Wordless Wednesday

Minnesota State Fair 2018

Off To The Fair!

We made it to the Fair!

This year we decided to go on the very first day. It was predicted that it would be less crowded, but that was not so! By the time we got to the Park and Ride, the lot was full and cars were lined way down the roads. We found our spot and then jumped on the bus, so much easier this way than dealing with traffic through the cities and trying to find parking there. I personally think that the weather people on the news made such a big deal about how the first day was going to be perfect weather, with steamy heat and rain then arriving for the rest of the time, that people skipped work and went early!

As always, food is on your mind when you're at the Fair. I wanted to try one of the new ones this year, an Irish tot thing with sauerkraut. We searched around a bit, but didn't see it so we decided to share a gyro and fries as blood sugars were dropping and that's not a good thing when you're at the Fair. And then we saw the O'Gara's stand, but at that time, we were too full to try them! Today there was a review of them by a food critic and he said that they were not all that great, so I felt a little bit better.

We finally found the roasted corn by the Big Slide. I need to remember that for next year.

And once more, the fried green tomatoes were so delicious. I think they are becoming a State Fair tradition for us.

We walked through the midway, the creative arts building, the agriculture building (and looked at the crop art), the 4H building (and sat awhile on a bench in there, so cool and peaceful), looked at the tractors, and saw a parade. Then we went to the barns. I think the sheep barn was the best this year, don't know why.

And then on a whim, I talked Bruce into going into the Haunted House with me. It was better than I remember from the last time I went, and I screamed my head off every time someone scary leaned into my face! It was so great!

The ride home took much longer than usual as the bus driver drove us through Minneapolis instead of just sticking to the freeway, but we didn't mind as it felt good to rest.

What would I do differently next year? Maybe the Big Ferris Wheel. That might be a stretch for me as I'm scared of heights, but why not?

Wordless Wednesday

Birthday Week

I'm having an excellent birthday week.

My actual birthday brought phone calls from friends, a brunch with Pa (and Richard and Bruce) at the Good Day Cafe, plus a dinner at home. Mark and Mom came over, of course. And Nick also came home this weekend for a visit, and brought Olivia with. I skyped with Katie and Avi, and talked to Jake on the phone.

Then I grilled the birthday steaks, but Bruce made the Angel Food Cake with bananas, pudding, and whipped cream, which turned out Y-U-M-M-Y.

Bruce is starting to get more creative in the kitchen. I think he has a signature appetizer now! Kabobs of watermelon balls/mozzarella cheese/grape tomatoes/ ham and basil. Plus he's been making cream of wheat with brown sugar in the morning which he then shares with me. Good man.

Punk has been behaving better this week, too. Recently she had been kind of naughty, and going potty on the carpet at the bottom of the stairs to the basement family room. I told her that maybe she needed to spend a little more time in her room to get re-aquainted with her litter box. I would then close her in there for a little while after she ate. Maybe it's helping? Or, maybe it's her birthday present to me! 😘

It's nice to be remembered on your birthday, no matter how old you get to be.

The rest of the week looks promising. Tomorrow, I meet Debbie for supper at Spasso. Thursday might bring the State Fair (Thrifty Thursday, no less), and this weekend might mean some cabin time and a trip to Stillwater to hear Bruce perform some of the songs he wrote for the Summer Singer Songwriter's Challenge. I'm loving all the activity and people, but I am noticing that I'm pretty tired when the days are done. Guess we can't be full of energy forever!

Purple Dress

Last weekend, a good friend's youngest son got married and we were among the lucky ones who were invited to attend! The reception was in an old mansion in South Minneapolis, in fact it was an old mansion that Bruce and I had looked into when we were planning our own wedding some 31 years ago, but that's not important now.

What's important, was that I was so excited to go and dance. I had just been in the hospital right before Katie's wedding, and was in no condition to dance at hers. It ended up being just one of those things, but it was still kind of sad.

When I was getting ready to be mother of the bride, I found it challenging to find just the right mother of the bride dress to wear. So many of them looked matronly (or else, way too tight), and I ended up buying and returning several purple dresses. (I also kept some because I liked them. So purple dresses, I have a few.) Was that crazy? After talking to other mothers of brides and grooms who did the exact same thing, I've decided that it was probably pretty normal.

So, for Katie's wedding, I rediscovered a lacy lilac dress that was in my closet all along that had never been worn, but was loved all the same. And for this wedding, I wore one of the purple mother of the bride dresses I had bought but which had been vetoed, although I'm not totally sure why because it's a really nice dress!

Anyway, Bruce danced some with me, and then I ended up dancing with Renee, mother of the groom.

It was a blast! And though I don't get out to many fancy places these days, I'm going to find a way to wear all my purple dresses.

Wordless Wednesday

Slow

August already, and the evening noises are starting to sound like fall.

Funny that I don't remember feeling like summer was coming to an end when it was only the end of July or the beginning of August. Why does it seem that way now?

Then again, life feels kind of slow.

We've gotten together with friends for conversation and music and still try to get out and walk, usually after supper. And suppers are frequently eaten on the porch, usually humble foods that are easy to make and not a big deal.

Dad continues to get more frail. They bring up the topic of Hospice at times. I suppose we should think about it, but he doesn't seem to be uncomfortable and he's still quite alert. And Mom isn't ready to think about things like that. I pray that we will know what to do when the time is right.

I guess things don't always have to be fast paced and full of adventures.

Maybe that's okay.