Last Chance Day!

The whole family was moving kind of slowly as Labor Day dawned.

It was going to be another glorious day and most likely busy! The parking was filling up as we arrived at Simpson Street for the final hurrah!

We all needed breakfast, so Randy and I shared a foot long from the best foot long stand outside the AFL-CIO.  I wondered why there was so much buzzing about on the corner here and then it hit me...DOH Labor Day!

Stella graciously offered to stick her head in some stuff and was thrilled to get her very own pocket protector!
She had to crouch since she was taller than the average electrician and construction worker!

Stella finally got her fudge puppy and I tasted it...Oh MY!  Very yummy!












Randy and Stella wanted to ride on the Sky Ride and that is one of the few I cannot endure, so they went that way and I ran down to check on Cookie.  He was still there and he was finally standing up!  He is a full head taller than any of the other calves!  They knew he was big when he was arriving!
As I reviewed the birth board, I noticed the final calf was born this morning at 8:45 prior to the opening of the barns!  There were none born Saturday or Snday!  Boy oh boy and I glad I chose to just sit there and wait when I had the chance!

State Fair total 15!  At least I got my ONE!

I walked toward the Midway where I was going to meet Randy and Stella and took the shortcut behind the Poultry barn,  I snapped this picture of Steichens, the only grocery store on the grounds!  If you need batteries, a lighter, diapers, or rope to hold up your pants....this is the place!

Stella fulfilled her ride quota for the year I think!  One after the other.  The Rock-it, Kamikazi, Fire Ball, Starship 3000, Crazy Mouse, Magnum, Storm, Alpine Bob, Spider, Viper...I even joined her on the Tilt-A Whirl.  On that one, we sat down and found $5 and a phone.  We turned in the phone, but I told her, money found at the fair is yours!

Squid hat!

 The last few tickets she tried her luck at some games of chance hoping to win a Squid Hat for me!  No luck!
The one last ride she really wanted to do was the Go Karts up the road.  She needed practice driving since next year she gets her permit!  Yikes!  I watched her go and she was doing a pretty good job and Randy sat and told me how she almost took a ball washer on the golf course the last time she drove the cart!  TMI!
Randy was getting sore (Arthritis in both ankles can get old after walking too much!) and I was a bit sunburned, so we made our way up the ramp to the top of the Grandstand to get Randy a few more shirts.  The last thing I wanted to buy was my Isabel Burke's Saltwater taffy and Stella wanted more cookies.

As we headed to get the last things on the list I looked over the Grandstand ramp and saw the I love my Cub tents set up and wished I had time to run through and get my bags and coupons.  Randy asked me if I didn't think I had enough bags....and I need something to look forward to next year.  Well, is that really relevant?  It's FREE and it's at the FAIR!

I brought along my History Walking tour brochures, which I still had two punches to finish.  Creative Activities and Heritage Square. How many times had I walked by both of those places and forgot to punch the card?!?!?  I never did get back to Heritage today and so there was no point in getting Creative Activities...I did not get my I'm a WINNER button.  I know I'm not a loser though!

I got a parting shot of Randy & Stella as we left the fair. Stella and I did get our hand stamped...just in case.

On the way out I got a picture of this creepy little half puppet we have seen a few times. He sits in a wagon and talks as you go by.  The man behind the creepy puppet we think is a science teacher trying to raise money for STEM curriculum in the schools.  Stella donated a couple bucks, but I am not really sure where the money will go.

Randy walked ahead of us as we were engaged with the puppet, and as we got back to Simpson Street we found him ready to go home!


Stella and I never did get back that night.  Mom said the neighborhood quieted down around 8:00pm, but there were still a few people about.

It was a great year, I accomplished much on the fair bucket list and I am already looking forward to next year. 








A few things I want to comment on about this year so I remember: 

Not enough Rain!  The fair smelled really bad by day six and never really improved!
We never got to ride on Ye Old Mill and I even had FREE tickets!
Don't eat so many cookies next year!  As I did dishes  PF (post fair) there were three buckets that went into the dishwasher. (Those are just the ones I bought!)
Try to see TWINS born!
See the Big Boar the first day since he might not last!
Pace yourself....since I am privileged to have the whole fair as vacation, I don't have to push it every day!
Avoid Saturday and Sunday midday!
There were only about 7000 less people this year than last and last year set three record attendance days!
Tuesday is still the best day to see the fair!
I need to work on giving teenager permission to NOT go to the fair!  She may wander away for a bit and find her way back, but if I push her too hard, she may never come back!  Then who will I sit and watch the talent show with when I am in my 70's? 
I still love the fair!