This week has been very busy for me. Not as much time to write and I miss that. But I have been spending some time with some special people. Today a luncheon with seven female first cousins and one aunt which was a lot of fun, and it was so good to see all those beautiful Ladies. We discussed a family reunion for next September. On that topic we accomplished quite a bit. The power of women with a mission!
Yesterday I went out to the Kentucky State Fair with two Foxy hags, Chickie and Robin. Now that I am retired as a nurse I can choose to do activities that change up my week on a week day. Ages fifty-five and up received a free admission to the fair and Robin had a free parking pass, so we were set to go. The weather was perfect, in the mid-70’s. I had not been to the fair for approximately ten years because it is usually so hot. I am so glad I went. The whole atmosphere was just so festive. I felt like I had stepped down into a hole and popped back up into a whole new world like Alice in Wonderland. I was still in Louisville but it sure did not look or feel like Louisville.
We saw lots of 4-H young people with their farm animals, cows, pigs, and sheep. The sheep had been shaved down to the nub of their skin with fluffy little “pom poms” of hair or wool left on their front and back legs. Appearance was obviously important in the judging as all these animals were spic and span clean.
There were food booths everywhere with lots of variety of food and drink to choose from. This was a good thing as the fair appeared to be fairly crowded and it was only late morning and into early afternoon. The strangest sandwich I saw was the hamburger-donut. Even when I used to eat meat I do not think I ever envisioned eating a hamburger with a glazed donut served on top of it.
We watched the Marvelous Mutts catching frisbees and diving for sticks into a small pool. These dogs were truly marvelous! Agile and fun and so much energy. We also observed three Border Collie dogs herd ducks over a small bridge and into a coop. Their innate talent to herd this small group of ducks so patiently and watchful was a pleasure to see.
The vegetables and fruits had their own special room and one could check off who received first to fourth place ribbons. This room was a place of true abundance. Squash, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, beans, corn, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelons, blackberries, blueberries, and grapes were displayed all over this room. The pumpkins were the best! The giant pumpkin in the photo above won first place in its category of largest pumpkin. It weighed in at 1133 pounds! Unbelievable! Can you imagine looking out your window and spotting a thousand pound pumpkin in your pumpkin patch? Then I wondered how the gardener picked it up and loaded it onto a truck. I am sure a tractor and shovel were utilized very carefully or the pumpkin would bust open. How many delicious pumpkin pies could one make with a pumpkin of this size?
And of course I thought of the story of Charlie Brown, Linus and The Great Pumpkin. :O)
c Love, Joan
Wowee Kazowee.!! 1,000 lbs is almost as mind boggling as a hamburger-donut!
Every year, after Halloween, we gather the neighbors’ jack-o-lanterns, chop them up w/ the ax and set them in the back forty for the grateful deer. I’m trying to envision how long it would take them to finish that particular gourd, even should they summoned the herd. ????
*** Sounds like a delightful day, Joan…*** xo
Hi beautiful Lady! That is a great idea to chop up the jack-o-lanterns for the deer. I will certainly pass that tradition on to friends here in Louisville. Chickie asked if the vegetables and fruits were taken to the Louisville Zoo after the fair was over for any of the animals that eat this sort of food. The answer was no, some were too far gone in decay and also because people pick up some of the vegetables with their hands and also sneeze over them, there is a concern it could harm the animals.
I love your excitement and enthusiasm for the State Fair. I have not been in years (Florida where I have lived for the past 14 years does not have the same kind of State Fair). Your details make me think – we should go check this out! How does one move a 1,100 lb. pumpkin? That is just amazing! Thanks for sharing!
You should go Rev. Rick! There are pamphlets around that tell you where everything is located. The dog shows are several times every day. I hope you enjoy checking out that pumpkin!
This was a fun one. Thank you for sharing. I will think of those ducks being herded a lot. it is just too much fun to imagine.
Yes, it was fun to watch. I also noticed the man giving the Collies instructions watched out for the ducks. If he thought they were getting tired he placed them in a small coop and traded out for another duck. I think the dogs could have worked all day!
Oh my goodness Joan, I wonder if they grew that pumpkin on a pallet or skid🤔. I haven’t been to the fair in years either because of the cost. Perhaps I’ll go when I’m 55 so it will be free😂.
I’m so glad you got quality family and girl time. You deserve these beautiful experiences.
I wondered the same thing about where that pumpkin grew beautiful Girl!