It’s Sunday and I got an early start. I learned that there is a church service at the fair! A new experience for me. I think back in the 70’s when I worked at Gloria Dei, the crew attended some type of church service out here, but it’s a vague, distant memory. It was pretty quiet at Gate 5 at 8:00am.

Looking down at the sidewalk I spied an Alphabet Forest letter “L” for Lost!

I needed breakfast so I stopped for pie. You probably know what that looks like by now, so no photos.

I had a tight schedule to pick up my DNR backpack at 9:00 and make it to church by 9:15. I walked down towards the bench and passed by this particular booth (that I usually avoid). I hatched a plan for that red bench, later in the day.

The light was just right and there were no people so I could get a great shot of the bench and it’s perfect location.

I wanted to be first in line to get my “Legacy” backpack from the DNR booth. I’d only heard about them. You need to be here early! I had a little time to kill and as I wandered I ran into a church family! They were out early having assorted State Fair “breakfast” items. I had pie, I’m in no place to judge.

We were chatting so long, I realized if I didn’t get moving I’d be late for fair church! Ken commented, “that’s nothing new, just sit in the back!”

I quickly ran to DNR and got the pack, then headed back up to the bandshell for Prayer at the Fair!

It wasn’t too crowded and nobody noticed I was a little late so I didn’t have to sit in back. But as a good Lutheran, I certainly did not sit in front either!

A discovered a couple other members of my church and some old friends from SAP worshipping with me too!

I needed my recipe card and this presenter laughed when I asked where the samples were! She didn’t know she was supposed to bring them. I told her they were ~not~ required, I was just hopeful!

I wanted to find my cousin Kory’s photography exhibit in the 4H building so I walked up the hill to check it out. The category was photoshop manipulation. It was a really cool image! It won a Blue Award!

I only stopped into 4-H once before so I could see the Arts In show, so today I took in the whole building. The space was dark, and it was hard to get good pictures. I was headed to the Eco Experience one more time to get a third silverware set to outfit the family. I ducked out the north doors and found a bunch of outdoor displays. I’ve never looked back here!

As I walked around outside, then headed into Eco. I got in line and picked up some Muesli for second breakfast.

Then sidled up to the Water Bar and asked for a couple shots!

I remembered to check in at the recycling & household hazardous waste booth to see if they had the charcoal bags for disposing unused medication. (There was quite a bit at the house). It turns out they just have samples to look at, but I now know where I can order them. They’re quite expensive, no wonder they aren’t giving them away!

My BINGO coverall was almost complete, just a couple stops ~outside~ when I heard the rain hit the corrugated roof. As I headed to the door, I felt like a fish swimming upstream. Hordes of people were streaming inside.

Seriously, every other day I had packed some sort of rain gear, most likely warding off the rain. Today I had nothing as the skies opened up. Jinxed it!

Just as I was contemplating my next move, I got a text from my day one friend, Andrea, saying she was close to the building, hiding under a tree. She & her friend also had no rain gear (double jinx)! They stopped at the nearby radio station and picked up some free ones. I knew I should have bought the Northern Tool ponchos earlier, because after today, they’d be sold out.

We donned our “Love” gear and splashed our way over to the Alphabet Forest. Most of the stations were covered in blue tarps, protecting all the paper & books from the rain, but the photo booth was still operational, so we were able to capture the rainy spirit of the day!

We wanted to go see the 11:00am rescue dog stunt show, but it was canceled due to the rain. Instead we walked up to the far north end to the Brim and tried the new Sota Sandwich. It was delicious, but also a stick to the roof of your mouth kind of sandwich.

I might not have finished the Eco coverall for silverware, but I stopped quickly into the BWCA booth and I signed up and got the all in one “spork”.

The rain always seems to wash away the dirt & grime and despite the dark clouds overhead, the fairgrounds feels brighter, lighter and little cleaner!

Riding a trolley in 2019 was on my Fair checklist, so we waited in front of the Hangar for the next car. I assumed it might be full in this weather, but we had our choice of seats.

Every day I walk the fair, I keep a lookout for the memorial benches belonging to family & friends. With the crowds this year, you had to find them early, because they were generally occupied most of the day. This was one elusive bench, which was sitting in front of the a Hangar, where I’d been numerous times. Due to the cleansing midday rain, I was able to capture this picture for my friend Joan. It’s in memory of her Fair loving mom and this picture was her only chance to see it last year.

We rode the trolley to its southernmost stop near the Butterfly House and then we walked towards the Blue Moon. On our way we passed through carousel park and we stopped to take the “after” picture with two less pairs of feet. (Inset day one “before” grass)

Andrea wanted to try the Turkish Pizza that I couldn’t stop raving about. She agreed that it was one of the best new foods! We sat inside the Blue Moon Drive in theater and watched part of an old “Facts of Life” episode. What are Blair and Jo fighting over now?

The rain had stopped, but the crowds had thinned just a little. I asked Andrea if she would help me with the bench plan I’d hatched walking down Carnes Ave. on my way in this morning. She was game! The message on the bench is just so incongruous with the booth behind it, I wanted to turn it to face the street so anyone walking by would maybe get a different message!

Mission accomplished!

We stopped by the produce exchange and I suggested we try some of the Blueberry Mint kombucha, I tried it with the cousins yesterday and it was really good.

Lo and behold, the U of MN Apple department must have lifted it’s restrictions! But now they were out of the New Zealand Lemonade apples.

I wanted to walk through Fan Central, just in case that darn loon mascot was there. I think I’ve spent more time in here this year than I have cumulatively since it’s inception.

There was no loon, but we did get to have our photo taken with the FIFA World Cup Trophy won by the US Women!

Andrea was ready to head home so I walked her towards Gate 5. We arrived just in time to see the U of MN marching band pass by. Ski-U-Mah!

Watching the parade, I heard my name and turned to find Kathleen’s sister & niece! at O’Garas of course! This seems to be where we all are congregating this Fair season.

I wanted to see my volunteer friend Tom, so I headed back to the Forest. I got up there quickly, by walking alongside the parade units on the street, pretending I belong there. It’s the only way to navigate during the parade, the sidewalks are packed with people. Tom was there!

Tom, along with the fabulous creator and founder Debra Frasier. We joined together in a rousing chorus of 🎶 “ABCDEFG…” 🎶

I got word from a former favorite family that they were up on this end too. I found this adorable rainbow tiger near the Giant Wheel biffy!

Her little rainbow sunshine sister was a bit more shy, but I eventually got a warm greeting!

I miss seeing this whole family on a regular basis!

It was about time for me to head over to wait in line for the talent show final! I walked down Underwood following the Sky Glider and cut through down to the Grandstand. I stopped on the off chance I might get to see my buddy Dan at Juanita’s. He’d emerged from his “office” but just for a minute. The crowds this year and trying to keep up with his new Cubano sandwich made for an exhausting season! He’s still smiling!

The usual gang gathered on the second level of the Grandstand and we didn’t have too much trouble securing a bank of seats in the center front rows of the upper deck. Our preferred Talent Show seating. Once seats were draped with ponchos, bags and sweatshirts to save them, the food running began. I went to fetch bull bites and bang bang chicken, others fetched Worlds Greatest French Fries and later there were cookies. There are always cookies!

Our seats are in a perfect spot to catch all the people we know walking past! Cousins!

We save extra seats anticipating people will come and join us. Tonight the Hannigan girls joined us just as the show got started!

As in almost every other year, we were not in agreement with the judges final decisions. Having missed 90% of the semi final nights at the Bandshell, I didn’t have a clear cut winning pick. But at the end, the people I (and most of our group) liked, were not finalists.

It’s still a great way to spend a beautiful evening at the fair! Watching some top notch local talent with family & friends, while the Giant Wheel lights up the night in the distance.

Got home around 11:30 and checked my Fitbit. There was a lot of waking north to south and east to west and back again today!

Only one more day. I need to sleep fast. There was no time for blogging.