Better Late than Never

...perhaps. Right off the bat, I'm letting you know that I am closing comments today with a promise that soon I'll be back in the swing of things; albeit, on a much lesser scale. This post is for me as a way to document October. That said, you're so welcome to look or scoot, whichever you prefer.

 ~October was a month spent thinking a lot about the country this cap represents in addition to my own.~

There were plenty of "oh no" moments. By the end of soccer season, my grandson was pretty weary of being the goalie all game, every game.(Everyone else on the team bailed.) That's a lot of responsibility. He did a fantastic job and only wishes that I had captured some action.

I just love this photo. I may have been hanging out with Norman Rockwell too much, but I could not have set this up any better. There's  so much story here. It cracks me up. My Jake looks as if he'll be ready for basketball. ☺

Had to smile seeing this trail marker behind the soccer field. There were a whole lot of proud parents and grandparents for sure.

~October's Header~

Early in the month, John and I did make it to the Fryeburg Fair. We were able to meet up with my aunt and uncle for lunch, which was fun. Then it was off to the races for them and off to the quilts for us.

John walked right past an entire contingent of his family without recognizing a soul — his own daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I had to point them out to him. Ha! 

Then we got separated, which can be a little frightening. John says that he heard me say, "There's the governor!" Thing is, I didn't see the governor so it wasn't my voice that he heard. Blast! I would have liked to have taken the photo that I can only describe. John walked right up to Governor LePage calling out his first name as he went as if they were long-lost buddies. (A little scary to think about really.) They shook hands and John told him that he was doing a fantastic job. We are both delighted this morning that The Governor has won his second term in office.

I worked on quilting in October. Hahahahahahaha... I love quilts, but snack mats are probably the biggest project I shall ever in this life do. This was for my dear friend Sandi who has had a rough go of it lately. It's just a way for me to say I love you and I'm thinking about you.

 ~my daughter's new property~

~a beautiful copper tree~

 ~coppery hydrangeas~

 ~We can see the barn through the trees again.~

~a little autumny corner~

~October Ends~

Food~October

Do I have my parties mixed up? No, I just wanted to share some of my food photography experiments. I've been saving some of these for a while: the potato chip with a heart center that John propped up on a plate for me to find (taken in July); the bacon sizzling in the pan, the pumkin somethin, the birthday cupcakes from last evening, and the *baked apple* from this morning.

 ~just loved all the colors~

Oh those fries! This photo is my personal favorite for this particular challenge. Thank goodness, John wanted French Fries for breakfast last week at the Fryeburg Fair; otherwise, I would have missed out on this picture.

The jam/jelly, pickle, fruit display (also from the Fryeburg Fair) is a close second!
I have a Nikon Coolpix camera. Anything more complicated would probably throw me for a loop. I used the various free photo editing programs to boost contrast. That's about it.
*Linking to the wonderful Donna at her Personal Photo Challenge.* 

Fryeburg Fair 2013

"Go to the fair, Templeton. You will find that the conditions at a fair will surpass your wildest dreams. Buckets with sour mash sticking to them, tin cans containing particles of tuna fish, greasy paper bags stuffed with rotten..."

"That's enough!" cried Templeton. "Don't tell me anymore. I'm going."

~John sidles up to the first of many food stands~

When they pulled into the Fair Grounds, they could hear music and see the Ferris wheel turning in the sky. They could smell the dust of the race track where the sprinkling cart had moistened it; and they could smell the hamburgers frying and see balloons aloft.

"...These autumn days will shorten and grow cold. The leaves will shake loose from the trees and fall. Christmas will come, then the snows of winter... All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoy, Wilbur — this lovely world, these precious days..."

~watching the oxen being escorted to the pulling ring~

(The little girl says, "Holy Smokies, those things are huge!")

Hope that you enjoyed a taste of the fair! Hope that I've shown you something new. There's always something new at the fair. Thanks for stopping by and do have the most precious of days.

*All quotes taken from Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. (Edited to Add: Did you know that the book's fair is based upon the Fryeburg Fair? It is. When I was a girl attending the fair, I may have seen Mr. White hanging out in the animal barns as he loved to do. I like that thought.)

Fryeburg Fair Flowers~Mosaic Monday

~ or some of them~

If you'd enjoy seeing more pictures of our fair day, and haven't already, please click *here.*

Linking to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House.

Fryeburg Fair 2012

It was yesterday or not at all. The weather has not been stellar for a fair week. No fair? No fair! I think that the weather pattern for this particular week in October is highly suspect as it happens year after year. 

So we struck out despite the fact that things didn't especially look promising.

Past the lake...

Over hill and dale...

to be welcomed at the fair!

Such a pretty picture and, if I had noticed the toppled mum, I'd have straightened it.

First things first—breakfast!

Yes, it really was good.

Perhaps we should have had celery...

Always love to see the quilts...

Those gals in the 1800s sure were dainty. The waists on these dresses are so tiny. The magazines above? Vintage copies of The Ladies' World.

A sweet tribute to E.B. White's Charlotte's Web... I've shared this before and will share it again. This delightful book's chapter about a county fair is based on the Fryeburg Fair. Mr. White, a resident of Brooklin, Maine entered his own livestock in the fair. One can read about this in a number of his essays. Say, do you like essays? I adore them and I especially adore any written by Mr. White. 

♪in the little red school house with my book and slate...♪

Recognize the colors on the John Deere wagon?

Wild cranberries have grown in Maine for centuries; although, raising cultivated cranberries is a relatively new business in Maine having first begun in 1991.

Wonder if they'd let me take this crock home because I like the number 3...

Love seeing beautiful embroidery...

For Judy...I cheated just a little, Judy. ☺

We were simply shocked, shocked, to learn that the wildfire danger was low! =)

 Then upon one knee uprising, Hiawatha aimed an arrow

This reminds me of a picture, also framed in birch bark and showing a scene from the same poem, that hung in my great-grandmother's home.

More quilting...table runners and quilts

I added this seed display box again because I love it so and because *last year's* photo didn't come out very well.

Yup. The fair has been around a long time.

Who is that handsome man?

Pretty autumn colors...

~American Arrow~

This seat is so interesting, though I'm pretty certain I'd be marked for life if I sat in it long. Ha!

Should I quit this post now? No. I'll just plug along to the bitter end.

Translation: We've got to find us something to eat (or something like that). You can tell from my response that I thought he was kidding. He wasn't.

Do you think we should be insulted having to eat hand cut fries from a dog bowl? John flavored them just right with kosher sea salt and vinegar. Yummo.

Christmas Tree Lane and the People's Choice Winner

My favorites! The Vardos! 

That's a fun tea set covered wagons, cowboys, and all...

Time to roll... The sun was out and we're not used to hot anymore. Besides, the fairgrounds were very crowded and I get kind of skitzy in crowds. I don't know how many times I'd tell John that I was going in this or that building only to turn around and head right back out. God love him, he's understanding. Then, too, Molly the poodle had been alone for five hours. Six is about her limit. We do hate to come home to surprises.

The race track minus the horses...

Following John back to the car...

Past all those who parked closer and those waiting to get in...

Maybe we should try the helicopter ride next year...

The foliage is popping! I'll save the journey home for another day. This post is much too long.

When I was leaving my hairdresser's, I asked if she would be going to the fair. She said that she wasn't really a fair kind of gal. How about you? Do you like going to the fair?

Wishing all my Canadian readers a wonderful holiday weekend and a richly blessed Thanksgiving. Show us all your holiday secrets now, too, won't you?!