I began the day getting an all clear from the eye doctor and only needing to have one eye dilated! Good news I could see half the fair when I returned! We needed to fill the yard before heading over for some lunch, so Stella took over parking cars and had it full in half an hour!
Mom, Stella and I walked over and since we all needed lunch, we ended up stopping quick at Spaghetti Eddies for a slice. I have to say, the Green Mill has better as does the Pizza Wagon over on Carnes Ave.
Mom was waiting for us on a bench and as we approached I saw the Pot Roast Sundae, which I remember was pretty good once upon a time. Might need to try it again!
Our goal today was to see the Heritage Square in it's entirety. Stella was only lured by the promise of Jarritos, her favorite Mandarin orange soda made with real cane sugar. They have circus peanuts at the fair! My secret favorite candy. I won't pay $6.00/pound when I can get the industrial size from Fleet Farm for 2.99!
I saw a few places I missed before when Liz and I walked into the sun last week. There is the Cash Pinata place that sells an egg you can slip cash into complete with gift box and matching card. You put cash inside and the receiver can smash it, or try to jimmy it out. A baseball bat is not required! Don't need one, but a cute concept!
I got a picture of Meg's Retro Apron booth. They really are cute! I like this pig planter too, but have no where to put it just now. If we ever redo the back patio, I might have to find one of these!
We stopped to see a good bluegrass group for a minute then Mom took me back to the Newspaper museum. A place I have never been! You think you know a place?!?!
Found the statue of Cliff Olson, Lisa's old neighbor, who worked at the fair for years. We knew his daughter Barb who we heard passed away not too long ago too.
Stella having so much fun at the fair she just can't contain herself! The ear buds broke yesterday so she is trying to get it in the exact position so she can hear!
Ran into a bunch of people we know again today! Dick and Zarida, one shopping and one resting, guess which is which!
A decision was made to try the sweet corn ice cream, so as we prepared ourselves for the possible line, we walked through adventure park and took a gander at the new MAXX SUPERFLY extreme swing. Looks like fun, but maybe not with this eye! The warning sign reads like Happy Fun Ball from the old SNL ad!
We were amazed to find a short line at the Blue Moon, Stella found a seat in the theater to watch a movie while Mom and I got the ice cream. As we sat and tasted it I couldn't decide whether I liked it or not and tried to pinpoint the flavor. I said it is sort of like watching a train wreck...you just can stop. Even thought we both decided it was "interesting" and people need to decide for themselves, we know we won't try it again...ever. As I continued the tasting process I figured it out...it was like Kellogg's corn pops cereal but wrong texture and very sweet!
Stella had had enough for now and needed new headphones, some school supplies and to get to work, so we headed back up to the gate. Stopped to see the Okee Dokee Brothers preforming their hit song, "Touch Your Toes" on the Carousel Park Stage and as I danced, Stella could not get far enough away from me!
Ran into Wendy Lee and her daughters this time!
Then Stella remembered every year she stands on a concrete orb, so YEAH she was willing to do it again this year! It just took us a minute to find one that didn't rock!
We passed the corn booth and I said I needed to eat some corn on the cob to get the taste of sweet corn ice cream out of my mouth! We all agreed corn was wise..."Three please!"
Happened upon the parade as we were leaving and Stella decided that maybe we could try and find these to ride on in a parade!!! I think you had to be fourteen the last time we tried, so this could be the year!!Home for a short break, then back for the Rodeo!
Time for the Rodeo!!! Andrew is number 51!
With fresh ear buds for her iPod. we picked up Mom and were running a bit late for the rodeo, but Jeannie was saving us box seats! Mom was heading for the onion rings and we hiked down to the coliseum. We were hungry so a quick stop at the Turkey to Go Booth was all we needed.
Stella wasn't sure she'd like it, so we just got one. I told her she said the same thing last year and ate it all. Once I had the turkey in hand, she said "Oh! ... that's good" and promptly ate most it, at least the part that didn't dribble down my shirt!Since were a bit late and had to stop for food, I failed to check in on Cookie. I just hope he is still there when I get back!
The Rodeo was just getting started, so we got to see the opening ceremony and since this is a Minnesota High School athletics event, there is no prayer...so there was a lot of "reflection" going on! Love it!
We joined, Jeannie, her dad, her husband Gary and her littlest cowboy Charlie!. You might recognize them from our recent Gooseberry falls pictures! The first event was bucking broncs and I turned to Jeannie and said "I don't think I like the rodeo!" All the kids were ok, but man, they were knocked around! The broncs were corralled back into the pen where all the other horses were waiting and they looked like they were asking the returning horse "Did you get him or did he get you?"
One event that had me rolling was the Girls Goat roping! The goat gets tethered down to an ten foot rope looking something right of the feeding of T-Rex in Jurassic Park! The rider comes barreling in on her horse straight at this poor little goat, jumps off, flips it and ties it up! 
This is Jeannie's impression of the goats as the horse is flying at it!There were pole races and barrels, which took me back to my riding days at Ojiketa! What memories!
When they began the calf roping, I needed to leave and not watch. :( I understand that all the events in rodeo serve a purpose for the cowboys, but all I could think of was Cookie and how nobody better tie him up!
Stella was hungry...again...so we walked the Coliseum, The only object that caught her eye was a laptop cooler. Decided it was not a needed gadget so we just got food! She got a great looking cheeseburger and I found my toffee roasted nuts at Simply Nuts! It was super humid, and they were very sticky, but we all managed to choke some down!
The last event was the Bull riding. The one event that Andrew was a contestant in. Just as it was about to begin Martha and Liz arrived! I was so happy to see them! I was intent on seeing this rodeo through to the end and I knew they were out on the grounds and didn't want to miss them! I was glad they found me!
As the Bull riding was getting started Jeannie turned to me and said "These are bigger bulls!" Her son had done this only three times before (I think) There is no "practice" for bull riding....you just have to watch and DO! 
As Andrew was finally in the cage getting ready, the previous bull was not returning to the pen easily, so the announcer had to stall and was really talking up Andrew! He talked about where he's from, that his parents "Gary and Janelle(LOL)" were here and how he was a recent high school graduate from right here ins St. Paul and Eagle Scout and would be entering the Marine Corps soon! All I could think of was I hope this was not his obituary! I did not say it out loud of course, but later Jeannie confessed that all she could think of was, that better not be the last things anyone said about her son! I held her hand and we "reflected" for a safe ride!
That huge bull exited the chute and he held on for a bit, was thrown pretty quickly, but he was alive and unhurt! AMEN! ...oops forgot... can't pray!
After the Rodeo, we parted ways. Martha, Liz, Stella and I left down the ramp and as we were filing out, Martha got a good look at Stella who has grown since the last time she saw her. (I think she grows every night in her sleep!) Stella could not resist the urge to just pick her up! Martha and Liz filled us in on their sky ride adventure and asked about the flashing red lights on one of the Sky Ride cars?!?!? Their theory was maybe that was the car that the Sky Ride cops rode in watching out over the grounds and making aerial rounds and would shout at ruffians below that they could see them causing trouble and would be down soon! LOL!!!!! The State Fair know- it-alls (Stella and I) didn't get the joke at first and rationally explained that many of the cars had a theme. Fire truck, police car, cow, groovy car, etc. I'm sure Martha just shook her head.
The building were all closed, so I couldn't visit Cookie. I was seriously contemplating not returning to the fair on Thursday since the weather forecasts were hot, muggy and miserable. So I was sad I missed seeing my calf.
Stella loved that turkey sandwich so much, she just had to get another on the way out. Since there was no interest in sitting though the 10:00 pm newscast (other than by me), We parted ways, Martha to the bike gate and Liz following us back towards Mom's. It was nice to listen to Toby Keith as we were leaving. It was going to be too late to stay and see fireworks or a corn dance tonight!
After having my heart in my throat most of the evening, I decided that maybe this would be my last rodeo!
Day Seven STATS:
Distance: only 5.2 miles and some of it was in Super Target!
Food Consumed: Pizza, Pork Chop, Jarritos, Sweet Corn Ice cream, Corn! Turkey tenderloin sandwich, cheeseburger, nuts!
Free Stuff: Library card holder, McPhail Center CD's for children, a RODEO! and mom reported she walked through the Eduation building and picked up St. Cloud State stuff free for Morgan!
Calf Count: unsure of stats, but I still have my ONE!
Stuff I still need to do: Corn Dance, Fireworks, Eat more mashed potatoes on a stick. Sing, "THE FAIR" at the sing along, Get through all the animal barns, and I am happy to report I have seen all the buildings so far!
When leaving for the night, I informed mom she could use my parking space...I was NOT going to the fair Thursday. YIKES!
Yes, I think Cliff Olson worked at the fair for over 65 years!!!. No lie. Started there as a kid and continued well into his 80s. The man deserved that statue, considering he was on the grounds crew for the later part and had to clean up after ALL OF YOU!
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