It's Not Pretty at the Fair

I have spent my week looking at the back end, the back sides of cows, pigs, kids. Seriously, I have very few fair pictures that aren't the back end of something or someone. Lots of what comes out of the back end too. Manure in almost every pic!







Lexi loved milking the cow in the Farm Friend's tent. I got in front of the cow for this pic.

Max won't help me get good pictures at the Fair but if someone else's Mom is taking their picture he has to butt in. So, even from the front he's a butt!

The fair just isn't always pretty.

Show Day Breakfast

During Fair week I make game day breakfast for Max and whoever needs it. This morning Max came home for a shower and breakfasts to go. Not sure who all gets one but I made four breakfast to go, Max and Zach for sure and then whoever is in the right place at the right time.


The fat boy breakfast is only made during Fair week, football and soccer season. And Praise the Lord, it looks like there will be a football season.

Today is Swine Fit and Show at the fair and I plan not to miss a minute of the action. Seriously, it is action packed. Kids, pigs and drama, all at the Northwest Washington Fair.

I am wondering, is it cannibalistic or just wrong if there were pork sausage patties on the breakfast sandwiches?

Fit and Show 2010

Yesterday was Dairy Fit and Show at the Fair. Max got a blue but not the blue he wanted. Apparently he held the extra lead rope incorrectly. Now we know.

Picture is of Max and the Lancaster girls before they went out into the ring. Sometimes the competition is from within your own FFA chapter. They all help each other and then compete against each other. So, it's all nice until show time and then they get competitive and start trash talkin'. Made me uncomfortable.


Dean, Steve and Hubby looking her over for any flaws. Dean tweaked the tail "do" and she was show ready.



Max and his heifer looked good but neither of them have ANY. PATIENCE. AT. ALL. with a mom and her camera.

Garden Party 2010 III

Dessert course was at Vern and Shelly's farm, specifically in the party barn. One word comes to mind, glittering. From the rims of our cocktail glasses, the glass and candle lit table to the tree branches overhead, everything glittered. Even the stars in the sky glittered as the huge double doors out to the pool were open letting the perfect summer evening in to our setting.


Shelly is the only person I know who can make a barn, canning jars and branches elegant. Super elegant.

Our dessert menu was chalked out on the party barn blackboard. And yes, it was even more delicious and beautiful than it was written. Difficult to believe, but true.



Lastly, we enjoyed a sipping rum that Vern and Shelly had brought back from their sailing trip. A hint of vanilla, south seas and old world rum flavor made this the perfect nightcap, after a perfect evening with dear friends and delicious food.



Until next year...

Garden Party 2010 II

Hubby and I had main course for this year's Garden Party. I think main course is the easiest for me to cook except for one biggie, the timing. It is hard to time while we are gone for the first course. Granted we get a 10-15 minute head start back to our place but it's hard.

We like to try something new. The Plum Wine Buerre Rouge called for two pounds of butter, added one tablespoon at a time. It was a bit time intensive. Hubby chopped everything for the Pineapple Salsa and for the rice pilaf. I don't have the patience to chop that small and uniform.

We put the rice pilaf in our rice cooker, hit start and left the house, hoping for the best. We put our fish in the oven when our guests came on the yard.



I wanted a lot of texture and layers on our table. Since we had our dinner later than usual I was able to use dahlias. I get my dahlias from Mr. & Mrs. Heeringa on the Birch Bay Lynden Road. I love their flowers.


Sheryl gave me the orchids from the wedding, I repurposed them by hanging them upside down from our tent. I added a few white dahlias to fill in the top. Or bottom, depending how you look at it.


Next up, dessert at Vern and Shelly's farm. I wish I had some right now.
Stay tuned...
IF you are visiting from Tablescape Thursdays, please note that the appetizers are back one post and dessert is ahead one post. This is all part of an annual progressive dinner party with friends.

Garden Party 2010 I

Lilly P!
Karen and Mark may be didn't literally use any Lilly Pulitzer designs however; everything was PINK and green for the party on the patio.

We began our Garden party 2010 at Mark and Karen's for appetizers. Karen's table began with the green and pink tablecloth and from there she repurposed and layered. Hankies and teacups, moss, old variety roses, twine, and lots of beautiful butterflies, layered.



The food was delicious. The coconut prawns were baked. Love the NO fry version. Just writing about the food makes me closed my eyes and "Mmmmmm good" aloud, all over again.


One of my favorite local spots is Karen's patio. Whimsical, recycled, cheerful come to mind, though welcoming is always my first thought regarding Mark and Karen's home.



Karen is pretty and relaxed and FiNiShEd... On to our place for Main Course 2010.
Stay tuned.
Main Course at 10 a.m. Monday