It was all I had hoped for. And more.
As a kid raised on the fair through the eyes of Wilbur, Charlotte, and Templeton the rat, I was off on the size of the fair. As in WAY off. All those animals seemed to get back and forth to report on things without being tired or needing to stop and stretch their backs.
I have a feeling I’ll have the same reaction when I get to heaven.
Known for the food, the Minnesota State Fair did not disappoint. I don’t have any pictures of me eating (I decided I wanted to experience parts of the fair and not become obsessed with recording an experience). The following was tasted or full out eaten: fish tacos, Lefse, biscuits with rhubarb jam, corn fritters, fried green tomatoes, french fries, Sweet Martha’s Cookies (fresh chocolate chip cookies) and milk. Only so much food can be consumed in a day!
But you know my love of a good sign.
Would you eat one of these?
Deep fried SPAM curds? Where to even start. Cheese curds I’ve heard of. SPAM curds? Not as famous. A banquet on a stick. Having been to many, many, many a banquet in China, it is hard to fathom a banquet on a stick. Pork chops. On. A. Stick. Don’t they come with one? And it’s called a bone? (I really don’t know my meats, I might just be talking crazy talk here.) Deep fried candy bars. Um, yes please!
Or how about these two:
As the day went on and the benches were filled up, sadly many were covered by those resting in peace and I didn’t get to see many others. If you’re not familiar with the colloquial word “hotdish,” it could be translated “casserole” and I have no idea how they get it on a stick. Uff Da!
In addition to the size, I had not fully grasped, that the fair is a little bit of every slice of life shoved into one amazing day. High school musical performance and informative posters on safety issues? Thank you 4-H. Blue grass music? Ya, you betcha. Haunted house? Laura has the clutch marks to prove it from my claws grasping her arm. Sky ride? Giant slide? Weird taxidermy? Amusement park rides? Butter carving? Live stock? Bunnies cooling themselves with frozen water bottles? Yes, yes, yes, yes! And let’s not forget crop art. Art make with croppy things. I kid you not. See what I mean of there being a little bit of everything?!
I put a small picture of me coming out of the haunted house because I am so ridiculously happy to be alive. Laura let me clutch her the whole way through. We made new friends who stuck to us like glue in there. Laura was all of our hero!
I still miss new teachers and The Great Wall in August heat. I still feel a bit adrift in my own life. I still wonder about people who make weird taxidermy. And I am still one of the most blessed people. All of this is true. Still.
For those who think the state fair is hot and crowded, it’s the closest China experience I’ve had in the US. :) Ya, you betcha!
Sue, you showed me that magical world of the fair. And Laura, you showed me your love by taking a day off of work and staying at the fair the longest you ever had. And butter heads, giant slides, baby turkeys being born, crop art, and more you showed me life is not dull. Until next year …
Amy and Sue on the giant slide
Still in progress. Amy
P.S. Winner of Epic Grace will be picked on Friday but announced in the next post. Not too late to enter! AND I’m being fed by the grace stories and images. Thank you.
Hotdish on a stick…UffDa indeed, dontcha know! ^_^
:)
I am glad you had a good time!
Thanks Mark.
What a hoot. I loved the idea of Spam Curds. Tasty!
Well, I can’t honestly say how they were!
This post helped me to think of and be thankful for the blessings in my own life. Thanks. And I know what it feels like to be “adrift in my own life.” The hardest thing for me to remember is that I’m adrift (or drifting) on His river. He knows where I’m going and how it will turn out in the end. Don’t fight against it. Trust. I tell myself this over and over. I’m glad you had a great time!
Amen to closest China experience in the U.S., that made me laugh, but I’m sure it’s so true! Thanks for sharing the fun, I want to go down that slide :)
Oh Holly, if you get to go, you will TOTALLY get what I mean :)