare bags, Firefighter bags, pot holders, erasers, chip clips, pencils, lanyards, bracelets, boomerangs, magnets.
Calf Count: I honestly didn't have time to go into the barn today!