The End

Woke up to chilly, cloudy weather.  According to Randy it is perfect!  Mom was volunteering at a Foundation kiosk down by the coliseum, so we checked in to see if she was warm enough.  We grabbed a fleece jacket and headed over.  

First stop was the Foot Long booth near the AFL-CIO, for Randy & I, then over to Granny's for Stella's annual fudge puppy. The line for Granny's at 9:30 am was into the street.  Stella (on the far right) is in the middle of the line!

 I wanted Randy to see the new Mancini's, and it was not too busy since they had all the breakfast menus up. I went inside to ask when the pig wings would be ready, and the answer was anytime!!  They were so good, tender, fall off the bone, nicely seasoned, an awesome after breakfast snack.  

We needed to fill up our souvenir cup so we found Aaron in his Root Beer Barrel!

We found Randy's bench!  (No, not really)

We really were concerned about Carol Jo's well being, but Randy's mobility is limited, so we had to see the sights and eat our way down to her.  

Walking behind the milk booth, we took a shot of day twelve grass (not)

(This was a grassy knoll!)

We walked by the turkey to go booth, but I was full, so not sure I will get my giant juicy this year!

We made it to Mom and she was very happy to see us!  Her fingers were almost frozen!  She layered up, and started to warm up nicely.

 Stella had fun hawking coupon books, and wants to volunteer for the foundation next year.  I told her gainful employment might be best. I might volunteer!

We got a "Christmas card eligible" family photo with the cow and made our way over to visit Diane in the horse barn.  

Our next stop, the Midway!  Stella had to get her hair ready for rides.  She almost got it caught in a spinning ride last Thursday!  

Ready!

I got a crowd picture from the west end looking up toward the dairy building....(which apparently was returned to its original name, which I knew, and blogged about last year, but totally forgot!). I think it will be a record setting day again!

Stella and I rode a few rides while Randy (who gets dizzy walking around) waited for us.  Luckily it was still cool, so no shade required!

We ran into a few friends in the Midway!  First, Betsy and her kids Jack & Kate 

Then Meg & Astri, they were in line for the Gondola ride (which is a painful experience, when you try to climb into the bucket and your foot slips on the floor and you jam your shin into the seat) 

This is one ride Randy likes :)

Meg was taking our picture as I was taking theirs!  Oops!

The view from up top....getting busier!

Rides are fun and all, but Stella wanted to win a reggae banana man.  

Most of the games were lots of tickets for few tries, or you had to trade up and spend a to of money.  Stella found th cork gun shooting booth that had a medium banana, so she laid down the rest of her tickets and went for it. The goal is four targets down.

She'd knock down three in a row, then two and a miss, etc. It is Labor Day, lots of prizes still hanging, and the guy comes over and plugs her gun with rubber shot balls. He whispers to her "these are sure things", and she hits the fourth target.

"We have a winner!"  After she got the banana, she said to me "this joy cannot be contained!"

She got to keep all her consolation prizes too...two dogs and a turtle

Happiness!

We were smarter this year and saved the cookies and ice cream for after rides!

Nice cookie stacking.  I am glad it was cool because on the really hot days, the bottom half of the cookie bucket congealed into one big mass of cookie that needed to be eaten with a fork!

Randy got his poncho dog (I actually tried one pre-fair but not taking any chances today)

Then we walked up to the Ball Park to get Stella a burger and see if we could try the mini donut beer.  Earlier when stopped by just to say 'hi' they told me there were five barrels left for the day. They tap it at noon and when we arrived at 12:45 it was tapped out!  Maybe next year!

We got one last order of onion rings and a beer to share. Stella noticed the newspaper wrapping had my birthday!

Randy had enough of the fair and Stella wanted to get everything ready fo the first days school, so they left the grounds and I met up with Mom at the bandshell. Today would be my awesome free music day!  I sat and listened to a group called the Quebe Sisters Band from down south somewhere, and the sisters all were talented fiddle players and sang beautifully alone or en masse!

I noticed this year that the " Leinie Lodge" branding is more present than ever.  I know it has been called that for some time now, but I wonder if there is some effort to get people to stop calling it the "Bandshell". 

Mom needed a warm up spot, and water and she knew just the place!  The J. Bailey House is the foundation offices and if you are a donor or "friend of the fair", by giving them as much as you want, but as little as $25, you can stop in to get warm, or cool (air conditioned!) and have a cup of free coffee and ice water and use this lovely, white, clean, single seater biffy!  Officially the nicest potty on the fairgrounds.

The parade was passing by and I realized I had to look for Roy!  He always marched with the Labor group on Labor day!  I waited, but did not see him, so I stopped into the Admin office and left a message for Pam since I have missed her every day I have checked.  I can attest to the fact that she is one busy lady!  

Mom & I decided to walk through the Bazaar, since neither of us had done it. It did not take us long, even though it was rather crowded.  I have always admired the Polish ceramics and since my spoon rest recently met it's demise, I was in need of a new one!  

Only two purchased fair souvenirs! This and the ornaments.  I thought about getting the laptop fans but they plug into your laptop, (not a wall) so it would eat up battery power and they were 2/$15 on Thursday, and today...2/$20.  no thanks.  I also wanted the pruner, but never got back there. 

After the Bazaar we walked toward the Ramberg Senior Center to see the Irish Brigade play.  Mike Quinn suggested it and then Mom said she was going, and my friend Ruth from church is with one half of the brigade, Mike Wallace, and Kathleen & her mom were going too.  Must be the place to be.  

On our way over we walked by the Al Franken booth and who should I see, but Roy!  It turns out he was driving the bus in the parade.  I might not have seen him anyway!

As we waited for the show to start I got a message from Pam to say she was IN!    I ran back up to Admin and chatted with her a bit and shared the story of the trash guy. This is Pam day twelve, still smiling!

While I was in Pam's office, a call came in from Ramberg that they needed more buttons.  Cody was on his way.  too bad, because I could have delivered them!  I needed to leave since Pam had three different phones on her desk and was trying to figure out which one was ringing! Just as I was leaving the building, Cody arrived for button transport.  We both made our way back to the Ramberg Center, but I cut through Ag-Hort, stopping to talk to my hairdresser (who I found looking at the Dr. Seuss displays) and came out the other side, beating Cody back to the door.

I tell ya, I can get anywhere on the grounds in about fifteen minutes or less from wherever I am.

The Irish Brigade was wonderful, Jigs and Shandy's and we got to hear the Unicorn song!

The crowds were growing...on Labor day!  This shot is from in front of  Fan Central looking up north to the Kidway.  That street is rarely busy!

Mom wanted a break from the fair, and Stella said she might come back with me for the evening.  I also needed a car, so we decided to head out for a bit.  On our way off the grounds we ran into these two, Kathy & Tom, parents of the Root Beer Man Ethan!

Dad gave me a ride home, and Stella rethought her decision to return, so I updated the blog for the last two days and headed back over.  

Mike & Sara were joining us, so we saved some great seats for the Larry Gatlin show.  We had over an hour to kill, so we all started taking turns making food runs!  Sara & I went first to get a Hawaiian torta from Manny's, a giant Pepsi and some Danielson's onion rings.  When we returned Mom wanted to leave, and I had a hankering for the Giant juicy from Turkey to Go, and I told Mike I could make a run by the Pork Chop stand on my way back.  He needed a beer to get through the O~rings, so he ran over to Leinie's and then Mike & Sara held the seats while I started trucking to the other end of the grounds!  

I got the sandwich, and realized maybe they would wrap it up for me in some extra foil...tuns out the magic words are "I need one to go!"  They had it wrapped, and bagged before I knew it, redeeming themselves from last years poor service!

As I headed toward the chops I realized I could try the same tactic! I got lucky, the line was not too long and I got the last bit of foil!

 I wanted a beer so I headed to the Ball Park and ran into Mike from the bank on the way, had to stop and chat a bit, knowing the food was toasty warm in my baggie. I got my beer (last one) and made my back to the Bandshell.  Made the trip in 25 minutes.  The food was still warm!

The crowd was growing, so the space we were saving got smaller, which was too bad, because we did not have space for Mike Wallace and Ruth to join us.  I think Mike Quinn would have enjoyed chatting with him ( the Irish Brigade played for his sister's wedding years ago!)  Sara suggested a little dessert, so Mike went in search of cashew nut rolls for us girls!  He got himself a brownie!  Great choices for our final fair foods.  

Mom had not returned so I checked in and she was sitting in the beer garden all warm and cozy eating a Chicago Dog, waiting for it to get closer to showtime.  When she saw our nut rolls, she confessed she bought one too!

The Gatlin Brothers show was great.  I honestly could not have told you one of their hit songs before the concert...and after the only one I really knew was "All the Gold in California" . It didn't matter though, they sang some Johnny Cash and Roger Miller and their voices are still going strong! 

Mom & I did not make it to the end.  We left the grounds one last time.  I miss it already!  As we were leaving I realized I still had the other half of our round trip tickets for the Sky Glider in my purse. I never did get the dirty roof picture, but I honestly was not too thrilled to hop on again after the dangling experience on day one!

I also realized I forgot to blog about the water guys hawking water bottles every day of the fair and this one that was memorable.  He had great lines every day like" If you've got a buck, you're in luck!",  "Don't let dehydration, ruin your State Fair vacation!" and "If your throat is dry, I'm your water guy".  I wonder if the new transit hub they have in the works down by Heritage Square will take the buses off Midway Parkway next year.  It sure will impact all the vendors that set up shop along the parkway and the people who rent space to them, but I gotta believe that many of the neighbors would be grateful for the reprieve! 

I will have a full update next year after day one... August 21st, 2014!

Crowded ...finally!

This morning I helped Dad make breakfast at church, caramel french toast egg bake.  Hmmm?  New State Fair food?

Since I had about 4 hours of sleep, I decided a nap was in order after church.  Sounds like I missed quite the crowd over at the fair.  People reported parking by houses in neighborhoods they never seen before.

When Stella, Mom & I finally headed over for the Talent Show Finals in the Grandstand, the place was still packed. 

Stella is not a big fan of crowds and people bumping into her, so she got plugged in and we dove into the crowd and made our way to the Grandstand.

We were almost first in line on the second floor and there was hardly a wheelchair or scooter to be seen.  It was cold and windy up top, and it turns out the elevator is out of order, hence, not so many people.   The staff was reporting that the gates would open at 6:30 (as usual) despite the earlier show start of 7:30pm.  As friends gathered and we had more line holders, I decided to make a non-shared food run for dinner for Stella & I.  Stella wanted a Gyro, and I was going to try the Indian Chicken & Rice bowl I have enjoyed in years past.  The three lines in front of Dimitri's were twenty people deep.  I waited about 15 minutes to get one.  Walking back to get my food, I spotted Jaunita's and decided on another chicken salad fajita!  Returning to the Grandstand, I was hiking up the stairs and looked up to see they had opened the gate!  Looking up, I tripped and crashed to the steps, cutting my knee, bruising my ankle and scraping my toe.....but SAVED THE FOOD!  

The team got great seats without my assistance and I found them quickly.  I hobbled to a chair and got my leg up on a seat and we ate our dinner.  Realizing I might need ice, I sent Stella, with my trusty ziplock bag, In search of first aid.  The guy wanted to know where I was sitting for assessment, but Stella told him this was a "routine bump for my Mom" , but then when he learned I was bleeding, Stella saved me a medic crash team descending on me by telling him that Grandma was a nurse so we were good.  

We saw the robot for the first time.  I wonder if the heat is a problem for him.

I recovered enough to make a walk for fries (World's Greatest), while the guys made a cookie run.  As I approached the french fry booth, I had to transect the four lines for cheese curds that crossed the sidewalk, the street and ended on the median of Dan Patch.   I went to the farthest side of the fries booth, and had no lines at all.   Cindy sent me with her plastic bag so I could carry fries for a crowd and the ketchup and return safely. I beat the cookie guys by 10 minutes, they had strategy, but still longer lines. 

Once the show got started, it was standing room only!

We enjoyed a great show.  The sunset over the farm campus was beautiful.  The position of the big screens make the little guitar player appear to be standing on the tent. 

We were cold, huddled together, wishing we had a few more layers.  We did not stay for the winners, but we did see fireworks, walking back to Mom's.

We learned the next day, that the record was broken today, 236,197 people for any day of the fair.

Seriously, still hot

After a morning of solving broken telephone issues and helping Dad prep for breakfast at church tomorrow morning, Stella painted windows and I got the blog updated and all our phone photos and contacts backed up.

It is another hot day.  Storms are forecasted for tonight and I think this is the last heat push before we cool down tomorrow.  At least today, if you are in the shade there is less humidity and a breeze.  

I got to the fair and started making my way through the Creative Activities, which I have seen parts of on other visits.  I looked for familiar names and objects, but found nothing familiar.  A church friend knits  adorable converse baby booties ( Bellaboo Knits) and I found some but they were not hers.  I think hers are cuter!

I was looking at the display cases and thought it would be fun to be one of the people who creates the compilations of art for each case.  I loved the different black & white ones this year!  

Mom texted to say Erin Murphy was at the State Legislature booth in the Education Building so I met her there.  Last times talked to Erin, I was fighting for my reputation and career and she did not know I was back teaching!  We filled out some surveys and got to see Scott Magnuson at the Senate booth. We grew up down the street from each other.  

We were there at the right time for bag/backpack acquisition!  Scored bags from St. Thomas, Rasmussen, Disability Council and backpacks from Hamline University.  The U of Mn backpacks are by far the best constructed ones out here.  But my grocery sack box is refilled in my car now! 

I signed up for the $200 Minnesota College Savings Plan give away, since we are only two years away and every little bit helps!  We found the Art's A Fair booth and it turns out there is a schedule for the impromptu art performances on the grounds.  Thank goodness I found that out....on day ten.

I made mom stick her head in!

We walked back brought Creative Activities and checked out some prize winning creations.

Tonight the plan was to make sure we got seats for the County Fair Talent Show Finals, but we had a little time to catch the Bandshell show too.

We run into these fine folks Lori & Ken who have spent much of the day out here, with children working and in parades.

I spotted the trash picker-upper guy and really wanted a picture, so I approached him and told him about my blog and he posed for me.  While looking at the picture, Ken asked what his ribbon was for and so I found him again and asked.  He told me he is a People Choice, best picker upper at the fair this year!  Pam filled me in that he was not awarded by the fair, but they have their own inside system, nevertheless, i shared the story with her on Monday to let her know what a rock star this guy is!  I know a good one when I see one!

We watched some of the show and headed up to Baldwin Park to get seats....we had our pick.  Sad state of affairs when we can get any seats we want.  We chose seats with a breeze and under the canopy since it looked like rain. We made it through most of the show but the clouds were darkening and the wind was gusting.

David Cambronne, best MC on the fairgrounds....that is MY people's choice!!

Found Elvis, playing at Anderson Wondows....He really is dead.

We made it back to Moms just as the rain hit and I went to join the girls for cards at Mary's house.  We had a lovely evening, and could even hear the Macklemore concert on Mary's porch on the east side of Como Lake!

Home by 12:30, need to be up at 5:30 am to help Dad...sleep fast!