My blog retrospective begins today. Last year I stopped blogging after the second day. There was too much to do, and I spent every moment I could enjoying the fair. This year, 2020, there is no fair due to COVID 19. I’m going to live vicariously through myself and try to remember all my adventures from last year as I go through my photo journal.

I started blogging day three, but didn’t get far. What follows is mostly recollection.

It was Saturday August 24th, 2019. Another beautiful day dawned and I got my tired self moving and over to the Fair by about 9am. So as not to worry anyone, I showed up for my pie right away!

I was on my own this morning, but hoping to connect with some of my work family & friends. Boston Scientific offers T-shirts & tickets and requests people attend this first Saturday to create a presence. This years shirts are bright orange and make are highly visible! I (unintentionally) didn’t remember mine.

I knew I wanted to see the Gladiola show in Ag/Hort so I walked over to get an estimated time that judging would be completed. I was told after noon, so I went to check out some other areas. On day one I took some pictures from outside before the building opened. Today, the door/windows were closed, offering no ventilation and many of the stately vegetables had wilted! This is the pic of the Kohlrabi, before it wilted.

Some of the non leafy vegetables held up OK, I’ll come back another day when I have more time to check it all out.

My friend Dan & his friend entered large frame honey comb and they both got ribbons

And I love to see the Pysanky eggs. I found all Dad’s egg tools at the house and I am excited to try my hand at it again this winter.

Maybe one day I’ll enter my own!

The giant pumpkins seem to be the same year after year. what’s with a yellow one?

I wanted to pick up the recipe card for the day, so I walked to Creative Activities. I passed the cookie dough on a stick booth and they had a line @ 9:30 am. Now, I can’t judge dough eaters (I eat my own) but this is something I wouldn’t consume at the fair. I wonder what’s (synthetic?) in it to make it food safe & stable to serve here? Plus I don’t think I’d feel very good after eating it. I’m in it for the marathon, not a sprint!

The lines for coffee at the Farmers Union were surprisingly short today (not the case Thursday & Friday they were across the street!)They have a new blueberry key lime pie. I’m undecided. If someone buys one I’d love a taste. The texture might be an issue for me.

As I popped into the side door of the Creative Activities, I ran into my coworker and her husband! They tried to get parked on the grounds, but ended up in a yard spot! She remembered to wear her Boston Scientific shirt!

The recipe today is for Carrot Cake with cream cheese icing. The author and inventor told me she decided to play the whole part of 1950’s Home Ec!

I loved the esthetic!

The building was not hot or crowded at all…yet. I decided to try and see all I could!

I love to see all the colorful quilts, this year was awash with bright colors.I loved the beautiful Minnesota themed decorated cookies. I always look for entries by friends.

This entrant is related to the Knoblauch’s and Sarah said I must check it out!

The main center display is glass this year. I love the colors and shapes of blown glass.

This Harry Potter crocheted blanket was striking

Then there are always things that make me go… hmmm?!? This was just…nope.It got a blue ribbon!

I always seek out the annual themed quilt squares on a stick. This year was all about dancing cows.

In the large center display its often hard to see what all is in there, but these band diaramas were pretty amazing.

I found a historical display case depicting a rice pudding recipe and it’s habitat.

I love finding the family history and treasures similar to my own.

The decorated cakes are always delightful. I wish the cases that displayed them would get a little upgrade. I’ve discussed already the fact that the Creative Activities needs some funding for improvements. It’s like a sad old department store.

Possibly refrigeration in the cases might prevent seeing mold on display!

The prize winning pies and cakes fared a little better. The pies get the limited refrigeration.

Many things recycled, reused and repurposed create amusement and wonder.

The bottom left is art created with fruit & vegetable product stickers.

All the new fair foods in sculpy clay, a yarn bombed “under the sea” sit upon, and flying pigs!

It was a cloudy day so I could capture the iron cowboy sculpture in the center front display case.

Circular creations appeal to my sense of order and balance, sometimes despite the asymmetry.

I found so many wonders and delights including a family of children I used to care for! They all remembered to wear the orange shirts too!

After what felt like ages (and was only an hour) I headed out of Creative Activities and down Dan Patch. I passed the U of MN booth and this year they are giving away a Fanny pack instead of backpack.

It was just after 11:00 and the line formed all the way down the street. I wasn’t going to wait today.

This is where the recollection begins. I didn’t save all my paper programs so I don’t have specifics on events and times. Fortunately I take thousands on pictures and they’re all time stamped.

I wandered through Carousel Park to see what was going on and I got a thumbs up from a bored mascot!

I didn’t see my friends at Juanita’s, this is the view from the backside!

I don’t remember what special events were going on in Carousel Park today. Every day is something different. I got distracted by a text from a coworker Kim, that they were in the Kidway, heading to the Alphabet Forest. I’m not signed up to volunteer at all this year, but it is still a familiar meeting place.

The political community temperature-taking, grass roots , and soy bean polling efforts are in full force. At the DFL Booth you have to take a poll to get a chance to get a bean, so I took a gander at the tallies thus far and decided to return to cast my vote another day. I passed by Pete’s booth and dropped in a bean representing important issues.

On my way through the Kidway, looking for Kim, I happened upon one my of my other work families. Thanks to the blaze orange shirts, they’re easily spotted!

I found Kim & family getting off the Ladybug ride. A pint size Super Himalaya!

We walked together to the Alphabet Forest, where I love to see the kids explore and have fun with letters & words! Her daughter (A) is just like me, with a driving need to check off lists and finish a task. Kim knew it would take (A) hours in the Forest to complete her game card, so they worked on it at dinner for weeks leading up to the fair! She just needed to fill in a couple blanks to earn her blue ribbon!

Little H didn’t need a ribbon, she just had fun exploring!

I found more of my former all grown up kids playing here too!

When I’m not at my volunteering post, I have more time to chat and visit with people passing through, and lo and behold a childhood friend stopped in just to see if I might be there. This chance encounter led to a reunion gathering of bible camp friends later in the fall. I love the Great Minnesota Get Together.

Every year I miss the gladiolus show and I was determined to get back to see the flowers now that I did the earlier recon and knew judging would be done by now. However, I once again got distracted by Sara Q messaging me to meet up for the parade.

It was a little early, but with the crowds today I knew searing would be at a premium, so I found a bench in our usual spot near the base of the Space Tower. Sara & family used to meet on the south lawn of Ag/Hort across from the International Bazaar, until I informed them that they miss all the horses & livestock that don’t join the parade until it reaches the corner by the Bailey House.

I sat, saved the bench and soaked up the sun, deliberating on what I should have for lunch once more bench sitters arrived so I could run for food.

Sara & Carrie arrived and we all took turns running for food.

I decided on Island Noodles! A veggie filled stir fry noodle bowl found inside the Bazaar. The lines were long but moved quickly.

The parade starts every day at 2:00, and I take pictures of every float. I scroll through all the pictures and realize they’re often the same images every day. I think though as I look back, this is a new guy carrying the flag today. I swear, for years, it was the same guy.

The mascots and princesses have a new ride through the parade.

It seems everything has a mascot these days. Even the trees.

The little garbage can animals that Gray used to ride in hot an upgrade this year too! I wonder if adults can ride without kids!

I want to ride in the Alphabet Forest one wearing my crown & apron next year! (2021)

After the parade ended, I was determined to see the gladiolas. They did not disappoint!

After taking in the vast array of color, I made my way back out, noticing that the dangling Prince symbol had disappeared from the center purple rain display. I wonder if it was for structural safety reasons, or if someone saw an opportunity.

I figured out it was 4H Day at the fair when I saw the kids march through in the parade. I always seem to run out of time to see the Harkness Players Arts-In show in the 4H building (that mom ~never~ missed) It wasn’t until planning her funeral that I realized what a huge part 4H played in her life. I need to pay more attention.

I headed up north to catch the 4pm show and looking ~northward~ it struck me how crowded it really is. This is usually the view looking down Judson towards the animal barns, or looking down Dan Patch, not looking ~up~ Cooper.

It is amazing what a group of kids from all over the state can put together in a red short days of rehearsal as a troupe.

As the show was ending, Gray texted he was done at work and wondering if I was leaving the fair. It was a Saturday, and unless I’m volunteering, I rarely spend this many hours here on the weekend. I decided that it would be good to get home and rest up. There are nine more days to go!

Mildred missed me too.

I got a hand stamp… just in case. I got a little blogging done but apparently went right to bed and rested up for another full day at the fair.