Yes, it is my birthday. And typical of me, it has been the proverbial roller coaster of emotions, feelings, and moods. Dan does a very nice job of cheering me up, or simply allowing me to wallow (when necessary).
It’s always such a happy/sad day, now the fifth one without my sister. I did receive many wonderful e-mails, texts, and one card (thank you Barb!) as well as two phone calls (thank you Mick!) in celebration and wishing me well. Also, we rode the bikes to get frozen yogurt.
Tonight’s post though, needs to be more about yesterday. State Fair!
From the parking area,
as we approach.
Traditionally we begin with food. But this year we had to begin with a potty stop. (We are all well hydrated.) THEN we went in search of food. The boys had some type of BBQ meat, Empress had a really good veggie taco salad, and my order was completely messed up.
Not what I asked for.
To make up for their mistake they gave me way too damn much coleslaw, and some extra fish portions. Fine. Close enough. We brought the left-overs home. What?! You don’t travel with Tupperware in your bag?
Llama or poodle?
They all went to the animal barns while I trudged back to the car (yes, we DID also have a cooler with us). My son’s favorite beings of all time were in attendance. Hanging out in the stalls, looking llama-rific and alpaca-wonderful.
Boys near livestock.
There were no miniature horses, that we could find. Plenty of cows and goats though. (We had to practically drag Emma away.)
I forced her to wear those shorts.
(Hey, it was hot out!)
Speaking of my last baby, here she is modeling her fashionable chapeau. Her head was hot, so she got a new hat. It could not have been more perfect for her if she’d had it made on the spot by an old-fashioned haberdasher.
Silver pheasant.
There are also red and gold birds like this. If I can’t have a family of peafowl, may I have one of these instead?
Here’s yer sign.
There were more gardens and green houses than in previous years, which was cool to see. But the quilts and handcrafts seemed less.
And these two have badges!
As usual, we were confused by the table setting exhibit and competition (near the “collections” and baked goods, in the grange hall). But we attempt to see everything. I mean, come one, someone has tried really hard, and thought enough of their effort to haul it down to the fairgrounds. The least we can do is stand there and judge it unfairly with sarcastic remarks.
Not shown here:
a pound of fudge.
When we went to the Alameda County Fair with Bruce, we picked up some (more) of those OUTSTANDINGLY FABULOUS lint rollers that don’t need tape or paper (and then shared them with our hosts). This time we got adorable wee butterfly ornaments for the yard. One for me (Happy Birthday?) and one for my mom. Also, as we were going in, a lady handed J.D. one free admittance ticket. Nice! And thank you.
Max, Watering Pig, and butterfly decoration in the pot of radishes.
Here’s how I began my day. Then I went inside to see that on our card altar we had something not direct. So I photographed it the way it came out.
This was one of the first cards I saw in the new deck, it was on display in the store. It was what sold me.
Nine of Pentacles ~
Outstanding In Her Field
What I heard earlier was that we’re not as sure as we could be about our choices right now. Which is bothersome, because the message we just received was to Stand Our Ground.
No more self-doubt! The Universe is trying to get us all to be at our best, and that best is so much more successful than we could ever imagine. What is being said here now, and why we got this one as a Challenger, is that we continue to hold back a tiny bit.
We can be our very best, without worrying and stressing and fretting, when we believe that we ARE our best. Trust. Have faith. What we think is right? It’s right. Stick with it.
LateNight Birthday Gift On My Doorstep:
Crab!
I’m up late enough to read your post when it goes up!!!! (Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m on Pacific time, what’s your point?)
Llamoodle? Poodma?
Mmmm, crab!!
Happy birthday!!! (again!)
Well, it sounds like your birthday lived up to your expectations. I cannot imagine how difficult it would make one’s birthday to share it with a sister who has now left the body you knew.
(((((HUGS)))))
I just learned that Chiron (the planetoid), The Wounded Healer, returns sometime between the ages of 49-51. I took the liberty of looking yours up (provided I did my math right & got your birthyear correct), and it was back at the same position it was when you were born this year on Feb. 5-6. It also went retrograde on June 11th, and won’t be direct again until Nov. 14, by which time it will have moved back to within almost a degree of your natal placement. What all that means I’m not yet sure, but I believe it’s significant, and i will be emailing you about it.
Karen B beat me to it, I was thinking Lamadoodle, lol!
Love the rundown of the Fair, along with furred and feathered friends, and your family of characters! Sounds like a marvelous time was had by all! The silver pheasant is gorgeous, and I LOVE yer sign, LOL!
Awww, baskin Maxin! (and friends)
Ah, yes… there’s hawk and an intricate gate. Yes, yes, I know… I just don’t know how to move forward. Or, really, I haven’t taken the steps I’ve thought of, because I have been distracted from them, and, also, yes, you made me admit it, for a bit of fear of stumbling or setbacks… hmmmm.
Looks like the state fair was a rousing success. Their food is really good; I am a sucker for the grilled corn on the cob myself. Card was interesting, Max was darling. I like the butterfly in the radishes; I have a small sun chimes in my hanging basket of lavender.
So much to say about this one!
1. Happy Birthday!! You’re a wonderful person, I’m glad you’re alive.
2. Tupperware – great idea.
3. Hat – yes she looks FABulous. So lovely.
4. “The least we can do is stand there and judge it unfairly with sarcastic remarks.” – My sister-in-law calls my brother and I The Old Men in the Balcony (from the Muppets) because of this kind of behaviour. Runs on my mother’s side of the family. But underlying it is a sense of appreciation for how crazy and interesting people are.
5. Those rubbery lint rollers make my monkey crazy. I finally had to switch to the paper-ee ones. Sorry environment.
6. Helpful message today. Good stuff.
Phew! That post wore me out. Lovely.
Ohhh, Happy birthday!!!
I’m glad you had a fun time at the fair.
Good card today. Right on target.
a) Happy birthday! Again! I hope it turned out happier than sad. (Sounds like it did, but what do I know. Wasn’t there.)
b) There’s a farmer down the hill from us who raises ringneck pheasants (the red and gold kind) to train his hunting dogs. Want I should steal a couple for you? They’re always finding their way out into the road. It wouldn’t be that hard. Although, it might prove a pain in the ass for you to actually keep them since they do wander and they’re not terribly smart. Your call.
c) Phrase I never thought I’d read: “Those rubbery lint rollers make my monkey crazy.” Thanks, London.
I can’t remember when I last went to a state or county fair. They are so fun! I never went to the one in Washington because the line just to get to the parking lot was so long you couldn’t even see the entrance to the fair.
I love the pic of your guys touching right where it said please not to. Such boys! Especially that look on JD’s face. “What?”
The card is simply beautiful! The 9 of Pentacles has always been one of my favorites because it is so beautiful and lush and this one is particularly so. I’ll take the Challenger as telling me to be more confident in myself, not to let my issues back me into timidity and insecurity.
Happy birthday! again! Looks like you had a great day. Great photos. The card is speaking to me. I will listen. ; )
Oh, I am jealous that you know ANOTHER Barb that got a card there on time. I actually scrolled through last September sometime last week trying to remember exactly when your birthday was and I somehow narrowed it down to next week. So much for my quilt/history skills. So, anyway, happy birthday a day late, and it looks like the fair was its usual good time. We didn’t make it to ours this year and I’ve regretted it so much that I will never miss again. And I hope you will forgive me for being a smartass, but how could they resist the opportunity to have a woman standing out in a field of wheat or corn or something so she could be out standing in her field?
Happiest Happy Birthday!!!!!!!
I always plan to have tupperware available but never do.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, dearest Julie!!!!! (And yeah, I LOVE your watering pig! )Sending you wishes for a year full of wonder!
Thank you guys, again, for the beautiful birthday wishes!
Karen, yipee for West Coast time!
Corina, I’ve e-mailed you.
Anna, because YOU went to Puyallup last year we knew when it was, so Hanny can go this year!
Ally, your Mayberry pal has recently learned how to grill corn in the husk at home! He’ll share the secret with you, I’m sure.
Teri, we adore the old men in the balcony too!
Dee, thanks for the offer, I’d LOVE some of your neighbor’s birds, but you are probably right (as usual) they’d wander off.
Skye, we can’t take them ANYwhere, lol!
Robena, good call. When they talk, we have to listen, or they just yell louder.
Barb, it was my sister-in-law with the same name. She’s VERY organized and timely! (She has that special talent.)
Kari, thank you muchly.
Judy3, it’s a thing I only remember about half the time, which is a vast improvement for me.
Sue, great gratitude from me to you.
Lynne, we saw a watering elephant in Seattle but didn’t pick it up, and we SO should have. Lesson for us all: if one sees a watering animal, get it!