Fair Time!

This week was "fair week" - which means the most popular form of entertainment for a huge percentage of this county is attending the county fair.  I've not missed very many years.  Going yesterday brought back so many memories!


When I was a kid I loved going on the rides - the merry-go-round, ferris wheel, scrambler, tilt-a-whirl...     When the sun went down the midway became such a magical place with all the lights, music, and smells.  It wasn't a day at the fair without a candied apple, cotton candy, a funnel cake, maybe an elephant ear.  I had to have a corn dog!  A cup full of greasy French fries!  I remember heading to the car at the end of the night, my belly so full I thought I would bust!  Of course a fresh-squeezed lemonade or two was also drank. 


There were barns full of horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens and ducks.  There were also barns full of other projects people would enter in hopes of winning a blue ribbon; everything from photography to decorated cakes.  I always wanted one of those giant pumpkins for Halloween!  I never had one, but when my children were about 6 and 9, a man I worked with brought me a huge pumpkin for each of them.  They weighed in well over 75 pounds. 


Yesterday was our annual trek to the fair.  We went with our dear friends who have three children, ages 13, 10, and 8 that are like grandchildren to us.  We had barely walked through the gates when they found friends to ride the rides with.  Watching them run from ride to ride brought back so many memories!  This year they were all tall enough to ride all the rides.  The joy on Jocelyn's face when she realized she could ride with her older siblings was precious.  I remember that year when I was finally taller than the measuring stick!    I no longer ride the rides; instead my excitement is in seeing an old friend I hadn't seen maybe since last year.  I enjoy the swine barn most - something about all those pigs just makes me smile.  We sampled a few fair food goodies before we headed out the gate as the sun was setting.  Another fair has come and gone - next year will be here before I know it!

Surprise Friday Evening Fun

Thursday evening I was just settling down to relax and unwind for the evening and I got a text from Kristal.  She was excited - yes I can tell that from a text - and wanted me to hurry and look at Facebook.  So I did.  A nearby establishment was having our favorite entertainer, and he was going to be there the next evening, Friday!  We quickly made plans to be there.  We follow this guy to all the wineries he plays at but usually he plays on Saturday evenings.  We knew it would be tough to get there on time on a Friday with work getting in the way and all, but we would manage. 


Kristal and I had been to this place before but Jon and my parents had never been.  It isn't a "real" winery in that they don't make wine, it is more a wine bar and restaurant.  We had reservations and our table was front and center.  Steve was surprised and happy to see us when we arrived.  Since Friday is our normal "restaurant" night at our Mexican restaurant we own, Jon stopped in and grabbed a few tacos for us to eat on the way.  We figured we could save a few bucks that way and just have some appetizer-type food while listening to the music and drinking some wine.  Our plan worked.  Kristal ordered a chicken/cheese dip that came with delicious, warm French bread.  I think we ate 3 loaves of the stuff!  Other than a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from California, the other two bottles were from an Ohio winery.  They were a bit on the sweet side, but sweet is fine for sipping and enjoying music.  Steve played all our favorites and more.   We enjoyed ourselves immensely.  The best part?  It was only Friday - so now we have the entire weekend yet to enjoy!  I'm sure we'll fill it with fun things to do.

You'll be seeing more of me here

I have decided to do all my blogging here from now on.  AllRecipes, where I have done most of my blogging for the past several years, has changed their format and I do not like it one bit.  I am not renewing my "Pro" status so will no longer be able to blog there.  It saddens me to be leaving a place I really enjoyed, but like the saying goes... "All good things must come to an end".  


It took forever for summer to get started, but once it did, it hit full force.  We have had hot, humid, and dry weather for a good long time now.  I'm not complaining for I know all too soon it will be winter again and cold.  I'd rather have the heat.  Today it was a beautiful day; not too hot, not much humidity and the sun was shining.  After work I met up with Kristal and we took our pups for a walk.  We've gone from two pups to four!  I have my Annie and Suzy and she has her Maggie and Mollie.  They are the bestest of friends and love these outings.  We chose a nearby trail in the woods.  The trail follows alongside the lake for a bit and winds around in the woods.  It was so green, with the sun shining through the trees.  We saw a couple deer.  It was a nice walk and a perfect attitude adjustment after a hard day at work. 


Tomorrow is Friday already and I'm hoping the weekend will bring nice weather and fun times.  Even though my blogs will no longer appear on a cooking site I'm sure I'll still blog about food.  After all - food is an important part of my life. 


I hope to see a few of my friends here.  Stop by, leave a comment.  My door is always open to family.  To be my friend means you are my family.