A Night at the County Fair

The residents of Our County were out in full force at the opening night of the county fair. Much candied apples and cotton candy were consumed and later hurled on the rides. The scent of cow poop and funnel cakes wafted through the evening air. It was a magnificent mass of unwashed humanity. I was lovin' every minute of it. I had to have some cotton candy because ya just can't go to the fair and NOT eat cotton candy. I did not, however, hurl it up later on a carnival ride.

In the exhibit barn I found my stuff had won second place ribbons! Woo Hoo! Beginner's Luck! These photos are a bit dark and fuzzy because I was having trouble shooting through the chicken wire barricade, but there are the ribbons! Woo Hoo!







I was disappointed that there wasn't a single crocheted toilet paper holder to be found. I thought at first I had missed them, but nope, nary a one. They have finally died away completely.

We watched the junior division hog competition and got to see two hogs have a fight in the show ring. It was better than a barroom brawl. I wonder if the judges deduct points if your pig gets in a fight??? Hubby wouldn't let me near the pig pens to get me some pig sugars, so I pouted about that for a bit.

We did get over to the lamb and goat pens to find some cute little critters this year. Hubby did all the skritchin' and I just took pictures.





We wandered back out on the midway to gawk at the carnie games and watch people on the rides. Carnival rides make me kinda queasy just watching other people on them. I wouldn't dare get on one. Ugh!





At the entrance/exit gate there were these two illuminated palm trees just sitting out in the middle of the carnival doing nothing in particular. One was red and one yellow. I couldn't figure out why they were there, other than to look pretty and provide some light. I thought they were a pretty cool design. I'd have the yellow one in my backyard.



All in all, a wonderful date night out with Hubby. And I won ribbons! Woo Hoo!

County Fair Time

This is County Fair week here in Our Town. I love going to the fair to people watch. I like looking at the chickens and rabbits too, and skritching the ugly goats on the head. I probably shouldn't be touching someone else's livestock, but I do it anyway.


This is me, getting up close and personal with a pig at the 1994 county fair. I like the pigs the best. They have the most personality.

Hubby has a high ol' time at the fair too. He is visiting with somebody from the time we hit the parking lot until the time I finally poke him to get him to leave. He is in his element amidst all the throngs of people. I usually have to drag him outta there.

I'm amazed at the tragic crafts that people enter in the fair. We always laugh at the crocheted toilet paper holders. Brownie points go to the first person to spy one that is made as a skirt for a plastic doll whose legs go in the roll tube. Those are a Southern Culture classic, but are getting to be harder and harder to find each year. I'm afraid that little piece of kitsch may be dying away. Here my twin sister Hillary displays a fine example of the non-doll variety.


When I look at the ribbon winners for photography I think, "Gosh, I take better pictures than that." But every year fair time sneaks up on me so I've never been prepared to enter anything. This year was different. I had been watching the paper for the fair announcement, and picked up an entry rules booklet a few weeks ago.

I trotted down to the fairgrounds this afternoon to submit my oil derrick model and two photographs. The place was abuzz with people setting up the carnival rides, the information booths, the garden veggie competition. I was behind an old fellow who was entering muscadines. There was a big discussion on exactly how many muscadines had to be on the plate for the entry. I am not a big fan of muscadines, so he wouldn't have won a ribbon if I were the judge.

I thought my photos were pretty good until I saw the other entries already submitted. Uh Oh! There are some fine amateur photographers in this county. My ribbon chances already look pretty slim, and I was just the 10th person to enter in the photography division.

Judging is tomorrow. Stay tuned for results.