MO State Fair 2015 Highlights-From Beginning to End

Thursday 1st Day of Fair 2015 

All photos courtesy of Cindy Goalder

I can probably count the times in the 19 years we have lived in MO that I have went to the fair. I still am not sure how people can manage to go everyday and also attend all the concerts. Apparently the consensus is wide that do, but yet I talk to many who don't step foot at the fair ever. Usually our attendance is based on two main categories: schedule, weather. These two aligned perfectly for some strange reason this year.

The actual festivities started the day before the fair when the Budweiser Clydesdale's and the local distributor celebrated the 82nd Anniversary of the First Delivery of Beer to the White House. It was definitely an experience to have that many people on one street and see the larger than life horses make a few stops along the way.

We were able to attend some of the actual opening parade for the beginning of the State Fair. Although it didn't seem as organized as a few we had seen in the past, the day was beautiful, not to hot and no rain which is always a plus for fair goers. The picture above showed off the colorful sunset at the end of the first day.

It was definitely interesting to observe and or hear some of the people and comments about the week.  The first concert was old rock and roll Def Leppard,Styx and Tesla. Apparently it was a sold out crowd and I know just living blocks away we could hear them pretty clearly. That seemed to be the norm for all the concerts the air and weather was just right for just about every concert for me to sit out on my front steps and sing along with most if not every act.

Thursday was MO Women in Agriculture, Governor's, Legislature and Judge's Day for which ladies had free admission to the fair.  The weather was again very beautiful (I have a feeling we have been spoiled for spring and summer and that fall and winter may not be so kind to the Midwest). Starting off walking down the midway and wondered why everyone was just standing around, only to discover they were playing the National Anthem (rather softly from where I was standing) for the start of the day.

 I made it a day, not really what I had planned but got a early start with my daughter and granddaughter. I actually thought I would save space in my bag and leave my keys in my daughters' car, NOT A GOOD IDEA.  I was surprised that the crowd that day was rather light.  The first sighting of the day was our MO Governor, Jay Nixon and his group of dark suited guards. I don't know if he thought he was hiding out from the front gate admissions crowd but  he looked as though he was ready for a long day of meet and greets and handshaking.  We later saw the Governor's wife at the pie judging contest at the Home Economics Building.

It is always entertaining to just people watch at the fair. Young, old its something that brings a smile and a chuckle to my face.  I know the food during the fair is greasy, fried heaven for most people but since I have tried to stay away from such gastronomical cuisine, we chose a newer trendy food. The AgriMissouri Bistro and Market had a delicious lunch. Anyone who asked I pointed them around the horse stalls and near the cow pens to savor this wonderful food. One such couple had indicated to me that they were tired of eating the usual fried, fattening food for the past three days and wanted something real. This was definitely the place. I hope the fair continue the bistro for years to come, just move it to a better location.

 Braised Short Ribs, polenta corn and green beans-Agri Missouri Bistro

 Butterfly hitching a ride

We couldn't go without stopping at the Floriculture Building with all the beautiful plants and flowers. Of course by Thursday some of the flowers had already stood the test of time, but the winning ribbons still sat proudly on the table. I also was able to finally locate the type of mystery plant that appears each year in front of my windows. Who would have thought that a Mimosa wasn't just a brunch drink. Another peculiar sight was this tiny butterfly attached to this plant entry. As I always say a butterfly comes from out of nowhere at any given time.

 The Trash to Treasure Division was also something new for me. Who would think you could recycle used kitchen ware and sports items into works of art. I wonder how many you might find around town hanging out in yards?  Isn't recycling and grand!

 Trash to Treasure Division

  At the end of my over 8 hour day and 14,000+ steps walked on Thursday, the funnel cake stop just as you leave the Midway was calling to me. I decided on the  Red Velvet Funnel Cake as my last stop of the day. I walked home with it so that was all the justification I needed. Unfortunately, by the time I got it home it slightly resembled an early Halloween decoration. Admittedly great tasting. 

By the last day of the fair, hubby had returned home so we made another trip. As all the last visiting customers attended the Amazing Anastasini Circus, not without controversy this year the Amazing Rainforest Experience, or any of the other fair attractions it was a little sad that another fair had come and gone. One bathroom attendant in the Family Fun Center said it best. "I have worked in several areas during the fair and this place is my favorite". "I usually strike up conversations in the weirdest place expected, but I hope every year that I can work in the Center" she said. 

 In clicking my last picture as we were leaving, not until I got home and looked through the pictures did I notice the 10 day fair had come full circle with almost identical pictures from the beginning to the end. 

Last Day of Fair 2015

Coloring Your World-- No Staying within the Lines Required

If you are like I was as a kid I had Crayola's and coloring book's to keep me occupied. It was one of my favorite past times in childhood. Whether it be a rainy day, or no kids to play with which happens often for only children, a coloring book can provide hours upon hours of fun. My early pictures were I am sure scribbles all over the page with no concept or reasoning. Then as I got older I came up with my own technique of color schemes and outlining the pictures. Somewhere down the line I decided to add the date then my picture was complete.

Back then I figured coloring books were invented by someone who knew that not everyone could be a free-handed artist, for which I am definitely NOT.

The closest I ever came to artistic design was as a figure skater. In school figures you could draw a figure eight with or without a scribe and follow the intricate pattern. In ice dancing each dance has a pattern to follow and most if looked at in a book or up close on the ice you can determine what dance it is.  Each skater's routine is usually plotted out with precise steps by a coach and choreographer.  Go to iceskatingresources.org or usfsa.org to check ice dancing/compulsory figure diagrams. They are not as detailed as they were at the start of figures but still a lost art of sorts since figures are no longer a requirement (sad but true).

Another fascinating use of coloring or art therapy is used for Alzheimer's patients. Used as an alternative therapy, The Alzheimer's Association of Orange County (AAOC) and artist Selly Jenny and Marilyn Oropeza developed Memories in the Making art program. This program works with persons with dementia and helps them express themselves through art when they otherwise may have little or no communication skills.  For some patients this outlet of expression has opened doors that were otherwise closed due to this terrible disease. Training sessions are available and additional information about this program is available by going to the alz.org website. Many chapters around the country are participating in this program.

Recently I came across several articles on adult coloring books. These are not just ordinary books. Most have themes as the one's I purchased below on Amazon. They have a wide variety of prices and styles to chose from. Other's are large scale posters with thin, fine lines that sadly even the older adult eyes might have difficulty in completing. Pull out that trusty lighted magnifying glass if you tackle those books!

Pinterest also has pinners who have started coloring book boards (myself included). Most pages you can print out and add your own unique colors too. Also the coloring craze seems to have a wide variety of printable pages available for free you just have to know where to look.

To keep with my connection to my figure skating roots a few months ago I found that former Two Time Olympic and World Champion Tai Babilonia was in the process of developing her own coloring book.  So far the pictures on her Facebook page "Tai Art" looks like it will be a fun one to add to my collection. I look forward to its release soon. 

Coloring is great therapy for any age, it can be a calming way to get your mind off hectic schedules or just a bad day in general.  I guarantee  your kids and grandchildren may want you to share your colors with them. It's your choice to stay within the lines, but it isn't required. 

Tai's Facebook Page is "Tai Art".

It Is Not Fair I am Not Ready for It

Well it is another where has the time gone moment. Just a few short weeks until the school year starts, the state fair will start in less than four days, and a friend of mine from my skating days mentioned that practices and competitions will be starting very soon.  Where has the time gone? Oh and to also top that have noticed way to many social media mentions of how many days, weeks and paychecks until Christmas!

When I competed in synchronized skating we had many practice sessions to iron out what our yearly program would be. Change after change, decisions about costumes, planning where we would go and what competitions was always a major decision making process; and with 20+ women and coach that was no small task. Everyone had opinions, ideas and was typically a challenge to agree. Not so different than anything else in life.

The state fair starts this week in town so a barrage of people from all over will be upon us. Planning how to get out of my subdivision will be a challenge for most of the time, avoiding some areas entirely will also be top on the list. Hearing "have you went to the fair yet?" surely I will hear at least a dozen times over the course. I am pretty sure I will at least go once. Sometimes I think I dislike going to the fair because I know that when it is over, so is the summer.

Which brings me to the third unfair moment. Time flies and it is truly unbelievable that our oldest grandchild will be starting Kindergarten. I am not sure who is having a harder time with this her mother or myself. I mentioned to several people that I don't believe I had as much of an issue sending my own two children away to school as much as I am having a difficult time with her going. I chalk it up to our changing society. I hope what we have all taught her doesn't get ruined by going to school. How silly does it sound?  Her old soul characteristics that shine frequently hopefully won't be ruined by whatever system is in place for the moment.  Keeping up with what everyone else does, has or wants was not a part of what my kids dealt with in school early on. Now it seems to be a whole different kettle of fish. I think we might get t-shirts that say "Just because so and so told you too do it doesn't mean you have too".

Oh well usually no one is ready for what life has to throw at you, but guess I will have to continue to skate through life as best I can. No blog pun intended. Better strap on my sharpened blades, may be in for a bumpy ride.

Trust

"Trust me, everything will come out fine". How many times have we heard that? Trust is something you have to build just like a house or relationship. Neither is an easy task.

A baby takes its first steps and usually it is with something or someone standing in front of it coaxing them forward one step at a time. Most of us do not remember those early days, but the days since we remember pretty vividly. Trusting to take the right step can be a tricky one.

I remember in my early skating days an instructor told me it would be beneficial to me if I tried a certain technique the way she taught me rather than the way I had learned by watching someone else. I had already gotten into a bad habit which was not helping me in my progress. So along with my instructor I had to "re-learn" the trick from scratch. It took constant practice over and over and over again to break the habit and the move did improve over a long, long period of time.

Often when you watch figure skating the commentator sometimes will comment that "oh he/she doesn't have the best technique" or "he/she recently changed instructors after many years and they had to go back to the drawing board and break down the trick in a better way". That can be a make or break situation sometimes when all the bad habits have to be erased. Easier said then done!

In today's society trusting others and even your gut instinct have battles all the time. Throughout my life it seems my "gut" instinct prevails over most anything. Sometimes I like to also call it my "Scorpion stinger" because most times when I get stung once, most often I don't get stung again in the same way.

Trust played a big part in our first start in our own truck business also.  I have always took the cautious route while David sometimes not so much. Our ying and yang complex. The offer he had been approached about didn't seem realistic to me but to him--a great deal. The little small voice kept insisting NO but I gave in with much reservation. The to good too be true situation lasted longer than I expected but eventually it did sour. It was definitely a learning experience for both of us and several years later when we again had the opportunity we went into it with a whole different perspective. Thank goodness twenty years later we have been blessed. We have managed well with only a few bumps in the road. Expansion was never on the list because too much of a good thing can lead to disaster. We have seen it happen with many in business for themselves. Taking on more than you can handle, giving up control to other's can lead you down the wrong path. That little small voice has won out.

Trust me, everything in life will eventually come out fine, or so I am told. Over and over and over again.

Summer Days--Summer Nights

What is summer without hot days? I have expressed many times I dislike humidity. The hot, breath of summer hitting you in the face the same in the morning and also late at night--not my idea of fun summer life. Warm with a breeze in which you can sit out and enjoy the sunrise or sunsets is more to my taste. We have only had a few of those lately with a helping of cloud formations for storms either coming or going by. We may have not had 100 degree weather (yet) but it inches closer and closer to three digit temperatures. Maybe if we are lucky (fingers crossed) we won't have any this season.

One night recently when it was cool enough to sit out on the porch and actually enjoy a breeze, made me think of summer evenings as a kid. We didn't have fans, or air conditioning, we really didn't need them living close to the coast but sometimes all you could do is find a place on the floor, open the sliding glass window and think cool thoughts. With the lights on and some form of music playing your imagination took you to places only a youngsters mind could.

Summer vacations typically started out with summer school to curb boredom in the mornings. I was one of those strange kids that didn't mind going at all. Trips to the library to get books to read and skating sessions at the skating rink. What kid didn't want to go to the rink in sub zero temperatures and come out from the rink only to have your feet steam from the sudden temperature changes. While spending time on Pinterest recently I found the picture below that summarized it oh so well.

If enough time was to be had for the rest of the day you spent some time in the sun to get a little of the white ice rink pale face a little color. If we only had spray tans back then like they do today. Somehow the orange tan lotion just didn't cut it.

This summer enjoyment will be coming to an end soon hopefully all the other social uproar that has been a part of our lives lately will also just be a memory also. Only we can make that possible. The weather well you know Mother Nature does what she wants--doesn't every woman?

Wake Up People

Well this past week has been an interesting one. The weather has been soggy, and my schedule, thank goodness I use pencil when I am actually writing it down and with my new phone my alerts would buzz on the 10 minute before it happened.

The older we get the more we seem to need a little push or sometimes a slap on the head to either remember something that needs to be done or maybe just to change the perspective that needs updating. Living where we attempt to get all seasons (they may be a month or two off in some cases or stuck on the same weather event) but I like to compare people sometimes to hibernating animals. We have been in the warm winter comfortable blanket and when its time to shed it, I am usually the first person stripping to spring clothing, airing the house or just making the change over as quickly as possible.

Some people might consider the town in which I live a small bedroom community, other's would say boy are you wrong it is a big town of almost 23,000. However you look at it,some people's desire to kick it into gear can be slower than slow.

This past week we had many people from according to the local newspaper, all over the globe. The weekend was a get together for Red Power Roundup International Collectors. I personally did not come into contact with any of the visitors but the traffic it brought to town made for some unique driving skills and patience for which mine became ragged. The sudden, although by the article businesses knew at least a year in advance of the event, it seemed as though most of the businesses I frequent on a regular basis were ill-prepared to say the least. I have always said don't wait until the last minute to hire someone and expect them to learn the entire operation under excessive pressure--most are ill-equipped.

I think the one major thing that never sits well with me is how people have to be told to "make visitors extra welcome so they think highly of our town". This leaves a bitter taste in my mouth each time I actually see it in print.  Hence, the title of this blog. WAKE UP PEOPLE, do you really think that impresses people when they act different than the normal everyday way? Why leave a false sense if security. This town or no town that I have ever visited rolls out the perfect red carpet.

I always go back to the same movie scenario "Funny Farm". Rent it, Netflix or however you want to watch. It's one of Chevy Chase's funniest and fits any small town to a tee.

Our society seems to have many "wake up people" moments on the horizon. With elections coming up, the economy ever changing, sometimes we need to be hit over the head. Alarm bells sound every day for the varying amount of diseases, remedies to take and ways to change our life. I am all for making changes, but don't change who you are to make everyone else feel welcome.

Over the weekend I volunteered at out annual golf tournament for the organization I have volunteered for over 10 years. The beautiful scenery, even with the rain storms brought out all the wonderful nature the hosting town has.

I captured the picture of the hummingbird, (not always an easy task). The wing speed is always fascinating to me. The fact that pictures of the little birds are a little hard to get, I felt fortunate it stopped to get a quick drink before going off somewhere else. I guess the feeder was its welcome to the clubhouse, red carpet moment and no one really made that much out of it.

I May Have Lost My Mind, but Not My Heart

I am borrowing our pastor's sermon title again. I felt it was a rather good fit for the past several weeks.

When I worked full time, had an hour commute and dropped off kiddos and navigated my way through routines in my 20's and 30's ice skating was my sanctuary. Pregnancy brain, fast-paced life I attempted to keep from losing my mind and skating was such a wonderful outlet. The ice rink was cold and would calm me and I could blow off steam all at once. Skating will always hold a dear place in my heart. Now its keeping up with skating friends on social media and gliding through a next generation of skaters.

I am still a Mom and now a MiMi, and sometimes have those lose your mind moments. You take on extra responsibilities,  have a list of projects you want to complete and those honey-do's for the hubby.  I possibly might lose my mind during the completion of the many house projects we have on the list. Doing as many as possible during the nice weather months sometimes turns out to be like the shell game. Too many things need attention before the luxury just want updates. Hopefully the smaller list will get done before the weather turns, I am hopeful. I had happiness abound last week to have two rooms painted. The older we get the more basic changes can make us happy.

Our fourth grandchild arrived the end of last month. Not soon enough for my daughter who had an eventful first trimester of the pregnancy  and by the last few weeks was feeling ready for the blessed event. It was funny how slightly similar our deliveries of our second child were. If it is any indication Gentry will be a force to be reckoned with. Now that she has two little ones, I am sure she will have many instances in the next several years where she may think she will lose her mind. Rest assured every parent but especially Mom's wonder if they are giving enough time to each kid and yet still have time for themselves.  I am a firm believer of "ME" time. If you don't give yourself a break I don't believe you can truly be the best parent you can be. Children need to grow just like the plumeria flower in the above picture. They need nurturing, water, food, a trim now and then and eventually they will blossom into what you see in front of you with maybe a little extra help.

I questioned all the time if I was around enough when they were little, was a stay at home Mom  when they were teenagers and probably around more than they wanted. I didn't always get my lost my mind time away for the last several years but tried to make do with the arrangements that I was given and roll with it. 

I have probably lost my mind more than I care to admit, but at this stage in life my heart continues to grow with the love of family, finding things I enjoy for fun and connecting with friends although most are far, far away.

Thanks pastor for the inspiration.  Starting the week with a clear mind, but a happy heart.