Heather's State Fair Adventures: Three Dog Day!

Rain was forecast, but the storms rolled through early. Hopefully will stay away for Mom & Dad, who have Bonnie Raitt grandstand tickets tonight! A part of me hoped for a little rain to cull the herds. The last three days have set attendance records.

According to my math, only 40,000 people need to go today to break the overall record set in 2014.

I think there were 40,000 people on Judson alone this morning!

First stop, we picked up the scooter to make it more enjoyable for Randy. Who should we run into at the 10:00 am recipe card roundup time, but Gayle and her husband Mark. They graciously took a family photo.

We're ready to roll!

I completed my recipe card collection

and I will create a Blue Ribbon Recipe Roundup post all its own!

First stops for Randy & Stella were food favorites. Dog #1 for Randy was the Foot Long hotdog from the AFL-CIO corner stand.

On our way to get Stella the fudge puppy, and pie for me, we ran into this happy couple! They are helping at the forest this afternoon, and I'm not!

Stella went to get a fudge puppy and Randy I stopped to say hi to this guy. It was a busy, successful fair!

Stella arrived with her breakfast in hand

And I, of course, got my last pie. This is a sad, sad, sight.

I have learned I can buy them year round, and order a case in the off season, but I really cannot eat pie every day without the offsetting 5-6 mile walk. I might try to keep up the walking routine. It really has done this body good!

We stopped up to the Bailey House to renew our "Friends of the Fair" membership and be eligible for a brick drawing, and all the sneak preview events next year. No time like the present to prepare for the 2017 State Fair! Mom was busy assisting people with memberships all morning, do we dropped off a State Fair Sod I'll rhubarb berry tipsy pie. All her Foundation coworkers were envious, so she ran back to Sara's and got a fie pie sampler for the crew. More pie thumbs up!

Randy and I do not have the proper Norwegian gear to represent at St. Olaf Christmasfest, so we stopped at the Bazaar to get our own this year! It was too warm to model them so I took a pic of the ones we purchased. Randy got the darker blue zipper on the left and I got the lighter blue clasp on the right.

Today my only final agenda item was the coliseum. I realize I never made it around the interior. It was heating up quickly, so I decided all I really needed was my "Simply Nuts" toffee peanuts.

Armed with two coupons, Stella and I each got a pound of the delicious snack!

I ran into the CHS Miracle of Birth Center to see all the calves. I was a bit disappointed that they were all stuck in a small pen in the back. I asked an on site veterinarian, why they were not in the big center ring, and he shared my disappointment, was didn't know why.

I found my "Prince", and checked out the birth board.

Lots of calves, but I was pleased with being there for the first!

My family was taking a shady media break,

and then we were soon on our way for a margarita for mom and Dog #2 for Randy!

Poncho dog, outside the DNR.

Stella ran across the road and got a little boat of Luigi Fries that we all shared. Basically fluffy breadsticks baked with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.

We did not head up the ramp to the Grandstand for shirt shopping this year. Randy thinks he might have enough for now...??? instead we went for the north end so Randy could get a feel for Giggles (Tim's) Campfire Pavilion for a possible class reunion event next summer.

We passed by Peter's Dogs near the Kidway, and being we had a "coop'n" Randy got Dog #3. Peters chili dog. I did have a bite of this one.

On the way, we stopped, one last time, at the Alphabet Forest to say so long to (almost) all my volunteer/coworkers. I also had to pick up my epi pen safety pack! Dan was stuck trying to get ~to~ the fair. It was gonna be another busy day! I hoped to get up later in the day.

Tim and his campfire grill had a very successful fair too. He thought they'd come close to running out of the Iron Range Meat & Potatoes by days (and fair) end. While photographing the venue, who should see me, but this blast from our past! It's been at least five years or more since I've seen the "Mayor of Como Park" Ned Hanna!

Who wouldn't want to have an event here in the summer, or better yet fall?!?

The sky was clouding over, thankfully, but the humidity was oppressive and every now and then we'd have a relieving breeze.

I requested one last cow "photobomb~ortunity" and my family obliged!

I also entered into the Kemps ice cream for a year drawing...it would go nicely with pie. Just sayin'.

Had to take my annual picture of Randall on Randall Ave. There is a new street sign this year!

Deciding it was time for "lunch" we headed back to the Ball Park to get cheeseburgers and craft beer onion rings.

Mom joined us for a bit at our table, while we contemplated the plans for remains of the day. Randy had accomplished his fair bucket list, Stella was focused on college preparations and ready to get home to it, and me....well of course there was more to see and do, but this was my last day with my daughter for a while. We returned the scooter and were on our way out of the gate by 1:30 pm.

I did get a stamp, just in case

We all settled in at home, and Randy & I both crashed for a bit. When I woke up, Stella and I decided to make a run with most of her stuff to St. Olaf in an effort to get mostly moved in before the rains begin for the next two days. It was wise.

Thorson Hall, her new home away from home.

Got her moved in by 7 pm, and stopped for dinner on the way back. It was nice to eat indoors while seated!

And just for the record, I did spend some time each day playing Pokemon Go! In twelve days, I earned 125,000 XP and gained about 10 new Pokemon via hatching eggs and evolution. Got to level 24. I may not get to level 25 until next year! Pokemon Go was not really noticeable at the fair. With or without iphones, there are people who randomly stop in front of you for no reason, and usually in a doorway or curb cut.