This was my day. No guests, no tours, no agendas other than my own until 3pm! I knew my niece Katie, her husband Nick and their adorable daughter Mara were down in the Ag/Hort, so I headed there first thing for some snuggles!
There will be a Quale family gathering Friday night while I am working in the forest, so I'm glad to see these guys for a minute, while they are in town!
Been here, done this in Ag/Hort, except for the new floral displays. They change every two days. Sadly they were closed for judging until noon. I'd try to get back. I did walk out the one wing Nancy and I missed yesterday and these displays caught my eye.
I caught this doorway into the building in great light!
I headed over to the International Bazaar for a peek at the colorful vendors!
African,
Russian
These Matroiskas being my favorites....
After I wandered through, nothing I needed to buy, or eat at this point, I made my way back up to the 4H building to catch the "Arts In" show performed by kids from all over the state, just for the fair. The schedule varies by day and it's usually when I am volunteering.
As I was walking up Cosgrove, I noticed a woman had fallen to the ground. I didn't really see what happened, but a crowd was gathering. I am first aid trained, but not knowing the situation, I asked if they needed first aid, and ran up the hill to the First Aid Center on the corner. With paramedics led to the scene, I made my way in to find a seat for the show. Later I would learn, that friends saw me race for help, and then flee the scene. My friend Sheryl described it as heroesque! I just did what I could, and hopefully the lady ended up OK. She was (according to friends reports) taken away by ambulance, so I guess I did the right thing.
I got a good seat for the 4H show.
It was called "I'm Ready!" And was great music & dancing with a pirate theme.
Mom let me know Mike Wallace and his Irish Brigade were going to be at the Bazaar stage at 1:15pm. It was past noon, so I had lots to do before I caught his show and returned to the forest. My current favorite Author/Illustrator team of David LaRochele & Mike Wohnoutka were appearing at the Forest today. Not sure if I would have time to greet them later, I said hello!
It's "Read & Ride" Day at the fair, so I wanted to get down to Carousel Park for the library activities! I "Got carded" and played "The price is right" fair style, and kids got to make an old school library check out pocket! There were lots of Minnesota mystery authors and thief books. I left with a bag of prizes and some good reading list ideas!
I love this building, but I'm not a fan of any of the food they serve.
I set my sights on Lulu's Public House. Some bull & chicken bites sounded great for lunch, and I was able to find a seat up on the rooftop bar!
The variety was nice, but way too much for one person,
As I wandered through the West End, I looked for my Christmas ornament people. I found these beautiful twisted aluminum creations, and there were lots of snowflakes, so I asked him if he had stars. HE was an older man in a wheelchair, he had a very thick eastern European accent, and he said "I make vor you...one hour." I trusted the man, paid him and told him I might not get back down here until Thursday. We'll see!
I found these guys and this years ornament is cute, but does not have the year on it. I can get it personalized, but I wanted to see what was up in the Merch Mart before I decide.
On my way back up to the Bazaar to catch the Irish Brigade, I ran into these two friends from church! They were off on a quick Mom & Daughter morning to see and eat some favorites!
I got a front row seat in the glorious sun to watch The Irish Brigade. This year Ruth's sister connectd them with some grand Irish dancers!
Ruth is a friend from church and she and Mike are still newlyweds!
I was in need of water so I stopped into the Bailey House where Mom was volunteering to fill up with icy cold water and I found a couple salty snacks to keep me from getting dehydrated.
No little friends stopped by to see me today, but some grown up friends did! Martha Liz sat and chatted for a bit, and Id be connecting with them later for food, beverages and music! But just as my shift was ending, this gal came and told me the story of my witnesses heroics earlier in the day! We snapped a cute pic in my photo booth!
Martha, Liz & I connected and were looking for food when we ran into their Aunt & Uncle sitting outside the food court. I'm sad I did not get a picture of this awesome couple! Mike, Sara and Carolyn joined us too!
These two ladies were sitting with Martha's family and I thought they knew them!, but no, this is Carol and Kris. They asked if they could sit here and were told they had to pay a penny. I think they got a penny's worth (at least) of entertainment value out of this bunch!
Each group had things to do, so Martha, Liz, Mom & I walked down to Mancini's and they got the porketta pig wings! Two thumbs up!
We got a treat listening to Gary LaRue singing Mack the Knife on the stage there!
Earlier Martha told me her ice cream intake level was at an all time low, so here the girls filled up with chocolate custard. This is something I've never tried at Custards Last Stand, under the Grandstand ramp, but again, two thumbs up!
I was hungry, so I picked up a Dimitri's expensively delicious Gyro. and we ate and walked down to the West End to see our old neighbor and friend John Munson and his new combo Twilight Hours.
They were good, but the amphitheater round was quite loud, so we hung around outside and found other goofy things to do.
Mom said we all looked like we were in pain!
As we were goofing around I remembered I had made a deal with a guy about an ornament, so I went back to find him and sure enough. He had a funny smile on his face and handed me this beauty!
We wandered through the History Center and I found this picture and wondered if this was Randy's relatives home of the George William Hendrickson's then made our way home.
