Off to the Fair

We went to the NY Sate Fair yesterday. It was hot, it was crowded, and it was still fun.

This year's sand sculpture was a Dr. Seuss theme. Very cool. If you know me, you know I have a thing for Dr. Seuss, and another thing for sandboxes. This was the best of both. Perhaps I missed my true calling? I probably should have been a sand sculptor...

I drove out to the fair with Hannah, S. and R. and hoped to meet up with a friend. My friend spent 2 hours in traffic waiting to get into the parking lot, so I followed these folks instead. They didn't seem to mind too much.

We attempted to check out the horse barn, but when draft horses are being led about, visitors aren't allowed in.

We checked out the cow barn. R and I announced that we like cows but Hannah decidedly does not. She is very particular and opinionated when it comes to animals. Cows apparently don't make the grade.

The llamas were not particularly friendly, but they did not spit on any of us. R is not fond of llamas. He has seen "The Emperor's New Groove" and is not impressed. Ha ha! I prefer alpacas myself, but I didn't see any of them.

Hannah and I told R all about chocolate cows and chocolate milk. You know, how chocolate cows are the ones who give chocolate milk? Or maybe if you want chocolate milk you feed them chocolate... or something like that. Anyway, we saw some pretty chocolate looking cows in the cow barn. That was when Hannah told R about the strawberry cows. I could tell he was taking it all in.

The goats were fun. They always are. I think having a pet goat or two would great! Maybe I'll put that on next summer's to-do list. Ha ha! James won't mind at all. Apparently goats actually believe that grass is greener on the other side because almost every one was reaching over the wall in order to eat the hay in the next feeder. How about the stripes on this guy?


It turned out to be a great day. We visited the player piano, walked through the livestock barns, bought chocolate milk and ice cream, and I even made a last minute trip into the butterfly enclosure. One dollar and the opportunity to see some great butterflies up close and personal. Yup, it was a good day.

State of A Fairs

It wasn't necessarily in  my my plan this morning, though it did pass through my thoughts. But, Hannah wasn't up yet, and the drive to Syracuse is long...

In spite of no real plan to go to the fair today, I had two girls ask if we were going. How could I say no? I popped my driver's license and bank card into my back pocket, filled the diaper bag with snacks and bottled water, and grabbed both my camera and the umbrella stroller. Hannah called Kelly, and off we went to The Great NY State Fair.

It was a busy afternoon. We had ice cream for lunch. Do you think I'm a bad baby- sitter? It was so yummy!


When the girls finally finished their cones, we went upstairs in the Art and Home Center building and tried out the player piano (of course). We were just deciding on a song when Hannah and Kelly appeared. (Hannah likes the piano too.) Rocky played three songs; Sesame Street, No Business Like Show Business, and Maple Leaf Rag. It was a spotless performance!

After a walk through the livestock barns and a jaunt through the 4-H building, we met up with Hannah and Kelly again. For the first time ever I walked the midway. Loved the colors and the smell of carnival food!

Before going home we bought a bag of cotton candy to share. It was a fun day.

In Remembrance

It was a sad day, one that changed our lives forever. I was touched by the incredible sand sculpture at this year's NY State Fair and the honor it gave to both the fallen and those who stepped up to risk their own lives in the hope of helping perfect strangers.

(Wish I could figure out how to arrange this the way I want it...)

Fair is Fair

I planned to be at the State Fair early but, due to extenuating circumstances, we arrived closer to noon. Once at the Fairgrounds, I let Ben and Hannah wander off on their own and I meandered about by myself. It sounds lonelier than it really was. Quite honestly, I didn't mind at all.

I stopped in Building 8 to check out the Arts and Crafts displays where James' friend Jose had a few award winning pieces. His rocking chair garnered a lot of attention and with reason. It is a beautiful piece and looks very comfortable. It won a third place ribbon. I really wanted to try it out, but that was not allowed. Maybe another time...

Upstairs in the same building I found the player piano and sat down to watch and listen. It is quite possible that this is the real reason I like going to the Fair. The giant music box is my favorite. I told Hannah I'd much rather have one of these than a treadmill, but then again I suppose the novelty might wear off over time, unless of course I had a hefty collection of rolls. During a quiet spell I chose a song to play, The Candy Man. It was sweet.

I wandered in and out of buildings looking at displays, taking in the sights, and dodging purses, backpacks, and scooters. I bought a cup of chocolate milk for a quarter, found the butter sculpture, and checked out the cow barn. Back in the horticultural building I got in line for a baked potato. Probably the best dollar I spent, aside from the black raspberry/vanilla twist ice cream later on.

Later in the afternoon Hannah and I made a return trip to the player piano. Hannah chose "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." While she played an elderly woman arrived in a wheelchair and stopped next to my seat. She leaned over and said, "St Louis Blues." When Hannah was finished playing, this woman was helped to the piano bench by her granddaughter. Soon she was playing the St. Louis Blues but not with the help of a roll. She played the song herself, from memory. (Her granddaughter told us we could find her on Youtube where I learned she is 100 years old!)

It was another good day. I missed my friend Della who couldn't make it to the fair today, but I'm going to find her another time. I heard my friend Vinnie was there today, but I didn't happen to see him either.