Our Life...Right Now.

It's fair week here in Indiana. I know I've said that before. But I just wanted to clarify.

You see, we have the biggest County Fair in Indiana.

It's pretty awesome.

The kids think so too.

Here they are yesterday during wristband day.

It was HOT. We sweated ALOT.

I detest being hot. There is no way I would ever live in Arizona. I'm just sayin'.

The older I get, the worse it gets. I honestly don't remember how we dealt with it as kids. I guess it's different when you're a kid.

Grace brought her BFFs along with us. They are twins doncha know. They come from one of the nicest families around. I STILL can't tell them apart, though, after 7 years of them being friends.

It's terrible. I know.

They rode "scary" rides that Grace has never attempted before. I guess "packs" give you courage. They told me each time they got off the ride that it was no big deal. However, each time I watched them being strapped in, they looked scared to death.

After the rides, we took a glimpse at the baby pigs born in Old McDonald's Farm the day before.
Here's 3 of the 13. Precious.

Then we went to take care of our pigs, and the girls parted ways, and went back to their air conditioned trailer.

Evan's pig, Little Buddy, obviously wanted his undivided attention.

Tomorrow and Thursday are our show days. We're gearing up with early bedtimes tonight.

See ya later!

Fair Countdown....In Reverse Order

It's been awhile since I posted, but I've been living my life at the fair, and I don't have a laptop, so this is the first break I've gotten. It's 6:30am and I'm wide awake, thinking of all we have to do today.

We've been at the fair 3 days already, and I don't know how we're gonna make it. Temps are in the 90's, with not much chance for cool down. The animals are all suffering, we're suffering, and you can't go anywhere without sweating like a pig yourself.

6 more days to go. Really?

So, in David Letterman-like fashion, here is a countdown about fair...

10. Number (at least) of memories over the last 3 days that have come flooding back to me about MY time in 4-H pig club.

9. Total number of days our fair lasts, and we will participate (actually be at the fair) ALL 9 days!

8. The number (at least) of people I was in pig club with, who now have their own kids in it. (I'm sure it's WAY more than that.)

7. Number of animal shows (ours and others) that we will watch this week.

6. Number of lunches I will pack for all of us this week, so that we're not eating EVERY meal at the fair.

5. Number of close friends Grace has to keep her occupied at the fair this week.

4. Place Grace took in Open Show Carcass this past Friday. (She was thrilled! She won $4, which she promptly spent on Tom Thumb Donuts on Sat. morn. when we went in to weigh the pigs)

3. Number of pigs we have at the fair. (Evan took 2, Grace, 1)

2. Number of pigs we will sell at the auction on Friday.

1. Number of talks we've already had with Grace about how chores come BEFORE socializing with friends at the fair.

0. Number of times I've regretted enrolling the kids in the great 4-H program we have, which teaches them responsibility and ownership.

Wish us luck this week. We're gonna need it!

A Blazing Accomplishment

All my life, (well, as much of it as I can remember) I've tasted my mother's delicious applesauce.

When I got married, some applesauce came with us, and soon I started making my own.

It's a lot of work. Don't be fooled. It's an all day kinda thing.

When my sister still lived close, we would do our applesauce together (2 1/2 bushels each) and it LITERALLY took at least 8 hours to get it all done.

I refer to the stuff as liquid gold. It's that worth it.

So, the other day, while I was minding my own business, I got THE CALL.

Each spring I put my name on a list at a local orchard for Transparent apples. Once they are in, they call me, and you GO the minute they call, or someone else might get your apples.

They were 3 weeks late in ripening this year, and of course this week was crazy anyway, but I knew I needed to get my applesauce made before fair starts tomorrow.

I just made it.

Oh, and did I mention, when I started yesterday morning at 6:30 am, that our air conditioner decided to quit, with a predicted 95 degrees as the high? Oh yeah, baby, I couldn't believe it myself.

Of all days....

With these babies waiting for me...

I started working anyway, and the repair man showed up about 12:30. The temperature in the house was already 80 degrees. It was warm, and we had every possible fan we own downstairs.

The apples cooked on the stove

and deliciousness was made, all the while we're sweating like bullets!

I had some great helpers

and some resistance from the Queen herself.
The fan was aiming for the table, and once she found her "spot" she wouldn't budge.

I finished about 2:30pm. A long day. The air came on about that time too, and it took the rest of the night to cool the house down.

Needless to say, we spent the evening hours at my uncle's pool, after we grilled him supper.

63 containers of applesauce later, I'm a happy woman!

Everyone needs some Favorites!

We're getting ready for an incredibly busy week BEFORE another incredibly busy week at the County Fair.

Today there is project turn-in, trips to the bank, library, and store. Tomorrow there are dentist appointments, summer parties for baseball, and tons of laundry to do. Wednesday is a free day, (whatever that means....no day is really free), Thursday finds us at the fair, taking in our show box, prepping the pig pen, and getting any last minute things done before the pigs go in on Friday, and the kids show them that night in an open show.

Whew. I'm tired already!

BUT, I had to share some more favs from my Pinterest.com account.

It's only fair. I LOVE looking at yours! So, here goes...

First, I came across some things that just made me smile. Things I don't have links to, but brought back tons of memories.

Tell me, who in the '80's didn't have one of these?

I remember spending HOURS recording my favorite songs from the radio onto a tape. Then playing them back and just thinking I was at the height of technology!

I also remember this little guy. I was in Elem. school when I had this. (Circa 1st or 2nd grade.) I, once again, thought I was the coolest kid for having one.

Today I know better. I'm not on the cutting edge of technology. Heck, we don't even have a laptop or droid, or even a flat screen tv. We don't feel like going into debt for all the electronic trappings some of our friends have. Doesn't mean I don't want them, though.

But, for now, I'll stick with wishing/hoping/possibly making these lovelies.

For instance...my sewing machine gets pretty dusty up on my craft table, so I might need to look into making one of these.

(source bloomandblossom)

The cutest thing I've ever seen!

And while I'm making the sewing machine cover, I might want to be wearing these with my cardigan, (made out of clip on earrings!)...

(source muchlove-anna)

and this gorgeous Anthro-look-alike bracelet...

(source twelvecraftstillchristmas)

all the while looking at my lovely vintage clock sitting up on the shelf.

(source lunaandchloeweddings)

My new Kate Spade purse (the Hinkley Karen)

(source katespade)

will probably be hanging on my wonderful mudroom shelves downstairs.

(source pinterest)

Once I was finished making my sewing machine cover, I might travel down the hall to the bathroom, past the living room where these hang on the wall behind the couch,

(source alkemie)

to get to my new soap pump, and wash my hands. After all, I have plenty of jars to make these out of.

(source Country Living)

I might pass this man in the hallway...

(Josh Lucas...I love you)

or this one for that matter...

(Gerard Butler...you had me at P.S. I love you!) And don't worry, Brent knows all about them!

But seriously....I'm so tired crafting by now, that I'll probably head down the hallway to the living room and light up these pretties. (made with aqua jars, though.)

(source emmalinebride)

and take my curtains down from here...(after all, I have a whole box of old doorknobs).

(source urbanoutfitters)

and watch a good movie before falling asleep on the couch.

Oh, it's nice to dream. And it's nice to surf Pinterest once in awhile (or everyday if you're honest!) Check out my boards if you'd like here.

What are some of your favs? Please tell me!

In the Garden

I took the kids to a local photography hot spot.

It was time for their annual photo shoot.

I had to bribe them with a trip to my uncle's pool.

I'm not above bribery, just so you know. It has it's advantages.

We all went in with MUCH different expectations.

Grace went with the intention of furthering her budding model aspirations. I went in with BIG hopes of getting some great pictures, and Evan went in with just the plan to go swimming and make this whole process as short as possible.

We might all have been disappointed.

You decide.

The garden was BEYOND beautiful. I had never been there before, but heard so much about it.

For awhile, all of Evan's pictures were filled with such angst.

It looked like it just pained him to smile at me.

Then he said something to me that totally changed him around. He said, "Instead of YOU picking my poses, can I?" Something so simple had such a big impact...who would've thought?

I used Picasa to edit all these. It's so easy to use!

We had some silly shots...

and some great ones.
It was the longest hour of my life. But it was worth it!

Time to go swimming!