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NC State Fair 2009

Bobby and I spent the day at the fair yesterday. I think it was our 3rd time to go, but it was the first time we went during the day and had nice weather. If we ever go again, we will certainly go during the day again. We arrived shortly after the gates opened, it was easy to find handicapped parking, and wasn't quite so crowded. The crowd started picking up around noon, so we had several hours at exhibits before it became hard to keep up with each other. I think the last time we went it was an evening, wet, cold, and packed with so many people you could hardly walk. So this year's daytime trip was great.

Highlights:
Ostrich burger - we split one for lunch. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't place it in my "gotta have again" category. It tasted somewhat like deer meat.

The cake burger - my niece had told me if I didn't see anything else, we needed to see the cake decorating exhibit. So we stayed a little longer than we planned just to see this cake decorated like a hamburger. It was worth it. The funny part was Bobby's facial expression when he realized it was truly a cake. I wish I had taken a camera so I could post it. The person not only did a hamburger with meat, lettuce, and cheese, but also a drink (with straw) and french fries. We were amazed it didn't place. We were telling Mrs. Bryan about it and supper, and turns out she knows the person who made it!

Village of yesteryear - This exhibit is always my favorite. The paper said that the music man was retiring after this year, so I wanted to stop by his booth. His whole family was performing the last time we were there and we purchased one of their cd's. I bought two more this year (one Christmas and one hymns), AND talked with several wood carvers. Get this...one of them is from Raleigh and teaches beginning wood carving at a woodworkers shop in Raleigh (which I didn't even know the shop existed). I have always loved carved wood, and a few years ago came up with this crazy brainstorm that I would like to carve either the top piece of a hope chest for my nieces and nephew. I could then pass the piece on to my Dad and brother to make the chest. Of course, this has yet to happen. I did try my hand at one small piece, but I think it makes more sense to learn the basics from someone who actually knows what they are doing. I signed up for a class through Raleigh Parks & Recreation at their art center, but the class was cancelled. NaNoWriMo may not happen again this year, as I feel another hobby coming on. Thank you Village of Yesteryear!

At the art exhibit (I don't remember what prompted this discussion) Bobby laughingly said I should limit myself to 10 projects at a time and needed to get a project jar for all my ideas. I told him I didn't have 10 projects going now, though I think if I started listing them he may be correct. (I just counted...there's only 8, haha!)

and fun with a smidge of 'oh well':
Poultry Exhibition...we thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the breeds, watching roosters in opposite cages vie for dominance, etc, but the last row of birds (the size of chickens we'd be interested in having) was closed for judging. It was probably just as well, for the row next to it had many up for sale!
Garden Exhibition...I liked that many school children had "fair assignments" where as part of missing school they were to answer so many questions about each exhibit. Yet the teens congregated in a circle of the narrow aisles trying to find the answers and help each other out, totally blocking the path. I asked one girl to excuse us twice, tapping her once, and she totally ignored me. So I gently pushed her to the side while saying excuse me and walked on by. Bobby was behind me and said she was NOT very happy with me. But the gardens were nice and interesting.
Quilt exhibit...was poorly laid out for visual experience, though neatly displayed for space. All the quilts were hanging on swinging racks, and there was only one fair worker for the entire needlework section. She was showing off the 50+ crocheted afghans and blankets while we were there, so we were unable to see any of the quilts from that area of competition, which was probably just as well.

My feet are VERY tired (though Bobby informed he only used up 2 energy bars on his wheelchair battery) but it was very well worth it.

Comments

sara said…
Sounds like fun! You need to take your camera next year!!!

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