I didn’t make it to the fair on Thursday! I went to see my acupuncturist early in the morning. She felt my pulse and told me I was exhausted! She needled a spot called “leg 3 miles”, it’s a place that farmers would knock to be able to plow three more miles! Her intention was to get me rejuvenated for another day. I knew I was really dehydrated the day before and the past week has been awesome, but kicked my butt! My Apple Watch asked me if I wanted to track my “run”. No Siri, that’s just me walking up hill.

When I got home from acupuncture, I was a zombie and fell asleep for a couple hours. I decided to listen to my body and take a day to rest and get caught up on the blog. It was the best decision I could have made. Today I woke up ready to hit it again. My legs and feet were feeling great.

The family I do childcare for was heading to the fair today. I have the honorary title of “St. Paul Grandma.” So spending the day with my honorary grandkids was a bonus! They aren’t on social media, so respectfully there won’t be photos of the kids, but I can still take you along on our adventures!

We met up at the Little Hands Farm where I have not actually played since I had a little kid! The sun flowers here are 10’ tall!

The family tried some of Baba’s hummus bowls, they all loved the Hummus Bi Lahme, with shawarma & pine nuts.

I bring state fair map knowledge to the group and know where all the best bathrooms are, which is important when traveling with a three & five year old!

After potty stop #1, I got to spend time in the Alphabet Forest with the girls while mom & dad got to have a little, kid free, eating and exploring time.

The girls & I made name noodles, played in the duck pond, tossed beans bags, spun the word wheel, and settled in to make name necklaces. A friendly, familiar face appeared! My former coworker Kim and her beautiful girls that used to be my toddlers once upon a time!

My dear volunteer friend Tom was welcoming everyone to the Forest, and he was glad to see a familiar face!

I know how much he loves to sing a rousing round of the ABC Song, so we gathered the kids (and lots of parents) and had a big alphabet singalong!

Mom & Dad didn’t have to wait too long to get pickle pizza for brunch! The kids liked it too!

The Kidway is simply a block I usually walk around. Today we entered and the girls got to choose one ride. The height requirements limited the options, thankfully. I was in slight sticker shock when I learned that each ride costs about $7. If you have to ride along, like on the Carousel, adults must pay too.

The Rainbow Play systems still have a big, free, play structure so we stopped there for a bit. I remember spending hours here with Jack. We had a very limited budget when he was little and I took advantage of ~all~ the free fun!

We’d read “A Fabulous Fair Alphabet” up in the Forest and in that book “C” is for Cotton Candy. I may have planted a seed in a little head!

With happy kids and sticky fingers we headed to see the baby animals at CHS. This was my first visit here this year!

Sadly the duck water slide isn’t here, but it’s still full of sweet little babies.

This little lamb was born just minutes before we arrived. These might be the only animals I see if my breathing is affected at all today.

The morning was coming to an end since Dad had to be home for a meeting at 1:00 and the girls were tiring out too. I led them to the rock dig area I found on day one behind the DNR. Dad got all you can drink milk and they all finished the regular milk so dad could fill it up with chocolate milk! The fair is a day full of rapid transitions for kids ~and~ adults. When you’re able to break up a day with free play opportunities with kids, it’s more fun for the whole family!

I said goodbye to the girls, promising I’d see them next Tuesday!

I hadn’t eaten anything yet, nor had I had enough water. I found a shady bench and drained my water bottle contemplating lunch and connecting with Jack and his friend Benni. The message on the bench was perfect!

I was close to the Dairy Building and I remembered to get back inside to pick up my replacement thermometer! They also had cutting mats!

We decided to meet in the air conditioned blue flame building. The heat and humidity were increasing and any time spent in the sun was feeling like a sauna.

Its MPR day and I wanted to run through Dan Patch to pick up my MPR member gift and then head their way.

I was underwhelmed by the “gift”. Simply a refrigerator magnet in the shape of Minnesota with radio call letters around the state. I liked the lip balm from the Minnesota Orchestra better!

The blue flame building ~was~ air conditioned, but today with doors open and all the people, it wasn’t as refreshing as I hoped. We filled our water bottles and knowing I needed more water, I drank it all and filled it again. Jack picked up a gyro for lunch and we sat behind the booth in the shade to eat. I was telling the youth about the Culligan water situation and a man sitting nearby started laughing. He told me that he was one of the people who couldn’t figure it out! He said he was ready to take the darn dispenser apart! There was also a reference to old dogs, new tricks.

I stopped to get pie. Despite the reality that I may be intolerant to it, I’m gonna eat it for these 12 days. I told Sara about my pie related eczema and she said on my behalf “I’d like a different answer please!” She offered to try to make a dairy free version, but I don’t think I’ll love it quite the same.

The two youths had been wandering almost as long as me and were ready to rest until parade time. Jack nabbed a bench right across the street from Creative Activities, mostly in shade. While they rested, I had a few things to check off my still too long list. I ran into the Education Building to finish all the vendors. The art will have to wait for another day. I voted for “fair-ly salty “ at the Dunwoody booth.

I also stopped by the Shakopee Mdewuketon Sioux booth and got the beautiful, educational calendar they’re giving out.

I had to use the potty but the line inside the education annex was long. Outside the building, there was no line so I snuck in backwards. There is the sweetest, most efficient sanitation worker here! Her name is Janee and she was a little embarrassed when I thanked her and said she was the nicest person I’d encountered in eight days! We have no idea how hard sanitation work is at the fair!

Jack and his friend Benni have some mobility challenges so it takes more time to get places. There was about 45 minutes to parade time and Benni had hoped to try Giggles walleye cakes and Jack wanted a Kiwanis malt. Still feeling energized and renewed from yesterday I offered to make the run. Lines weren’t long and despite the heat, I made it there and back with both items in 15 minutes. Their payment was a taste of each. The walleye cakes are delicious, but just not crispy enough for me and the malt… well, we all know I shouldn’t be eating it, but I already ate the pie, how much more harm could it do!

The parade came by and I hate to keep harping about it, but without the horses, the parade holds little joy for me! There is also a tractor pulling a large passenger wagon, whose passengers are different, yet unidentified almost every day!

If Michael wanted to ride in a parade, today would have been the day! The Captain Ken’s Bean Fire Truck was empty!

You do have to love the “fighting calculators” and their mascot though!

I guess there is still ~some~ joy without horses.

After the parade we went into the cool(er) Creative Activities building and I got to see more of the textiles, glass and sculpture. As we walked in, Benni commented on the scary Lion up top. I don’t know that I’ve ever noticed it before! It looks like paper mache similar to the giant moose!

Jack sought out needlepoint to see what he’s up against if he enters his COVID Borderlands (yet unfinished) project. Some are just stunning.

Benni works with glass and so we sought out some of these pieces and I’m always drawn to owls!

When looking through the entries using more unusual art medium, I found this and maybe someone can explain the significance?

There were also some incredible things created with polymer clay.

This was a diamond painting!

More stained glass

And lots of incredible rose malling!

As we were looking closely in each display window, I approached the end and waited for the youth to compete the circuit. I stepped back and noticed the entire wall created a rainbow! 🌈

I still want to come back and look through all the hanging quilts. Five times through this building and I haven’t seen all of it yet! I may run out of days.

We headed home around 4:00 as the temps were climbing into the 90°’s with oppressive humidity. Storms were forecast that never materialized, but I was OK spending the evening at home getting this blog caught up.

The crowds were light today for a Friday, and with temps forecast in the 70°’s this weekend, it could be a doozy of a Labor Day weekend at the Fair!