..and then there were two on Labor Day

A beautiful Labor Day dawned.  The heat had broken and it was going to be sunny and perfect day at the fair.  Randy and I were on our own for the first time in 18 years!  (Little did we know we would be joined by a record breaking crowd!...just not Stella)

We started the day at The Ball Park Cafe!

 Tried their new food deep fried ribs.  Randy was a big fan!

Next up, Mini donuts and a picture in front of Ye Old Mill.  

No ride this year, not taking the chance that we might not be able to get out of the boat!

Next, Randy needed a foot long Poncho Dog!!

My first visit to the DNR Building!  Recycled materials, conservation and Drainage System foosball!

We wandered over to see if by chance there were any calves still on their way.  Nope, but here are a few of this years State Fair batch!  

So Sweet!

All cows had calved by Saturday.  Tote board tally!

We did a quick half circle around the hippodrome and found that CPLC has some competition in the scrubbie business!

Exiting the Coliseum at 10:30am, I looked up the street and knew it was going to be a record setting day!

Randy & I decided to head over and take a Stella Memories walk through the Midway.  

We didn't win any Minions, and skipped all the rides, missing my kiddo, and headed for Randy's old workplace, the Root Beer Hut!

On our way up to the Grandstand, I saw these beautiful  girls.  

They were here representing Hmong Minnesota Day

We rested on a bench for a bit and checked out the Grandstand, but didn't find any shirts this year.  

Decided corn would be good, as I had not eaten anything yet!

Randy thought about cheese curds, but the lines were across the street....on Labor Day!

Randy had had his fill, so I walked back to Mom & Dad's with him to take him home before my final volunteer shift.

These were the crowds buying tickets at noon!!

I found my friend "The Water Guy"!  I was worried about him, but he was good, it had just been too hot for him, so the grandkids helped him out!  I told him I missed him!

We found Dad on the curb, midday, on Labor Day, charging $20/car!!!

I walked back over and finally had a chance to see the busiest lady I know on the fairgrounds, and one of her hard working minions!  

I even got my own access badge...for a minute.

I got outside just in time to see my friend Roy marching in the Labor Day parade!

I wrote a letter on Alphabet stationary and posted it off to Stella at college.  

Sadly, the state fair no longer has its own post office and stamp cancellation mark, but the visitor center offers a stamp you can use.

I got up to the Forest and as I was checking in, Garrison Keillor was ringing the bell for earning his own Alphabet Blue Ribbon!

Debra Fraiser, author and founder, was here for the final day!  Not sure if we will get to see here next year at all?!?

I had lots of friends visit me on this last day!

And I got to work with my über volunteer friend Janice!

After my shift, the line was much shorter so I decided to take a chance and eat something battered and deep fried...I asked for them extra crispy and I confess....

 I thoroughly enjoyed them.  This could be the start of some new food risky behavior at the fair!

I connected with Mom and we walked down to the West End Market and found her favorite jeweler! 

....and a new necklace!

I walked through the glass blowing exhibit. I love these little pigs, but decided a glass piggie lamp would not be too safe in a college dorm room!

As we exited the Market  around 7:30 pm on Labor Day....when the fair is traditionally a ghost town...this is the scene down the street looking towards the Coliseum.  

Wow, can't wait to see the attendance totals for today.

Walked by the crazy busy Giant Slide,

grabbed my final Tipsy Pie

and sat down to listen to the last concert at the Bandshell featuring Home Free.  My Alphabet Forest toes held up the whole fair!

See ya next year!

Attendance Record was set of 178,876 people.  There were more people on Labor Day than on the final Sunday!

Day Eleven??

Slept in and headed over to the fair in time for the parade and my shift at the Alphabet forest.  The past few days had taken a toll on me!

I am not sure who was in character today, but they knew who I was and gave a silent shout out to Stella!

I decided to sit and get some photos of the parade and ran into some cousins!  They had a bench and invited me to join them.

I needed something to eat and I had a coupon for Manny's Tortas and stopped for a sandwich and cup of fresh pineapple.

Yum!

Made by Manny himself!

I had to head up to the Forest, so I walked with the parade up the hill.

                                            

It's always fun when friends stop by theForest to say "Hi!"

...and when others try to find me and leave notes!

I  walked down to join the usual crew at the Talent Show finals in the Grandstand. And ran into these guys!

I couldn't believe it was Day 11 and this was the first time we run into each other!   I provided the cookies this year and made a run to the West End Market to get my Bull & Chicken bites fro Lulu's (Axel's) and a cold beer!

Running past "i like you" I snapped a quick photo of Sarah!

She had been so busy every other time I walked past...I didn't want to interrupt.  Today was no exception, her shop has great locally sourced Minnesota goods!  but I captured her in between customers!

We had a thunderstorm scare, so we headed up under the Grandstand awning this year.  The rain came but didn't last so we got to see a great fireworks display!

It's always a fun night with this crew!

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day.....