Headed to meet up with part of the Blackburn family (Ann, Gabe and Clare) we got sidetracked at the Danielson & Daughter's Onion Ring booth! We met Sheryl Danielson, who shared some stories about her dad. He sounds like a true State Fair lover, like the rest of us! best onion rings on the fairgrounds ( I actually don't know if there are any others...we have never needed to look!) Here is Sheryl, hard at work this morning!Next year I will get Mom a punch card to redeem for Onion Rings every day, in exchange for my parking privileges!
I asked about employment opportunities and if they only hired family, but she said no to call her net year! I am always looking for a job for Stella net year, She is getting expensive!
As I chatted with Sheryl, Stella was linking up satellites so we could find the Blackburns, who had just finished the Giant Slide!
We found them just down the street and Stella and Clare were happy to see each other! Clare is the only kid that Stella will babysit! Gabe was trying on stylish eyewear and I was busy taking photos of the kids until we were shown the sign that says " No photos with glasses please" Boy I am having trouble following rules this year!
We headed straight to the fish pond in the DNR and watched fish jumping a foot out of the water! This must be an early morning sport before it gets too hot. It was also humid and buggy, that may have helped. With Clare along, I knew I would get a few pictures of heads stuck in boards and wheel spinning! Bam, winner right off the bat!
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| She knows her birds! |
The kids wanted to see horses, so we went that direction. It was animal change over day in the barns, so there were a few of the Horse Expo horses there, but the stalls were pretty empty. Looking for running water and nice bathrooms, we walked down Judson and stopped to watch some twirling metal wind dancers, stopped to see some fuzzy Alpaca and Stella remembered she had pickle chap stick for Gabe..and YES, he licked it! 
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| yum...pickles! |
We found ourselves at the Ag-Star Arena again, where there is nice hand washing station right outside and inside there was Boer Goat judging. I am not sure why, but the kids enjoyed watching goats for almost 20 minutes! They were giving away free cheese again and this time I asked before I ate it and she told me it was white cheddar. I asked what I ate on Thursday and it was just pepper jack! After free cheese we started back up the road to find a corn dog for Clare. I explained that she really wanted a Poncho Dog and she was willing to wait! On the way we stopped so Clare could be a bench warmer!
Then on to the Poncho Dog as promised! Gabe & Stella shared a Calzone on a stick and they said it was good...it was gone before I could get a picture! I will have to stop back and get a photo of the place, it is new this year! I love this picture of Clare getting herself a dog! 
(Not sure if it was the dog, or the free cheese, but poor Clare and Ann could do a complete restroom review of the fair after she finished it off!)
US Bank was sponsoring the Military Day, so we had to get our free "bandanas" I put it in quotes, since it was a bandana that might fit a cabbage patch doll head, not a human head,
We hiked up the Grandstand ramp to find the I Like You shop, Ann was not sure where it was located and I could not remember. It is owned by our mutual friend Sara Sweet. We did a quick run through of the top floor, Gabe trying on bandit gear as we waited for Clare to use the two star Grandstand upper level bathrooms. Stella and Gabe cooled off on the outdoor stairwell and looked down and saw Carol Jo. Stella yelled "Grandma" and three people looked up! As we started down the stairs, I remembered that the booth we were seeking was along the back wall of the first floor. As I remembered that, Ann remembered they moved to the "Old Place"
I asked if she meant Heritage Square? LOL YES!
The youth were happy since they were plugged in, singing, sharing earbuds and I did not make them try on the ZooZatz hats! (see the cute Gopher peeking from behind them?)
Hammocks! There was rejoicing and there was sitting, reclining and resting!
Once we were refreshed, we headed towards the Heritage Square, hoping to stop for a pickle on the way!. The Pickle dreams were dashed as we passed the booth and the line was half a block long. They only had one window open for service and TV crews were filming. We did find THE place for WiFi however!
On we went to find I Like you! We found Grandma wandering the Heritage with a salted nut roll and I got to have a bite! :)
Since the Pickle line was even longer on the way back out, we placated Clare ( the biggest pickle fan of all!) with a promise of a Sky Glider ride. She was upset as we passed the Sky Ride and did not get in line. I tried to explain the difference , and that the other one was better, but at this point, she just knew it was not THAT one! LOL
We moved quickly and had no time for concrete ball standing pics near the grandstand, but Gabe and Stella had to fly over them a couple times! We made it to the Sky glider and as we ascended I got a big thumbs up from Clare!
"The bandits" Gabe and Stella were following me and we passed a few notable sights! I liked this woman waving her sign at all by-sitters and it turns out is is a friend of Kathy Lee (featured later in the blog!)
This is ONE Way of a round trip, so I will finish the rest tomorrow before I go to the fair! The trip took us past the Strawberries 'N' Creme booth so I needed to mention that our church has the contract for hulling all their strawberries! I want to say they go through 700 pounds a day, but I could be wrong, I was going to take a picture of the roof top trash gathering progress when I noticed one thing I had to zoom in on...the rest of the roof was littered with the usual flip flops, visors and trash.
We walked over to the Luminarium and yes, it still smells. Interestingly the line was very short. I wonder how much traffic they have had. The kids did some relaxing in the recycled Adirondacks and little did we know the Bandits were in action and pilfered one fake ice cube each that they found in those pool side tumblers! The littlest bandit gave it away by placing hers on the table at lunch!.The cabins here are adorable for the low, low, State fair bargain price of $10,000.
We needed food, but a rest stop at the worst ( less than one star) restroom on the grounds. probably one of the oldest behind the Giant Sing Along. Two stalls and peeling paint everywhere. I comforted Ann by telling her it was probably lead paint, but as long as they didn't eat it they should be OK! We took a short scenic detour by the Harley Davidson booth where you can try riding a motorcycle. Someday I would love to ride one! The line wasn't too long, but the demo took a while so the youth tried on some of the "Big Machines" ...machinery hill has shrunk! LOL Ann heard Cities97 had a nice set up with patio and stage, and it right next door. They in fact do have those things, but it is MUCH smaller than they make it out to be! No bands were playing so we headed to Giggles Campfire grill for food. Three pork sandwiches (OK, but sort of tough) and Walleye fries which sadly were cold and had too much dill sauce plopped on top. We ate them anyway and Clare was happy with her new puppy, her Sprite and a dish of pickles Ann picked up from the condiment cabin (where Hannah was not on duty!)
Ann was concerned that Gabe not get any ideas from the hatchet throwing, or the pole climbing! Impressionable youth!
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| Artist of the day, stencil work |
We walked over to see some fine art and although t was a no touching place Clare did really well! Love the coat of many colors, the Roadkill baby blanket made from recycled mink and this years commemorative piece is great!
We rewarded Clare with some quality sandbox time and the youth played the piano that is part of the traveling piano exhibit "Pianos on Parade" . Gabe dressed to coordinate with the piano today!
On our way back up to finish the round trip we stopped by the Eagle Chopper and waited for a bit to get this picture! Stella was not in the mood! LOL
I have never actually taken the return trip on the Sky Glider so this was a first for me today! There are some nice views as you descend back toward the Grandstand! This cute little Dr. Seuss cabin, the Kidway Ferris wheel and especially of those in front of you! Last bandit shot if the day!
Gabe had a couple friends working at the Hamline Dining hall and as it turns out I did too! Kathy Anderson ( Kirk and Kristen's mom) was working. We were taking up space as Gabe was in search of his friends and she came over and asked if needed help. I sad no, but introduced myself and gave her a hug! 
Ann had been wanting french fries since we failed to find them at Giggles (until it was too late) and I overheard her at the Veggie Fries booth trying to figure out how to get "just french fries" The guy said he could be batterless potato fries....um yeah that would be it. LOL I told Ann to skip it, because the "World's Greatest French Fries" were a few steps away! I have been converted from "Fresh" to "world's greatest" (Thanks David!) While they were getting fries, I tried my hand at Running Aces Casino...dealt three seventeens in a row and bust every time...time to walk away! ("are you chained to that table?") I did get my free playing cards, but no buffet token!
What to do with greasy french fry fingers? Ann was prepared all day with the Clean Well sanitizing wipes pop up dispenser in her backpack!
I got my Minnesota Roller Girl Trading card photo taken inside Fan Central, but it was not uploaded as of this blog posting.
It was getting late and the Blackburns needed to get home, so we walked them back to their Park and Ride entrance. Passing the Ag/Hort we had to stop in and see the biggest pumpkins. Clare was impressed! Ann, was not so impressed with the vegetables as she showed me a photo from a one day harvest from her backyard garden! I wish I had a "Mikayla's not impressed" style photo of Ann with a curled lip! Possibly, six days on Styrofoam trays in the heat have done the vegetables no favors! They were looking a little peaked!
We did get one of the best hot weather treats...Apple Cider freeze pops! Still just a buck! Very refreshing!
We left the Blackburns at the Haunted House and Ann texted to say they walked right out of the gate and onto their bus and got right home! Ann commented to me there was no one else she would rather "do the fair" with! I was humbled and glad! It was a great day and I even tried some new things! We promised we would bring Gabe back for the talent show finals on Sunday!
Stella had had enough of the fair again so she walked back to Mom & Dad's I had opportunities to hook up with many people, but I was drawn to the garden to hear my friend Kathy do Karaoke! She was waiting for friends, so we had some time to catch up! I got a text from Michael that he was at the band shell with mom, so I walked over. There they are and what....what is that....what is it they are eating? hmm....Danielson's Onion rings?!?!? My day has come full circle! Michael took the one off the top and said, "mom it's a good thing I ate that one, it had a gram of salt on it.." I said that one was probably the one she wanted. She salted them! It had been great day, but I was still a bit tired from the weekend, and Stella was resting back on Simpson Street. I walked out of the grounds and texted Stella that I just left and did not get a hand stamp.. her reply text read like this: "OMG WOW"As I walked home I realized it was half over..:(
DAY SIX STATS:
Walked: 6.5 miles
Food Consumed: Poncho dog, calzone, Walleye fries, pork sandwich, beer, french fries,apple cider freezies, onion rings and yes....pickle chap stick was consumed
FREE stuff: cheese, ice cubes(?) and art!
Calf Count: One was born at 7:30am according to Ann. Could not have seen it
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