The day was hot, sticky and the rain they had predicted for Sunday was coming…

The puppy let me sleep until 8 am, I caught up on some house chores and left the fair around 10.

They were filming an advertisement outside the gate for the Sing Along that will happen Friday in Dan Patch Park (formerly Carousel Park) led by Cantus! I plan to be there!

I watched for a minute, unsure if they asked random people walking in to film it, because as soon as they said “cut” the participants turned, tickets ready and walked into the fair! As I walked in, I looked back and the cop, who’d been dancing along as they filmed was now in front of the camera dancing! I never watch TV during the fair, but if you see an ad…. I’m curious if the cop footage makes the cut!

My plan for the day involved getting through Fine Art and the Pet Center.

I grabbed the recipe round up card for the day, and saw all the offerings this year.  The pumpkin cake with maple frosting is my “not to miss” one!  

On the hike up to the north end I started gathering pictures of the “Historical Markers” along the way.

After Shannon taught me the value of appreciating the history, it dawned on me I haven’t even read them all. I’ll get all 12 markers documented in the blog in its own post!

The Giant Sandbox was super busy on the hot sticky day. That’s a sensory experience I would avoid at all cost on a day like today!  It’s in a shady spot tucked between the Alphabet Forest and Math on a Stick.

I heard a rumor (David) that the Iron Man Meat & Potatoes at Giggles had been replaced by the new Turducken Sausage…I had to check it out.  Rumor is true, but later in the day I had a chance to see Tim (Giggle’s) and I asked if it would ever return and he replied “Maybe!” with a wink!

On my way to the Pet Pavillion, I needed to check out this “Kelsey Family” bench I heard tale of and even seen photographic evidence! I found it and happened upon friends from church who were looking for it, saw me and thought they had stuck gold!  We took a picture for incorrect reference.

We’ll refer to this is as the erroneous bench.   It is GREEN not BLUE and this is a different Kelsey Family, placed here in honor of a Jeanette, may she rest in peace and this bench bring her family joy.  The issue stemming from this new bench is that if people inquire in the Foundation Office / Bailey House, and ask for the Kelsey’s, this is the bench they are directed to. I need to stop in and see if anything can be managed on their end, or people just need to be sure to ask for the BLUE bench for “DON & CAROL” Kelsey.

I realized I hadn’t eaten anything today, not even breakfast at home. Upon recommendation of David from last nights encounter, I decided to try the sliders at The Hangar.

I thought it was a slider combo platter, but you have to choose one type. David said the brisket was good, so picked it. Interestingly, I got one pulled pork slider in my basket. I will say the brisket is ~way~ better than the pulled pork.

If anyone is thinking of resurrecting their souvenir beverage bottles from last year, there is a new style and I’m not sure you’ll get free refills on the old ones this year!

I walked through the new open air pet pavilion and it is just as crowded for the people trying to get near and pet dogs, but at least is it ~airy~ and ~open~, yet has a roof.  Today of course I happen upon the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, my dream dog….reminding myself that Lola may not be my dream dog, she’s still pretty awesome….most days.

I did find Carole’s friend Kathy, and her collie, but there was much set up going on and I didn’t get a pic of her.  Got the dog though…

I walked through the pet vendor tent next door, and the offerings have not changed year to year, collars, leashes, chewies, treats, K-9 gear, cat trees, odor, fur, pet eliminator merchandise and the surgery trailer is still on site performing pet surgery daily.  That’s something I have never stayed to watch.

Next door is the Home Depot shed and since it was SO HOT, I decided waiting in a really long line, being hit up for home improvement deals, to play a game for a silly prize wouldn’t be so terrible, since inside this shed has A/C!  You get to know the people in line and their home improvement needs (or not) when you’re all waiting so long, and I let one young couple know what a nice job they did for us when we redid our kitchen 6 years ago now!  As the group around me got closer to the front, a piece broke off the board.  The attendant pulled out a screwdriver and started fixing it, and I said “good thing she has a tool here at the Home Depot booth!  Wouldn’t it be ironic if somebody had to run down the street to Northern Tool…” With the game repaired we all took our turns and I got this handy bottle opener!

I walked past the new Sweet Martha building to examine it now that its open, and I guess the statement someone made that this is the largest building she has on the grounds now is true.  Its also never really busy, so this is the place to get your cookies on a Saturday!

The tpt public television booth has moved into the old little white radio station booth down the street and it looks small and unassuming, but if you go inside, it opens into a big courtyard with lots of kids activities and a stage!  All the life sized photo op cut outs from Victoria, Sherlock, Poldark and Bob Ross are back there too.  I checked in as a member and picked up some new socks for Gray! ****

Cat in the Hat appears daily

and there is a photo booth that superimpose you into famous tpt television sets, but they were struggling with the technology this morning.  My image did get uploaded later and I found myself on Sesame Street!

I was told another CPLC friend Jonathan was working the Tesla booth in the Eco Building, so I made my way back over there, since I had more to see after such cursory tour Saturday while achieving our BINGO goals.

On the way I stopped into the Kemps area.  The free sample today was cotton candy IttyBitz…I decided to check the ingredients before eating and they’re full of dye & sucralose!  No thanks. I looked into the “cow pen” and just like the rest of the food industry….even the cows are downsizing!  You can win a mini blow up cow, a stuffed cow or a book this year when you pick your cow tattoo.

I took a solo cow bomb photo, but note to self ( and others) they use a blue-screen so a blue shirt makes you invisible if you want to be a floating head, and a purple shirt makes you transparent!

I did not find my friend, but I found some new chairs I want for the patio, samples of chips and cheeses, grabbed a new canvas tote, spun some wheels, grabbed more swag and learned a bit about the different ways that recycled products can be used.  It made me want to get started composting as home. 

I also took a seat at the Water Bar to test my water tasting skills, but this year, they just tell you which water comes from where and you taste them.  Not as much fun…unless you’re really thirsty…like I was.

It was time to stroll through the humid, steamy, Fine Art building with very few patrons.  I enjoyed getting a close look at this years State Fair poster art, and there were a few pieces that made me stop and take a closer look. The art that used innovative and old school techniques in different ways with different media are the most fascinating to me.

Texture, depth and color!

Humor

Creepy

Fun

Sculpture

Glass & Pottery

Creatures & Food?

Not quite sure whats up with this porcelain chicken display or the tub full of pills…

I joined Gayle & Wendy with family & friends, for my first refreshing beverage of the day at Giggles.  It felt good to sit for a minute as the heat was oppressive.  We spent most of our northwoods rest looking at radar and assessing the incoming weather front threat.

We all went our own way and I happened upon the prize drawing hour at the AFL-CIO booth and got my tickets for a couple gift cards and a bench.

I didn’t win, but if you’re in the area, check out all the different unions represented and learn about what they do.  There are also SO MANY things to  stick your head in!  I need a friend next time!

I stopped by the Hamline Dining Hall to see if anyone I knew was working, but no luck.  The new ice cream flavor from The Grand Old Creamery is called Chocolate Agate Crunch.

I am getting a crown on a cracked molar tomorrow morning, so hard rocks in cold ice cream does not sound like a food I will try today, tomorrow, or at any point during the fair!

Next door is Love from Minnesota and I love the Duck, Duck, Grey Duck photo op.  The lovely lady working there saw my lonely, wistful, wishing glance and offered to take my picture!

I needed pie and had connected via text with my niece Morgan & Matt and they met me at Sara’s!  I ate my fifth…sixth (?) blueberry pie and I took advantage of the offer of 5 vodka cranberry orange liquor, added to my frozen lemonade instead of poured on the pie…. (tastes just like the Jason drink!)

Morgan & Matt had their first blueberry pie too!  YUM!  They had just come up from the Coliseum and I realized I missed the horse show where they were going to get 26 draft horse hitches into one space.  Not sure if it ever happened, but we headed back down to the area to see if there were any draft horses still out and about. There were some single horse rigs that did not disappoint!

I was excited to go check out the bunnies….but once again I missed them.  I have to remember the bunnies are only there for four days and the poultry moves in.  Saw some cool chickens though.

And one more opportunity to play….

There were a few sheep, but the barns are switching over and the skies were turning darker.  We decided to find a spot to hunker down and watch the storm roll in.  We started at Coasters and the kids thought this might be a fun ride in a storm!  I sent the picture to Randy at work and he sent a reply.

We got drinks and food and moved around the corner to Cafe Caribe…

and checked the radar….

but the storm never really materialized and all we got was a bit of rain and floating tobasco.

We couldn’t sit any longer, so we poncho~d up and walked over to the bench.  Morgan said it has gotten turned around, so we needed to rectify that!

The rain just steamed things up at this point, we were so hot and sticky.  We headed over to the DNR to see if we could find bricks and get out of our rain gear for a bit.  Even the fish tanks were completely fogged up!

I made Morgan climb into the big boot and we entered the tunnel through the DO NOT ENTER door and found the family bricks.

We exited through the bat cave and the temperature had just dropped, and the air was almost chilled!  We didn’t really have a plan, but I wanted to try the new Dairy Building malt flavor of the year “S’mores”.  I thought it best we try both versions, the malt and Sundae for comparison.  Super, super sweet, but absolutely nailed the texture, flavor and yumminess of a S’more!

I stopped quickly to see  butter head.

It was still steamy inside the buildings, but outside was glorious!

We were eating our treats and turned around to see the sun breaking through the clouds over the coliseum.

Still no agenda, the kids heard from friends who had landed on the grounds right before the storm and as they entered, they were told to just come in…for free…and seek shelter! I guess better safe than sorry! The Fair doesn’t take chances like that.

On our way to connect with these friends, we checked out the Merchandise Mart. There’s a couple new things in here, the marionettes that I used to contend with in the photo booth at the Alphabet Forest are now housed inside here.  And there is a new product called Mouse Mix, that Morgan says works!

There are still ornaments, faucets, toys, nail polish, mops, chip clips and the recycled patio furniture people.

Last year, there was a new wine opener company that both Mom & I were impressed by.  I watched his schtick one morning and was his straight man for a bit.  I ended up buying gift sets for my brothers and one for mom. 

Ironically, that night I told mom about it and she had just purchased them all for Christmas gifts too.  I went back the next day, explained the situation and they accepted my return kindly.  I have used the parts often, and just this last month when we had family gathering to celebrate Mom & Dad and the corks got stuck in the scotch bottles…we needed stoppers.  The set only came with one, and now this year they have extra stoppers!  Today I bought three. He remembered us from last year and was so sorry to hear mom died.

Last year I also found the puppet lady in here and I asked if she made golf club covers and she said she would!  I ordered a Sloth cover for Randy for Christmas and had it shipped after the fair. I stopped by today to thank her for doing that!

There is an Avon both and I bought some of the new Skin so Soft with Picaridin that is my new favorite bug repellent.  I also restocked our supply of Smooth Gator.  Gray depends on this stuff for soothing itching and I like it for sore muscles.  It’s not cheap, but we love it.  You have to like the smell of Eucalyptus, or this stuff will kill you!

Almost connected with their friends Morgan had to make a pit stop.  I questioned her choice of facility, and took a picture, in case it was the last time we’d ever see her!

It took a while, and she explained that it was a bit challenging in overalls, when you want to be sure that your straps and such make contact with absolutely ~nothing~ inside.

We took a quick pic and planned to part ways, but all ended up at tables in the Ball Park.

I left the kids alone and connected with friends of my own.  Sally, Tom and I had walked enough that day so we sat and shared stories of love, loss and family.  They, both having lost parents, and more recently all their belongings and house in a fire.  We listened to the Beach Boys concert while sitting at the Ball Park, and then decided to walk down to see if there would be a Corn Dance.  I was hungry, I thought, so I decided on a Gyro from my favorite spot Dimitri’s.

I need to remember that 10pm on a slow night might not be the best time for this dish.  The meat was dry, however the tatziki and bread were still delicious, so I managed to eat it all!

Tom got a Pronto Pup and we sat down by the Corn booth to wait for fireworks.  The show was going longer and longer and we decided not to wait and made our way home.  Snapped an awkward selfie on the bench!

Sally was feeling peckish and got herself a deep fried Twinkie.

I’ve never seen one purchased or eaten, so this was an experience.  I didn’t know that the booth was owned by Eddie of Spaghetti Eddies next door, and I learned that Eddie doesn’t make canolli anymore because he’s getting older and too arthritic.

Tom & Sally walked home with me as I offered them a ride back to their rental, while their house is being rebuilt. It was nice to have company and as we pulled up to their house, the fireworks went off.  Tom is a veteran so fireworks are not his favorite thing, so it was good they were home safe and sound.

Tomorrow I have a dental appointment at 8 am, so we’ll see what the day brings.  I hope to get to the fair in the afternoon.