That's A Lot of Cole Slaw

When I think of "state fair," I visualize shiny, plump vegetables and groomed livestock and jars of prize-winning jam. I have to admit that I'm a sucker for the exhibits, but for the past two years—because of certain small children who were too pooped after all the rides—we haven't been able to spend any time strolling through the various buildings that house the many fair entries.

This year I vowed that we would go check out the exhibits, and we did. It meant we didn't leave the fair until late in the evening and I was exhausted from all the walking, but here you go . . .

People picture Alaska encased in snow and ice year-round, but we do have a summer season. It's short, but sweet, and our midnight sun allows for some pretty amazing gardens. One of the most popular categories at our State Fair centers around the biggest vegetables grown each particular year, and 2009 produced some doozies. This 90-pound cabbage is nothing, considering that the grand champion weighed over 125 pounds!! In fact, this year's winning cabbage made it into the book of Guinness World Records. That's right, Texas. We grow 'em big in Alaska, too.

This zucchini tipped the scale at just over 25 pounds.

There's nothing cuter than little piglets . . .

. . . and nothing uglier than a big ol' fat lazy mama pig.

Present company excluded, of course.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

My absolute favorite exhibit? The quilts! Oh, they're wonderful. This is just one small area. The rest of the quilts hang from the ceiling, and line the walls, and are stacked in piles on tables. They are so beautiful and represent such creativity and hard work, I could spend all day just looking at the quilts.

I had to take a picture of this winner in the sewing category. I sewed a couple of dresses this past winter but they sure didn't look like this beauty. Thanks, Captain Obvious, for your hand at the edge of the picture, making sure we notice the spectacular train on this gown.

This is one of the peaks on a range that encircles Palmer, where the fairgrounds are located. If you put on a pair of magnifying glasses, you just might be able to make out my daughter's red balloon floating away to the left of that mountain. Good-bye, balloon. And good-bye, State Fair. We'll meet again next year: same place, same time.

Dinner last night: barbecue chicken, roasted potatoes, green salad

Fair Hair

Every year at the fair, I give my older girls the choice of face make-up or crazy hair. This year, they and their friend decided FAIR HAIR, BABY!

These hair styles defy every law of gravity and of childhood. They will stay in place despite any silly antic a kid can dream up.

Climbing a rock wall won't faze this fauxhawk.

A bucking salmon can't move a single hair on my daughter's head.

Vigorous hula hooping? Please. My 9-year-old's locks reach for the sky even while she madly twirls 3 hoops simultaneously.

Enjoy your day, girls. Your evening bath won't be so fun.

Dinner last night: homemade chicken noodle soup, sweet corn muffins

Rides, Rides, and More Rides

You know you're an old fogey when fair rides no longer elicit screams of delight, but instead cause waves of nausea and the onset of a migraine headache. I can't believe I've come to this point in my life, but I'd rather stay on the ground and take pictures of my girls having fun than squeeze my slender hips into a nice, comfy Hell's Bells roller coaster ride and get spun around in circles. I know. I've become my grandmother.

Who are these nicely behaved children?

Look at how well they keep their hands

inside the railroad car at all times.

There's my girl.

Dinner last night: spaghetti with meat sauce, green salad, garlic bread