Yesterday I had the most fun at the county fair! The fairgrounds are only about a mile from where I live, so I was able to walk there. I lucked out that entrance was free that day for lunchtime only, so I saved the admission fee. Good start!
The kids enjoyed the rides, of course. The boys (who are both 9) have never been on the BIG rides before. They enjoyed the Zipper, the Tornado, the House of Mirrors, and the Ring of Fire. Actually, the Ring of Fire is just this big circle, with a roller-coaster type seating arrangement on the inside. It rolls up and back a few times before it starts going completely around and around, then backwards a few times. One of the boys is too scared of being upside down to try a ride like this yet, but the other one was willing to go as long as I sat next to him. I haven’t been on a ride in 20 years. It was fun! I am almost casual about the “scariness” of it by now, but at least it was certainly a different experience. I am so glad I went!
I showed the kids all the animal barns, and took plenty of pictures. They weren’t as interested in that part, but I think it does them good to be exposed to what animals actually look like in real life. They enjoyed petting the zebra.
The kids got tired early, and my girlfriend was kind enough to take them home. My daughter is 17, so she’s fully able to watch the two boys for a few hours. Yay! I’m past the toddler stages!! I get to have time to myself sometimes!!! (whew!)
I wandered around the display hall and found entries in all sorts of categories. Baking, sewing, drawing, photography, crafts, etc. I like doing lots of those things! What really surprised me was that the quality of the entries didn’t seem overwhelmingly better than what I am able to do.
As a kid I’d walk around the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup and be amazed at all the displays, which seemed astronomically better than anything I could ever create. Well, I think there’s a combination of the fact that my own skills have developed with age, plus the fact that I live near a COUNTY fair now, not a state fair, that combined have lowered the bar to within my reach.
I have never won a prize in my life. I have hardly ever had the courage to enter anything. Seeing the entries at the fair this year, though, I am very inspired to submit something of my own for next year.
I might submit a crocheted baby dress, made for a doll. The design is unique and original, and it turned out quite well. I might submit my “Magic Chocolate Rolls”. I think they’re tasty enough to compete against anyone’s sweet baked goods, plus they just might win in their own unique category of “Low-Carb Desserts”.
I might submit one of the aprons I sew. Their design is clever, they look good, and though my sewing isn’t always perfect, I’m sure I can eventually do one that DOES turn out perfect. That’ll be what I submit.
Other ideas might occur to me over the course of the next year. I might paint a picture, or draw something, or make a display of some scientific principal. Who knows?
I’m excited by the idea that I might actually be able to compete and win recognition for something I do. That would be special for me.
I’m going to encourage my kids to compete as well. I know my girl especially would get a kick from having a blue ribbon on her wall.
