I woke Stella with "Rise & Shine!" I told her she really just needed to rise but she replied "Oh, I'll shine...just give me a minute!"
I had been up since 4:30, the day is dawning and these are my State Fair feet.
I was going to get a fun pedicure again this year, but my injury from Irish Fair precluded another pedicure prior to the fair. I just have to hope my "ghost toe" heals and doesn't cause too much trouble for me. (rest assured, I have seen a doc, been on antibiotics for 10 days and am hopefully in the healing...losing toenail process)
I woke her at 5:45....she was shiny and ready to go by 6:15!
I woke her at 5:45....she was shiny and ready to go by 6:15!
We drove to moms as the sun rose, And I told her, "Someday you'll be happy you got up and came with me to the fair. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon..."
We were the first to park in the family fair parking lot, and posed for the first day photo, (next to the new car) and we were off!
There were still vestiges of the sunrise as we entered the grounds and Stella was thrilled that we arrived two hours before ~anything~ was open.
We walked toward the Bailey House and sat on Grammies bench for a minute
and then found the 25th Anniversary brick on the Bailey House path that was a gift to Randy & I from mom & dad.
We walked toward the Bailey House and sat on Grammies bench for a minute
We found the fish!
And the moose,
and did some Pokemon hunting, but just like before the fair started, the fair is lousy with Drowsy's. I also drained my cell phone to 50% power in a matter of an hour....
In order to take pics, blog and keep up with Twitter, Instagram and snapchat contests... I needed my power. Just an FYI, if you have time to rest and recharge, there are charging stations ~all over~ this year!
Stella needed some hair control measures implemented,
so we stopped for a sec, filled our water bottles and headed over to Carousel Park to see the STEM activities and things were just getting set up,
so we got a sneak preview to the activities and were allowed to play some games! Stella's favorite was "Stem Bunnies".
Boston Scientific was there with heart activities and Stella got a thing...I had no idea what it was, but she was excited!
She also got to program a BeeBot!
A couple tries and her bee ran the maze.
There was a 3D printer in action and these were a sample of the possibilities of this new technology! 3D bearings.
Stella loves this figdit!
We walked over and sat on Mom & Dads bench and found a new concrete path cutting through Adventure Park.
Hopefully this path, which connects with the new West End entrance will ease some of the congestion heading up Dan Patch as most of the people enter the fairgrounds here.
We walked over to the West End and found the topiary horses
and Sarah was setting up at "i like you".
Stella found a few gift ideas, so she'd be back to shop later!
Stella was willing to stick her face in a wall for me
and we discovered the olive booth offers more than just olives!
Stella decided a cup of fruit was in order. For people who are looking for healthy options at the fair....here's one!
We stopped up to say a quick hello to Dave @ The Ballpark.
They were busy getting ready to open too.
I aimed for Sara and Tipsy Pies, hungry for my first whole Boozy Blueberry Lemon Pie. It did not disappoint. Stella chose Salted Caramel Apple.
Here's two of her kids working hard!
Mom & Dad were having their 54th Wedding Anniversary breakfast at The Peg and found my cousins Steve & Karla doing the same thing!
Stella and I connected with them so we could a bench Anniversary picture!
This year I timed it better to find the chapstick at the Star Tribune booth and this year they opened on time, (no lost keys like last year)
Who should I find here but Gayle!
Stella needed some hair control measures implemented,
so we stopped for a sec, filled our water bottles and headed over to Carousel Park to see the STEM activities and things were just getting set up,
Boston Scientific was there with heart activities and Stella got a thing...I had no idea what it was, but she was excited!
She also got to program a BeeBot!
There was a 3D printer in action and these were a sample of the possibilities of this new technology! 3D bearings.
We walked over and sat on Mom & Dads bench and found a new concrete path cutting through Adventure Park.
We walked over to the West End and found the topiary horses
Stella was willing to stick her face in a wall for me
We stopped up to say a quick hello to Dave @ The Ballpark.
I aimed for Sara and Tipsy Pies, hungry for my first whole Boozy Blueberry Lemon Pie. It did not disappoint. Stella chose Salted Caramel Apple.
Here's two of her kids working hard!
Mom & Dad were having their 54th Wedding Anniversary breakfast at The Peg and found my cousins Steve & Karla doing the same thing!
And one showing you still like each other after 54 years!
This year I timed it better to find the chapstick at the Star Tribune booth and this year they opened on time, (no lost keys like last year)
Yup, smells like French fries
There is a lovely new water station at the WCCO radio booth, if you're looking for a fill up.
Stella stopped to see how she measured up to celebrities at the Blue Moon Cafe
We split off from Mom & Dad as Stella wanted to meet up with her college friend Katie and her bunny!
We walked past the area near Coasters beer garden, where Stella did her first concrete patch repair work when she was on the grounds crew last summer!
We found Katie,
Stella got a little bunny love, and Katie taught us all about bunnies and the fair.
Poor Katie has severe allergies and the animal barns are rough to breathe in!
With Katie as our 4H guide we made our way through all the animal barns.
Goats and sheep and pigs Oh My!
We answered questions, playing "Pigko" plinko and I answered the question "to what temp do you cook pork?" I said 145 degrees and she was surprised I was right!
Snapchat has some cute photo filters available in different places on the grounds and I asked Stella if She would take pics of me or if I should download snapchat she told me she would prefer not to have to block or unfriend me on snapchat, so she'll be my photographer!
We headed to see some horses and I am sad that most of them are locked away in stalls and are hard to see.
I wish the new stalls were better for seeing the horses. The chain link mesh stall walls make it hard to see. Hopefully it is better for the horses, but I'm not a fan.
I decided a foot long hot dog was in order, so I purchased dog #1 outside the Coliseum.
After four hours in the sun, we finally encountered an information booth with one of Stella's sunscreen boxes!
CHS Miracle of birth center was our last animal stop and as we walked in, we found a cow in active labor. I wasn't leaving....
The girls left me and headed off on their own adventure and I stood for two hours waiting for a miracle.
The first calf born this fair. There would be naming contest and I suggested Bullseye, since mom had a target on her side, and he was a Bull. We'll find out tomorrow. But it never gets old.
This was awesome though! One State Fair bucket list item already checked off on Day ONE! No pressure to keep returning to this barn...other than to see adorable baby animals.
All the early morning walking enabled me to get the qualifying 8/10 punches in my walking tour booklet, so I headed back up to the Bailey House to get my Friend of the Fair packet, coupon book and get my "I'm a Winner" blue ribbon for walking!
This years pin is super cute. I love cows.
It was almost parade time and the girls were up on the north end, so I headed that way. Sitting on the curb waiting for the parade were these two!
They got to the parade route half an hour early to grab a bench and they were all full! here are hundreds more benches to sit on, but I think today there are thousands more people!
I wanted to participate in the "2016 Blue Ribbon Recipe Card Roundup", happening each day in Creative Activities. I walked by and found out the cards are only being distributed at 10 am and 4 pm while supplies last. I set a timer to return! I volunteer every day from 3-6 (except today) so I have to get here by 10!
I found the girls...also curbside, watching the parade.
No space left for me, but that's OK, There is a parade every day! I did catch the St. Thomas cheerleaders in a pyramid formation!
I took this opportunity to snap a few pictures of the stops inside the alphabet forest. (during the parade, the forest empties out)
This is just one side, I'll do the other side another day!
L.L.Bean is here with a big boot!
Yet another instagram/twitter advertising campaign! Post a pic and be entered to win a prize...(fine print..."be on our mailing and promotional lists forever.....)
Katie took us into the 4H building to see her quilt.
We wont know until next weekend if she is a prize winner. I think she wins just for the entry! Its the geometric orange and black one. Quilting is not a strong suit of mine.
This American Flag depiction is all painted army men in a 3D representation!
My eyes had trouble discerning the army men, but the girls assured me they were all glued onto the surface, feet flat, with the bodies perpendicular to the canvas.
Katie offered to take us upstairs. I vaguely remember that the second floor was open to the public, with cleaner bathrooms and no lines. There is a cafeteria and foosball!
My favorite 80's game!
We used to run up there in the old Gloria Dei booth days to avoid a line. Katie took it one step further though....she invited us up the ~not public~ dormitory floor. The place I always wished I could stay when I was younger! It was what I pictured, but at this point in my life, not as appealing as it once was! Triple bed steel frame bunks (which, since the 80's, now only sleep, row upon row upon row in alphabetical order. The outer edges wouldn't be so bad, but being a K-elsey, I might have found myself in the warm, sticky center! The outer edge of the room provided awesome views of the fair. I promised no photos, since this was private space, but I was able to take a pic of the view out the stairwell window, Fun Fact: Katie says there are 87 counties in Minnesota and there are 78 stairs going up to the dorms...
Yet another new State Fair experience for me!
The girls indulged me at the tpt photo op spots and I got a backpack for being a member.
The girls had a bunny to feed and other things to do, so we parted ways again while I headed to recipe card area. On the way, I decided to wait for a St. Thomas bag. I got chatting with the ladies in front of me, from Palm Spring. Mom & Daughter, the daughter, a sophomore at St. Thomas.
They had these gadgets on their phones....a phone fan! They said they bought them at Patina, but later I found they are for sale in a few spots in the Grandstand! I'm not sure I have enough battery back up power to run a fan too. And honestly, the weather is just beautiful!
I was first in line for the recipe cards, and there were no signs or anything, just a table, so people sort of wondered why I was standing there, but soon more people arrived....even Gayle! They came out, and put up this sign (which would have been helpful to know earlier) The sign only has the recipes and dates. Nothing about distribution times. The recipe today was for strawberry jam. Now, no disrespect to the award winning cook, but seriously I think the recipe is a standard jam recipe. What makes award winning jam is award winning berries! The good Lord and Mother Nature have more influence in this outcome than a recipe.
We had a plan to meet at 4:30 at the Ball Park for dinner, so I started walking that direction. Along the way was Health Kare11 building, so I walked by and got my Ucare bag (the best grocery sacks) and Hennepin County Medical Center was there doing a fun activity for kids.
They got to have a joint "casted" I got in line as I explained to the nurse that I blogged the fair and liked to feature fun things to do with kids, she began putting a cast on my finger and I asked if they would be there every day all day and she said "no, just today.." Oh well, this will be fun to freak out my family later today!
I signed the 2000's board at the QuitPlan booth. Its been 9 years now since I quit! Yay me!
I got to the Ball Park cafe and scored a great table, just as the U of MN alumni band was playing the rouser and doing a special "Happy Birthday" to Dave Thiesen and his daughter! (both birthdays during the fair!)
I was struggling to save the table, people were circling like vultures. Stella and the girls got a little delayed taking care of the bunnies, but they finally arrived so I could get an ice cold beverage and something to eat!
As were leaving we ran into two of my favorite people, Greg & Mary Jo.
They are immortalized above in the ball park "bleachers"!
I wanted to try to limited time offer of Carpe Diem. A miso, buttermilk, carp shaped cone, filled with balsamic strawberry compote and topped with ice cream, graham crumble and a strawberry. It was interestingly delicious, but an absolute mess to eat! (only available a limited time at Midtown Global Market in the Bazaar)
The girls left me again and Mom messaged to say she had a seat at the Talent Show, but would I bring some food! I stopped and picked up her favorite Danielson's onion rings.
The line was sort of long because they were having fryer malfunction trouble. Not good for day one.
We headed to see some horses and I am sad that most of them are locked away in stalls and are hard to see.
I decided a foot long hot dog was in order, so I purchased dog #1 outside the Coliseum.
After four hours in the sun, we finally encountered an information booth with one of Stella's sunscreen boxes!
CHS Miracle of birth center was our last animal stop and as we walked in, we found a cow in active labor. I wasn't leaving....
The girls left me and headed off on their own adventure and I stood for two hours waiting for a miracle.
The first calf born this fair. There would be naming contest and I suggested Bullseye, since mom had a target on her side, and he was a Bull. We'll find out tomorrow. But it never gets old.
This was awesome though! One State Fair bucket list item already checked off on Day ONE! No pressure to keep returning to this barn...other than to see adorable baby animals.
All the early morning walking enabled me to get the qualifying 8/10 punches in my walking tour booklet, so I headed back up to the Bailey House to get my Friend of the Fair packet, coupon book and get my "I'm a Winner" blue ribbon for walking!
This years pin is super cute. I love cows.
It was almost parade time and the girls were up on the north end, so I headed that way. Sitting on the curb waiting for the parade were these two!
I wanted to participate in the "2016 Blue Ribbon Recipe Card Roundup", happening each day in Creative Activities. I walked by and found out the cards are only being distributed at 10 am and 4 pm while supplies last. I set a timer to return! I volunteer every day from 3-6 (except today) so I have to get here by 10!
I found the girls...also curbside, watching the parade.
This is just one side, I'll do the other side another day!
L.L.Bean is here with a big boot!
Katie took us into the 4H building to see her quilt.
This American Flag depiction is all painted army men in a 3D representation!
Katie offered to take us upstairs. I vaguely remember that the second floor was open to the public, with cleaner bathrooms and no lines. There is a cafeteria and foosball!
My favorite 80's game!
We used to run up there in the old Gloria Dei booth days to avoid a line. Katie took it one step further though....she invited us up the ~not public~ dormitory floor. The place I always wished I could stay when I was younger! It was what I pictured, but at this point in my life, not as appealing as it once was! Triple bed steel frame bunks (which, since the 80's, now only sleep, row upon row upon row in alphabetical order. The outer edges wouldn't be so bad, but being a K-elsey, I might have found myself in the warm, sticky center! The outer edge of the room provided awesome views of the fair. I promised no photos, since this was private space, but I was able to take a pic of the view out the stairwell window, Fun Fact: Katie says there are 87 counties in Minnesota and there are 78 stairs going up to the dorms...
Yet another new State Fair experience for me!
The girls indulged me at the tpt photo op spots and I got a backpack for being a member.
The girls had a bunny to feed and other things to do, so we parted ways again while I headed to recipe card area. On the way, I decided to wait for a St. Thomas bag. I got chatting with the ladies in front of me, from Palm Spring. Mom & Daughter, the daughter, a sophomore at St. Thomas.
I was first in line for the recipe cards, and there were no signs or anything, just a table, so people sort of wondered why I was standing there, but soon more people arrived....even Gayle! They came out, and put up this sign (which would have been helpful to know earlier) The sign only has the recipes and dates. Nothing about distribution times. The recipe today was for strawberry jam. Now, no disrespect to the award winning cook, but seriously I think the recipe is a standard jam recipe. What makes award winning jam is award winning berries! The good Lord and Mother Nature have more influence in this outcome than a recipe.
We had a plan to meet at 4:30 at the Ball Park for dinner, so I started walking that direction. Along the way was Health Kare11 building, so I walked by and got my Ucare bag (the best grocery sacks) and Hennepin County Medical Center was there doing a fun activity for kids.
I signed the 2000's board at the QuitPlan booth. Its been 9 years now since I quit! Yay me!
I got to the Ball Park cafe and scored a great table, just as the U of MN alumni band was playing the rouser and doing a special "Happy Birthday" to Dave Thiesen and his daughter! (both birthdays during the fair!)
I was struggling to save the table, people were circling like vultures. Stella and the girls got a little delayed taking care of the bunnies, but they finally arrived so I could get an ice cold beverage and something to eat!
As were leaving we ran into two of my favorite people, Greg & Mary Jo.
I wanted to try to limited time offer of Carpe Diem. A miso, buttermilk, carp shaped cone, filled with balsamic strawberry compote and topped with ice cream, graham crumble and a strawberry. It was interestingly delicious, but an absolute mess to eat! (only available a limited time at Midtown Global Market in the Bazaar)
The girls left me again and Mom messaged to say she had a seat at the Talent Show, but would I bring some food! I stopped and picked up her favorite Danielson's onion rings.
I won't lie...I stopped at Sara's and got my second tipsy pie for the day. Such goodness.
We left one Talent show and headed up the street to the County show and ran into this awesome lady and a couple of her hard working minions!
As I admired the troughs of floral arrangements near the new Baldwin Park stage, I realized I didn't get pics of any of the flowers on this first day.
My last stop for the day was finding my new friend and coworker Alexi! I had never been to "guest services" before so I walked all the way down to the West End before I realized that it was the building centrally located on Dan Patch which houses the post office and the bank! I finally found her and she told me I had to come see her tomorrow because she had a super awesome present for me!!
I got back to moms house and checked out my pedometer on my phone and found I had walked a little ways!
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