Last Day of the Fair

Thought I'd be done talking about the fair.  NOT!  The last day for us is a sweet/sad time.  We're glad we're to the last day - usually tired but so sorry the fair is over.

We get up early - yes - I'm up and out the door before 8am.  We have breakfast on the fairgrounds then we take in the things we haven't seen or want to revisit.  We have until 1pm when we go back to the volunteer office and start "tearing" down the info and getting ready for next year.

So, this morning we had breakfast at Cindy's Place.  It's kind of nice.  The girls come to the tables (only at breakfast) to see what we want.  Sharon had scrambled eggs/toast.  I had French toast and bacon.  Then we caught the tram up the hill.  Stopped in at Pioneer Hall to watch a fiddling group.  Then we started our walk downhill.  Took in part of the civil war reenactment.  At the time we got there, they were talking about the clothing of the time.

It's been awhile since we saw the chain saw carver so we watched him finish up some of the last pieces.  The auction would be that afternoon.

Then we received a request from Connie to see if we could pick up a duffel bag Kevin saw at the fair.  So that meant we needed to go into the Shoppers Mart.  Definitely not a waste of time.  Bought a couple of new pillows - we did need them.  Getting headaches, etc.  Didn't buy any knives this time.

Had dinner at the Pork Producers.  We both had coupons for a free dinner.  Really didn't want them to go to waste, now did we.

Now, it's off to work to finish out this year's fair.  Got home around 9pm.  The next few days would be finishing the scheduling for next year's fair.  Having dinner with Paula and Ernie at their new Event Barn - forgot to take the camera.  It's truly amazing.  August is almost over.

Iowa State Fair - Second Installment

I know for some of you this is old news but continuing our adventures at the Iowa State Fair.

You can't go to the fair without seeing the butter sculptures.  This year is a tribute to the Lincoln Highway.

This last picture is Sara repairing the cow after the damage.

For us the fair wouldn't be complete without visiting the Discovery Gardens

This year inside the Agriculture Building was a sculpture of a buffalo made out of scrap iron found in one of the Iowa rivers (couldn't remember which one).

One evening we went to the six hitch horse show.  It was amazing.  Pictures are a little blurry.  Sorry

In the atrium of the Cultural Center was a balloon artist.  The ferris wheel actually turned.

Next installment will be the last day of the fair.

Update #2 - Iowa State Fair

Fair arrived on Thursday, and we were there about 8am.  That is correct, I did drink some coffee on the way in.  We like having breakfast on the first day at Campbell's before checking out the fairgrounds.  Then we ride the trams around a couple of times, to check out the various food stands.

Then we stop in and visit the friends we have made at the Varied Industries Building.  We share info about what vendors have returned, the new foods, etc.  Of course, while we were there I had to see Floppy.

Then we checked out the Legos exhibit in the south atrium.

We love people watching on the streets of the fair.

This year we watched the ice carver.  Here's a couple of pictures.  I won't show all of them since I have them step by step all the way.  :)

We had to be to work at 4pm.  So that took care of the first day.  More later.

Update #1

Can't believe it's been this long since I updated.  Where has the summer gone?  I'll try and remember the summer happenings.  I know if I updated as I went but then .......

On August 1 we headed up to Iowa.  This was our 14th year volunteering at the Iowa State Fair.  We had a tire blowout on the camper near Osceola, IA.  Yes, again.  We thought we had all new tires on.  We replaced the wrong tire before heading out.  So the spare was the new tire.  Now, we have a new spare tire.

Before the fair started, we help out at the volunteer office helping to finish up the last few details of the program before the fair starts.  There is a training session and a potluck on the Monday before the fair.  We also get a tour of the fairgrounds with a fair board member as our tour guide.  Provides us with more information to help us with new items or changed items.


We ride in the fair trams.

The food is always delicious.  The fair provides the meat and drink: chicken catered from Hy-Vee and water, lemonade and ice tea.

Since retirement, Sharon and I have ridden in the state fair parade on the Wednesday before the fair starts.  We meet at the volunteer office and take the trams over to the parade route.  We're at the beginning of the fair so we get to park at the base of the Capital.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we also blew a front tire on the truck on our way back from the fairgrounds one day.   Let's just say that this was a much more expensive trip then we had planned on.  We have new tires on the truck and a couple of new ones on the camper.

Next update, I'll talk about the fair.  We had a really good time. 

Fourth of July

Well, have a couple of hours this afternoon while Sharon watches the Cubs and before the employee barbecue so thought I'd write a few words.

The summer is going fairly well.  Sharon's having foot and leg issues.  She has plantar fasciitis.  So after standing for awhile her foot aches and her legs swell some.  The doctor won't prescribe anything for it because of her other meds.  He just said learn to live with the pain.  Yep!  That's what he said.  We're only going to work 4 days a week now.  That's helping a lot.  So things should improve somewhat before the fair starts.

We'll be heading up to Iowa on August 1st and staying at the KOA in Adel.  Looking forward to seeing our fair friends again. 

Last week my sisters came for a short visit.  We put a lot into Wednesday and sort of wore them both out.  So we stayed inside the cabin on Thursday and played games.  We took a small drive around town and stopped at the national cemetery.  We had visited Wilson's Creek battlefield the day before.

We're standing in front of a flag found on the battlefield right after the battle.  Pam is on the far left.  She was doing fairly well.  Lost most of her hair after the first chemo treatment but looks good in the turbans and hats.  She's so coordinated.  Marcia's in the middle.  She got her brace and new shoes for her feet.  Marcia has Type II Diabetes and has been diagnosed with neuropathy.  She's now seeing a specialist that specializes in saving feet and legs due to diabetes.

It may sound depressing but everyone is doing well and we sure do have a great time when we get together.

At the cemetery we found a section of soldiers from Iowa.  We learned that after this battle, Iowa's governor mandated that a regimental unit couldn't be named the "first" due to the fighting of this infantry group.  Visiting this national cemetery was very moving.  It's the only cemetery that has both union and confederate soldiers buried.  They were brought here after the battle.

We've decorated the office for the fourth.  Took some pictures of Scott & Diane and a couple of the newer workcampers out front underneath our award sign.

At the beginning of June, Scott & Diane took the employees and families to a Springfield Cardinals baseball game.  It was a very cool evening.  You guessed it, Sharon wore a sweatshirt and was still cold.  They lost.  But we all had a good time.

This week the weather has been beautiful.  A few times we were able to sit outside reading in our recliner lawn chairs and enjoying the scenery.

We went shoe shopping at the mall yesterday.  Believe it or not, I didn't buy any shoes.  Guess just didn't find anything I wanted.  Sharon found a couple of pairs, though.  Nice support shoes without having psychedelic colors.  That was the hardest part, finding plain colored shoes. 

Over the next couple of weeks, we're hoping to get the cupboards cleaned out with our extra day off.  Think it will happen.  Maybe.  We'll see.

Almost a month has passed and I'm taking the time to update again.  Isn't it amazing. 

This weekend we're heading to NW Iowa for Sharon's nephew's (Austin) graduation.  So, you ask, what's been happening these past few weeks.  Let's see if I can remember.  I'll start from the most recent and work my way back.

Last Wednesday & Thursday (May 8 &9), Sharon and I took a trip to Adair, IA to visit my sister, Pam.  At the end of April she found out that she has cancer.  In less than 6 weeks time:  diagnosis, surgery and recuperation.  She'll have treatments over the next several months.  We were going up the week after her surgery but snow occurred in Iowa and Missouri.  

Here she is sitting on her new front porch.  We were enjoying the outdoors for a little while.  During her surgery, they removed 16 lymph nodes from her leg.  This caused her leg to stop functioning.  Hence the cane.  She's able to walk and go up and down the stairs but still trying to get those nerves to "fire up".  She was extremely happy the day we came, she is now able to stay at home by herself now.  My other sister, Marcia, came over for the afternoon and early evening also.  And, of course, we played games.

As I mentioned, the week before we had snow.  Not as much as Iowa but still it looked gruesome for a little while.

We had planted some flowers just the week before.  Most have survived.

This one is my favorite.  The daisies with all of the colorful zinnias around them.  They're growing up fine.

You should see the geranium now.  Three very large blooms.  Needless to say, this one survived.

This didn't survive the snow and frost.  At least we have a picture to prove it did exist.

 

 

 

We bought a new birdfeeding station.  A couple of hummingbirds tried to eat from the chickadee feeder so we went and bought a hummingbird feeder.  We have two pairs of hummingbirds, so far.

 

 

 

 



We've had several birds visiting.  We've had a couple of Baltimore Orioles stop by so now we have a container of grape jelly on the feeder. 

We've had grosbeaks for the last few weeks.  Sharon got a picture with 3 females, 1 male and an immature male.  We've had an indigo bunting stop by also.  Of course, we still have all of the normal birds:  red belly woodpecker, downy woodpecker, house finches, goldfinches, white throated sparrows, song sparrows, and a couple of other sparrows that I can't remember at the moment, bluejays, cardinals, mourning doves and of course, the red wing blackbirds.  I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.

Well, it's almost time for me to start lunch so I'll sign off for now. 

April

Can you believe it!!!  I'm updating before 6 months have passed.

Let's see what's been going on the last couple of weeks.

Scott & Diane invited us to their home for Easter dinner.  We sat outside until dinner was ready.  It was beautiful.  Their magnolia tree had large buds but had not begin to bloom, yet.   If you remember from posts past, S&D have eclectic tastes.  Here's a picture of part of their deck.  They love to go through thrift and antique stores.  You never know what they may find.

If you can imagine, it's a lot of fun just looking around to see what you can find.  Dinner was delicious.  She ordered a Honey Ham and we got to take home the left overs.

On Tuesday, they left and took a trip to Italy.  We were mainly in charge again.  So glad when they got back.  Their pictures were awesome. 

The next week we had two visitors.  Gary & Sue stopped in to see us on their way from Texas up to Iowa.  It was great to see them again.  We made a pizza when they arrived and sat outside eating and enjoying the sunshine.  No pictures of this visit but I'll see if I can find one of them from our Texas trips.  Here's one from their last visit with us.  Sharon's also in the picture.

Mindy & Dan stopped in later that day.  We were working and got kind of busy so they left.  We met up with them again on Thursday at Lamberts for dinner.  Forgot to take a picture of our food but did get these.

And, of course we had leftovers. 

The leaves are starting to leaf out and some of the trees are in bloom.  We remembered to get a couple of the trees. 

We have two new couples working this summer.  Had staff meeting this past week that lasted 4 1/2 hours - so glad they provided lunch.  We're looking forward to this summer.  It will be one of the first times that we may be working with people who actually know and do what they are supposed to.  Awesome.

It looks like we may be making a few trips up to Des Moines over the next few weeks.  My sister had surgery earlier this week.  She had a hysterectomy and they stretched some nerves, muscles, and tendons in her left leg.  Her leg is numb and she's doing physical therapy to get it working again.  So, it looks like we'll be doing some traveling on one of our days off to visit and provide moral support.

Well, the cubs game is over so it's time for me to go do something else.