This weekend we went to one of our favorite places, and that was the fall fair. Actually I am not sure if it is actually one of OUR favorite places but it sure is mine. I grew up going to this fair and was in this parade when I was little. Since my oldest has been about seven my mom has made sure my daughter had a chance to enter things in this fair. She has always won prizes and it has been great for her self esteem and creativity! Thank you mom!
We start the day by attending the parade. Some years it has been quite warm and we are in tank tops but this year it was totally pouring. It wasn't misting, or raining it was pouring. However where we live this is something we are usually relatively prepared for so off we went. We did get quite wet (the adults) but the children were fine. This parade always makes me tear up. I think because there is so much community spirit and it is reminds me of times past. This fair has been going on for more than one hundred years. A little bit or a heck of a lot of rain does not dampen spirits all that much! The Legion band was marching along playing faithfully shivering in their uniforms covered in medals. The floats were creative, pumpkin themed and incredible. I think of my grandparents and the many years they stood and waved and cheered or were IN the parade, my mother and her siblings were in this parade. I love it!
This is a steam powered tractor.
My two year old is really into 'sheens' right now (machines) so this absolutly thrilled his little soul and his father's big soul as well.
I did not take many pictures of the parade because of the pouring rain and I did not bring my 'good' camera. It would have been ruined!
This is one of my daughter's entries. She made pumpkin latte muffins and they were delicious if you like coffee. Apparently the judges did.
People's creativity just blows me away. When I am in the building where everyone has entered their best vegetables, their photography, their crafts, baking, preserving, and all other creations I can just feel the pride and happiness that fills the air and I love it!
My daughter made the outfit this doll is wearing and she also did her hair. She got second against two other dolls who were both sporting hand knit and crochet outfits. I am so proud of her :)
I love the random things you can enter ~ this for example is a collection of tea cups put together in a beautiful way. You can also enter trash crafts, wood work, stone work, pottery, flower arrangements and the list goes on ~ if you make a bathing suit in this next year you can enter it in this fall fair!!
This was incredible. Imagine having the time and vision to create this. It got a special nod as you can see by the ribbon. It is a rug and it was amazing!!!!
My children loved these. I thought they were so adorable.
If you grow herbs and would like to enter them...you can.
Seriously my happy place is this fair. I wanted to stay all day. My family has to drag me out of this building every year.
When you are two nothing seems impossible.
It was a special day. We don't have a lot of traditions in our family and so I am thankful we have managed to keep up with this one. My baby got to go on his first 'train' ride and he was SO thrilled. The other children go to go on another ride their grandma and my oldest sponsored from her winnings. We ate lunch in the animal barn because it was dry in there and watched some 4H ers show their bunnies.
If you haven't been to a fall fair before you should go. It means you have to slow down and enjoy simple things. We were on the train with a big city fellow and he was less than impressed. He didn't realize the heritage, the richness, the beauty of times of old where communities got together and showed off their skills, their hard work, the best of their talents, their prize animals and machinery...and took time to celebrate. At night when we went to pick up my daughter's doll and cupcakes people were hard at work cleaning up the building. Volunteers spend hours giving so kindly. Folk were gathered around and a little auction was started. A prize purple cabbage, pumpkin loaf and flower arrangement went for seven dollars. The beer garden was pumpin out the tunes and the rain had died down a bit. The animals were home safe in their beds recovering from the strain of their day in the public eye and faithful 4H parents were finally dry!
I was happy to get home too at last. The day was long and I was so tired but thankful again for heritage, beauty, harvest and the Fall Fair.
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