We packed a lunch for Stella and we got out the door around 12:30, trying to make a 1:15 show at the Bazaar. I made a quick stop at Mastel's to pick up some Arnicare soothing muscle gel for my kids (and my Mother's) aching muscles.
Walking into the fair we saw another freebie food distributor. This time it was Blue Corn chips. These were good!
We entered the fairgrounds and today for the first time...took a left and headed towards the Bailey House. I finally remembered my Foundation membership certificate so I could pick up my coupon book! Stella headed down to work and I found Mom & Dad in the Bazaar, saving me a seat for my friend Rosie in the CAAM Chinese Dance Theater show. It was a beautiful show, and the kids did a great job!
Mom showed me her State Fair nail job, and it reminded her she had to run after the show to catch her nail artists Mother in the Aquatennial float in the parade.
I only had a short amount of time before I had to get up north, but I wanted to see the vegetables before the heat made them not so photogenic!
I found the big pumpkins
squash
prize winning beets 
and can you say "Little Shop of Horrors"?
There is a new kid exhibit where kids can plant seeds that looks like good family, free, fun!
I also took a gander at the crop art. There is poignant art
art that makes me remember Grandma Olga
Dr. Who art
obligatory cat art
inappropriate art 
and art just for me! 
The scarecrows have moved to their own wing and it is nice that they are displayed to well!
I looked up to see all the seed bags displayed and noticed this sign. I know I have seen it before, but do any of the Kelsey's that read my blog know if we are related to this guy??
I risked life and limb, armed with my new EPI pen and went into the Honey Exhibit to see my friend Cindy had any entries. I did not see any, but I found these beautiful Pysanky eggs!
I saw the Flower Exhibit had the Gladiolas! I know they are there every year, but I always seem to miss them! They were gorgeous and I wished I had more time to really see them. I showed Mom the pictures and she told me Grammie K would be happy! I remember going to see them with her so maybe that is why I always feel the need to find them each year!
I left AG/Hort and entered the throngs of people and headed up to the Forest! I wanted to get there early since I knew a fabulous author was there today, but more importantly one of my New Horizon families were coming to see me....(well, the author too!)
I arrived to find them coloring and engaged with David LaRochelle, author of "Moo!"
It is always hard for toddlers to see their teacher outside of school. I teach Paige every day, I get hugs and kisses every day, but here, in a strange, overwhelming, over stimulating place, it took a good 20 minutes for her to warm up and figure out it was all OK. 
This little angel will be starting in the preschool room when I get back from my vacation, so the hugs I got today mean that much more.
On the plus side, the little one sleeping in the backpack starts in my classroom in October! 
When my kids were there, I got a small cut on my finger so I was directed to the medical station across the street to get it cleaned and a band aid. The girls came with me. I realized, as I walked off, hand in hand with two of their children at the fair, they must trust me! The space was air conditioned so much it was almost too cold! I asked the triage nurse how long it might take to cleanse, treat and bandage my gaping.....scratch. She said they could take as long I liked....LOL I would have stayed longer than 2 minutes, but the girls may have frozen to death!
On the way out there were Marines in the Armed Forces booth and the girls wanted to say "Hi" and "Thanks!" Paige told one soldier about my owie, and I responded by telling them to stay out of the alphabet forest, it is a dangerous combat zone full of kids and sharp plastic buckets!
Since I will be working a few days with only a couple volunteers I asked if I can try a different station to get a feel for more than just the Noodle Photo Booth. Today I got the "Beanbag Word Toss" and "Word Duck" station. I had lots of fun while kids tossed bean bags into bucket to "earn" words for their Alphabet Forest letter checklist.
The goal of this place is simply to increase literacy and expose kids to letters, words and books! There is an alphabet word search checklist the kids can get and they need to find two words for each letter of the alphabet, throughout their fair day. Once it is complete, they can show us their list and get a blue ribbon!
They can fill it out all day as they wander the fair, or the Forest is set up so they can complete the whole thing right there. It takes a little while, but there are lots of free activities Coloring, making necklaces, bean bag tossing, spin the word wheel, meet the authors, make a letter necklace and the word kitchen. All FREE all fun.
The guest authors have books for sale and will autograph them I bought "Moo!" today! The author and illustrator were here today! David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka. As they were leaving I asked for a picture! :)
I was busy working my station when these two friends showed up!
Carole took a video of me, "Heather doing what Heather loves to do". You can see it on my Facebook page until I can figure out how to load a link here.
The Beanbag Word Toss is just as busy as the Photo Booth, so I only had a minute to say "Hi" to Sally!
When I got done working Estella was waiting in line for a coke.
She got her name and one for Carole....which is ironic in that both of them prefer Pepsi!
Carole and Estella wanted to check out the Grandstand and also stop by the Star Tribune stand to get her T-shirts.
They are cute this year...and cheap! I got my "fresh cut grass" lip balm. I am not impressed.
We walked up the Grandstand ramp and the view was nice! 
We watched the Ejector Seat (a ride where two people are catapulted into the air in a gyroscope chair on the ends of huge bungee cords) and the Skyscraper (a ride where people are in cars at either end of a 160 foot rotating arm, pulling up to 4 G's) I can't even do the Sky Ride! No. Thank. You.
The Grandstand was H~O~T so I quickly purchased my ratcheting clippers
and noticed the soft side cooler people were there again. Mom & Dad had a little oops with their soft side cooler when they filled it will dry ice....a bit too cold and cracked the fabric! The guy was a chatter, and I did not have time to wait and ask price. Another thing I need to revisit.
It was just too hot to spend much time inside and I needed a little dinner, so we went to Juanita's Fajitas and grabbed a chicken salad fajita! Still as good as last year..cold, crunchy, sweet with a little heat! I shared it with Carole, so we could eat more later!
As we sat on a bench eating, in a crowd of thousands, a kid walks up to ME and asks, "where do I get cheese curds?" I told him and Carole looked at me and said "out of ALL the people here...how did he know to ask the one who could direct him right there?" I must have an aura.
They had not been to the West End, so we went to see Stella and got a cute picture of these two...Stella and Estella, or "Fun Size" as we like to call her!
We took some time for Carole to feed the wild animals in the back corner of the West End where the Tony Sheda fur trader booth is located.
While resting in the West End, a guy walked by and offered me his coupon book....I said sure! It had not been even used!
A cold beer and place to rest our feet was in order....Lulu's rooftop deck and surrounding beer garden was packed. I want to sit up there at some point...
I took Carole and Estella on the path a crow flies (or a claustrophobic walks) through the fair. We made a potty stop under the Grandstand ramp. I have to say I notice the lack of state fair sanitation employees this year. I think the fair has had trouble getting people to work. The bathroom floors are dangerous, so use caution entering and exiting! But this is what made me laugh..a little targeted advertising on the bathroom stall!
We decided to head up to the Ball Park Cafe, made some new friends and got a great table, and as we sat and ate, laughed and had a bite to eat we ran into lots of old friends!
I got some craft beer battered onion rings for us to share, they are the ONE thing that is battered and fried that I dare to eat out here because they are so light a crispy, I know they are cooked! Funny, I ordered them, but did not tell them my name. Maybe I spend too much time here :)
I told Carole & Estela about our best man Greg and his wife Mary Jo depicted in wood and paint in the "bleachers" above the Ball Park....
when in they walked in person! :)
There were these guys
and these guys
and these guys
and this guy
and then THIS guy
it was a little creepy!
Stella finished work at 10 pm and met us in the Ball Park and had a bite to eat since her gate was so busy she had only a ten minute break @ 6 pm to eat her peanut butter sandwich and apple and get back on the job! She regaled us with funny and challenging stories of her day as "Nobody gets by me Stella", master ticket taker. One kid drew a stamp on their hand with a box and three scribble lines in pen ink. Stella said "C'mon, dude, you didn't even try!" She is seeing a whole different side of State Fair life!
As we were leaving the Ball Park, I noticed this bench!!! As the Kid Rock concert ended we got to see the fireworks and headed home. I love this parting shot of my Stella and "Fun size" Stella!
Distance: 14,089. (Better!). My goal is 15K each day.
There is a new kid exhibit where kids can plant seeds that looks like good family, free, fun!
I also took a gander at the crop art. There is poignant art
The scarecrows have moved to their own wing and it is nice that they are displayed to well!
I risked life and limb, armed with my new EPI pen and went into the Honey Exhibit to see my friend Cindy had any entries. I did not see any, but I found these beautiful Pysanky eggs!
I saw the Flower Exhibit had the Gladiolas! I know they are there every year, but I always seem to miss them! They were gorgeous and I wished I had more time to really see them. I showed Mom the pictures and she told me Grammie K would be happy! I remember going to see them with her so maybe that is why I always feel the need to find them each year!
I left AG/Hort and entered the throngs of people and headed up to the Forest! I wanted to get there early since I knew a fabulous author was there today, but more importantly one of my New Horizon families were coming to see me....(well, the author too!)
I arrived to find them coloring and engaged with David LaRochelle, author of "Moo!"
This little angel will be starting in the preschool room when I get back from my vacation, so the hugs I got today mean that much more.
When my kids were there, I got a small cut on my finger so I was directed to the medical station across the street to get it cleaned and a band aid. The girls came with me. I realized, as I walked off, hand in hand with two of their children at the fair, they must trust me! The space was air conditioned so much it was almost too cold! I asked the triage nurse how long it might take to cleanse, treat and bandage my gaping.....scratch. She said they could take as long I liked....LOL I would have stayed longer than 2 minutes, but the girls may have frozen to death!
On the way out there were Marines in the Armed Forces booth and the girls wanted to say "Hi" and "Thanks!" Paige told one soldier about my owie, and I responded by telling them to stay out of the alphabet forest, it is a dangerous combat zone full of kids and sharp plastic buckets!
Since I will be working a few days with only a couple volunteers I asked if I can try a different station to get a feel for more than just the Noodle Photo Booth. Today I got the "Beanbag Word Toss" and "Word Duck" station. I had lots of fun while kids tossed bean bags into bucket to "earn" words for their Alphabet Forest letter checklist.
The goal of this place is simply to increase literacy and expose kids to letters, words and books! There is an alphabet word search checklist the kids can get and they need to find two words for each letter of the alphabet, throughout their fair day. Once it is complete, they can show us their list and get a blue ribbon!
They can fill it out all day as they wander the fair, or the Forest is set up so they can complete the whole thing right there. It takes a little while, but there are lots of free activities Coloring, making necklaces, bean bag tossing, spin the word wheel, meet the authors, make a letter necklace and the word kitchen. All FREE all fun.
The guest authors have books for sale and will autograph them I bought "Moo!" today! The author and illustrator were here today! David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka. As they were leaving I asked for a picture! :)
I was busy working my station when these two friends showed up!
The Beanbag Word Toss is just as busy as the Photo Booth, so I only had a minute to say "Hi" to Sally!
When I got done working Estella was waiting in line for a coke.
Carole and Estella wanted to check out the Grandstand and also stop by the Star Tribune stand to get her T-shirts.
The Grandstand was H~O~T so I quickly purchased my ratcheting clippers
It was just too hot to spend much time inside and I needed a little dinner, so we went to Juanita's Fajitas and grabbed a chicken salad fajita! Still as good as last year..cold, crunchy, sweet with a little heat! I shared it with Carole, so we could eat more later!
As we sat on a bench eating, in a crowd of thousands, a kid walks up to ME and asks, "where do I get cheese curds?" I told him and Carole looked at me and said "out of ALL the people here...how did he know to ask the one who could direct him right there?" I must have an aura.
They had not been to the West End, so we went to see Stella and got a cute picture of these two...Stella and Estella, or "Fun Size" as we like to call her!
We took some time for Carole to feed the wild animals in the back corner of the West End where the Tony Sheda fur trader booth is located.
While resting in the West End, a guy walked by and offered me his coupon book....I said sure! It had not been even used!
A cold beer and place to rest our feet was in order....Lulu's rooftop deck and surrounding beer garden was packed. I want to sit up there at some point...
I took Carole and Estella on the path a crow flies (or a claustrophobic walks) through the fair. We made a potty stop under the Grandstand ramp. I have to say I notice the lack of state fair sanitation employees this year. I think the fair has had trouble getting people to work. The bathroom floors are dangerous, so use caution entering and exiting! But this is what made me laugh..a little targeted advertising on the bathroom stall!
We decided to head up to the Ball Park Cafe, made some new friends and got a great table, and as we sat and ate, laughed and had a bite to eat we ran into lots of old friends!
I got some craft beer battered onion rings for us to share, they are the ONE thing that is battered and fried that I dare to eat out here because they are so light a crispy, I know they are cooked! Funny, I ordered them, but did not tell them my name. Maybe I spend too much time here :)
I told Carole & Estela about our best man Greg and his wife Mary Jo depicted in wood and paint in the "bleachers" above the Ball Park....
There were these guys
and these guys
Stella finished work at 10 pm and met us in the Ball Park and had a bite to eat since her gate was so busy she had only a ten minute break @ 6 pm to eat her peanut butter sandwich and apple and get back on the job! She regaled us with funny and challenging stories of her day as "Nobody gets by me Stella", master ticket taker. One kid drew a stamp on their hand with a box and three scribble lines in pen ink. Stella said "C'mon, dude, you didn't even try!" She is seeing a whole different side of State Fair life!
As we were leaving the Ball Park, I noticed this bench!!! As the Kid Rock concert ended we got to see the fireworks and headed home. I love this parting shot of my Stella and "Fun size" Stella!
Distance: 14,089. (Better!). My goal is 15K each day.
Freebies: grass lip balm
Food: chicken salad fajita, craft beer onion rings, beer
Something new: bought a book at the fair and met author & illustrator and had it signed!
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