Today is Mom & Dad’s 55th Wedding Anniversary.  I’m not certain, but I think most every one has been celebrated at the State Fair.  This year would be no different.  Dad’s mobility is challenged with heart troubles, so we all came together to make today possible!  Michael & I arrived around 8:30 in the rain and gathered up all the equipment to make it easier for dad to get around!  He’s got a sweet scooter that I was a tad jealous of after walking 27K steps the day before.  We also brought his Cadillac walker chair and I got to carry (use??) the cane!

 

We headed to the Hamline Dining Hall and everybody there was just great.

As we waited to get seated, Dad was talking to this little girl and asked what her job was.  She sat up a little straighter and proclaimed “I’m a Barker!”  The look on her face indicated, she wasn’t quite sure what that meant! (photo is fuzzy!)

They got a nice open spot for us to sit and we all had a big breakfast!  The kids volunteering there will not let your coffee cup remain empty for a second!  Friends stopped by to say “Hi” and the place was warm and cozy on a wet chilly day!

After breakfast we made our way down to find the Anniversary Bench.  Its crazy to think it was five years ago already that we had the big celebration “bench Party” for them.  Still grateful for all the people who showed up to honor my parents!

 

The grandstand area where the bench is located is home to about 24 blue benches in close proximity to one another.  As we approached the benches, the ~only~ bench occupied was theirs.  Michael advanced and kindly explained to the people occupying the bench the significance of the day and the bench….and she got upset that we were requesting they move.   There were 23 open and available benches….  When we said we’d wait, they did eventually move, but grumbled the entire way.

It was getting crowded and harder to maneuver and I think the emotions and physical strength required for the day took a lot out of dad.  so we all made our way back to the homestead.

Breakfast was OK, but not all that hot by the time we got situated and started eating.  What Dad really wanted was a foot long hot dog!  Michael agreed!

 

We ran into some friends from church on our way out!

I love this picture of the “Dad Train” on the way home.  As we traversed the fair,  Dad kept his eye on Michael, who made a path through the people and I followed carrying the walker….ok, maybe actually using it a bit for support, and Mom brought up the rear, since Dad was very concerned about running into her as she darts from place to place!

I sat at Mom & Dad’s for a bit as she filled the yard with cars and Dad laid down for a nap.  I was thinking home and a nap sounded great too when I got a text from a former family I cared for and they asked where I was, as they were in the Kidway.  I messaged them that I was on my way back over! Mom decided she’d come too!

My plan was to stay on Cosgrove Street and do some in depth discovery that Stella and I did not have time for yesterday.  I deposited Mom on a bench while I ran over to the Kidway to say hi.

 

It was so fun to see them!

I love to see my toddlers, former family’s and toddlers grown to preschoolers and beyond!   Once kids are preschool age, they usually run into my arms willing to give me a big hug!  Toddlers are a bit different!   When we encounter one another in unfamiliar places, many times parents will say “Give Ms. Heather a hug!  You love her!”   I explain that they may love me, but not here!  The only relationship and behavior pattern that these kids are familiar with is at school  when parents bring them to me….parents leave!

This is a big scary place and all they think is that if they are handed off to me, Mom & Dad will be gone!  I never push it, and ask parents to respect that fear too! I did get a high five from Annie!

I returned to find Mom sound asleep on the bench. Sitting up, head in hands, glasses on her knee.  She was exhausted from the morning too!

I am not at the fair to eat food, but eating food to make it through the fair is required so I took mom to lunch at my favorite little burger joint, The Midway Men’s Club.

After lunch, mom wanted corn.  We were moving slowly and sitting on benches often  It was fun to just sit for a minute and watch the corn show.  It takes many skilled youth to get that corn perfectly roasted and into your hands!  I was impressed at the precision!  Every now and then the team leaders would shout out “How’s everybody doing?!?!”  and the place would erupt with shouting!

 

Moms carbs of choice are corn & onion rings, but I prefer Pie!

On the way through the Food Building plaza we ran into these two lifelong friends!

Tonic Sol Fa, an acapella group was performing at the Leinie Bandshell, so Mom and i found a bench and enjoyed the show.  She showed me the new list of the top things to do at the fair.  I realized that Stella and I only missed about four the previous day!

My friend Ruth & her sister were on the grounds somewhere and in an effort to connect with them, I found this guy “supervising” his Juanita’s Fajita’s stand! He invited me to sit for a bit and help supervise!

I never did find Ruth, but I remembered it was Governor’s Fire Prevention Day as I wandered through Carousel Park.  I was pretty sure I wouldn’t make it all the way to the far north end to see all the Fire trucks and displays this year.

I did find friends and family though!

I’m not sure what possessed me, but I walked toward the West End, thinking I’d get a chance to say Hi to Sarah at i like you, but again, she was super busy!  I wound up wandering over to Foci Glass Works and arrived just in time for the glass blowing show!  I’m not sure if I was fascinated or just incapable of moving, but I stayed for the whole thing and want to get back in the next couple days so I can get a picture of the final product!   It has to cool down slowly overnight.  They are offering an hour glass blowing workshop deal at the fair for $50 instead of $85 if anyone has a dream to learn the art!

Lulu’s Public House (aka Axel’s) has my favorite Cajun Bull Bites, and as I was eating, a couple friends from church found me!

 

Ellen & Kathy Ferry had just visited the Veggie Fries booth and texted for the inside scoop on Cherry Bombs, (a new food this year) They are deep fried red licorice globs.  I hadn’t had a report,  so instead of spending $5 on an unknown, Kathy asked a recent customer how they were.  “Meh” was the response, so Kathy offered to buy a taste for a buck!  They agreed with the buyer and saved four bucks!

It’s possible my stomach brought me all the way down to the West End, as I remembered there was a Hot Waffle dessert waiting for me!  The Ferry’s found a new favorite too!

We were checking out the menu at The Blue Barn and looking for a kid I know working there, and we ran into more old friends from Church!

 

Kathy & Ellen joined me walking back up the hill, following the shortcut behind the Giant Slide, Kathy asked if I got my freezer bag yet.  What?!?!  Something I did not know!  If you go to the Farm Bureau building and take a short quiz, the free prize is a nice little freezer tote bag.  Just the right size for that emergency ice cream run!  All the answers are here, but you have to actually ask  farmer a question to get your prize eligibility stamp!

The artists appearing at the Bandshell have a two night contract, so tonight was my night to see The Pointer Sitters.  Turns out it is just one Sister, Ruth and her daughter and granddaughter.  They put on a great show!  The sang all the hits and Ruth still has an incredible voice!  It would have been better with a live band, but it was fun!

These two were having a little dinner before the show too!

You can see a few seats remaining, but its an hour before show time and it ended up being more crowded than last night!

Mike & Sara Q joined us for the show and Sara went to get pie.  Since I already technically had dessert, I asked Mike if he like blueberry pie?!?!  I’d share one with him if he didn’t want a whole one!  Pie #4

As Governor’ Fire Prevention Day came to a close for me,  the Pointer Sisters were belting out “Fire”, and people were texting me with reports of the World’s Greatest French Fries booth burning.

Hoping no one was hurt and that they are able to reopen before the Fair ends!