Wednesday, October 20, 2010

A fair is a veritable...

...smorgasbord, orgasbord, orgasbord
after the crowds have ceased
Each night when the lights go out
it can be found
on the ground
all around
Oh what a ratly feast!

(I'm not going to identify the song ... but I'll give a prize for the first person to comment with the correct source AND singer of this fave song from my childhood! No cheating ... Google knows everything but I want to know who really remembers!)

Ahh, the fair. I love the fair - the sound of kids squealing, the smell of fried food, the people watching, the exhibits with giant vegetables, the animals, the demonstrations of super absorbent towels - I love it all. Well, I don't love the rides, but there's more than plenty to do at the fair while keeping one's feet firmly planted on the ground.

Last night we loaded up the boys and headed out to see what the state fair has to offer for 2010. I was a little worried about how we'd haul them both around, but it worked out better than I could have dreamed. Luke was (as usual!) more than happy to ride on Derek's chest in the Ergo, and Jay was surprisingly content to view the knees of the other fairgoers from stroller-level. I'm not sure how we'd do it if we decide to have another little one ... I think going to the fair will be quite a challenge when the kids outnumber us.

As you might expect, we ate from one end of the fairgrounds to the other. We considered letting Jay test out the one pound hot dog that was featured in the N&O this year, but we weren't sure his heart could take it. We weren't so concerned about the artery-clogging nature of the pounder, but were quite worried that he'd be so excited about the prospect of eating the world's largest dog that he might go into cardiac arrest. Instead, he chowed down on some roasted corn (probably the only quasi-healthy option in the whole place) and a steak sandwich from the NC Cattleman's booth.

And Luke, whose enormous appetite probably would have allowed him to finish off the much-discussed Krispy Kreme bacon cheeseburger, instead stuck to baby food. But he thoroughly enjoyed his first taste of french fry! None of us were brave enough to taste the KK burger - or more accurately, none of us were willing to spend hours working off the 4000 calories that thing contains.

Even though we do the exact same things every single year, we had a blast. We weighed ourselves at the Department of Weights & Measures, wishing my dear Uncle D was there to crack jokes as we stepped onto the cattle scale. (Jay is up to 33 pounds - back up to his pre-surgery weight!) We examined the tractor display and the antique highway patrol cars. We oooohed and ahhhhhed over the giant pumpkins. We started teaching the boys the difference in a polled hereford and a charolais. (Can ya tell the family vet took us through the animal expo building?!) We sampled peanuts, BBQ sauce, Cheerwine, and hush puppies from the Goodness Grows in NC tent. Even in our non-food pursuits, we were surrounded by food.

But the highlight of the night was when we bought our apple cider and headed over to check out the blacksmith shop. Even Luke woke up from his nap to check out the hammering. Fire + big tools = one seriously happy toddler. I need to get a video of him describing how the man "turns that great big ol' handle and fire goes up that tube-y." Adorable.

All in all, a great time at the fair. But now - can you identify the song lyric inspiration?

12 comments:

joye said...

Templeton from Charlotte's Web??

Glad y'all had a good time at the fair!

Jen F. said...

Joye - I knew we had so much more in common than just being blog-reading and blog-writing heart mamas!! :-) Nicely done. I love that old movie.

Now we need to get together for that girls night we promised, and I'll give you some cards handmade by yours truly.

Anonymous said...

I didn't have a clue on the song title but I love the movie!! If I had never been to the Fair, you gave a description that put me right smack in the middle of a fun=filled night, surrounded by the sights and smells!! When ARE you going to publish that book......? LYTB, AJ

Anonymous said...

I knew it was Charlotte's Web put couldnt remember the rat's name- thanks to Joye for jogging my memory. Glad that everyone had such a great time! Hope you took lots of pics.
Crystal

Jamie Blackburn said...

You made me want to fly back to NC and go to the fair this weekend. The CO state fair is in Pueblo, and I have never made it down there. Thank goodness Jeff and I were able to go to the Dixie Classic Fair in W-S when we were home last October! Got it out of our system a little bit. Sounds like a great night!

Ginger said...

Oooh - I totally tried the KK burger here in Winston, and it was fantastic!!! I only had a couple bites of Christopher's, but I probably could have eaten one myself. Sounds like you guys had a great time! Do you know what we really missed about the state fair this year? NC State ice cream...

Unknown said...

I have seen about 10 minutes of the new Charlotte’s Web, and that was it! Templeton. I can never watch the end of the movie, because I cry. It is great that you all got out to the fair. It sounds like you had an awesome and filling time.

So… you said “When” you are outnumbered. So does that mean a third is in your future? I really recommend three.

Dee

Anonymous said...

Yahoo for Cheer Wine!

Mindy

Unknown said...

I knew it was from Charlotte's Web and that Templeton sang it, but I was honestly racking my brain for the performer's name -- I certainly didn't know who had played Templeton (still don't). We're headed to the fair tomorrow, but we'll have 2 toddlers (if we can still count Riley as a toddler) and anywhere from 3-5 adults -- Depending on what time my brother and his wife arrive. I'm all for NOT being outnumbered. ...Okay, just had to look up the Templeton thing -- Paul Lynde.

Unknown said...

So when I was 6 I fell out of a tree and broke my leg. This was before they did ORIF surgeries, so I was in the hospital for a month with my leg in traction. My room did not have a tv in it, but you could sign up for one every day + a VCR. And sign up we did. Every day. And every day I would watch the same movie: Charlotte's Web!!! I still have most of it memorized. :) Loved seeing those lyrics at the beginning of your post!
-Betty Anne

Anonymous said...

Even this grandmother recognized Templeton! I have seen that movie so many times with Wes...and I read the book to my 3rd graders umpteen years ago.

Barbara Huggins

Unknown said...

Jen,
We needed you instead of Jamie's iphone app--didn't find the vintage highway patrol cars. I think Jesse would have enjoyed the Fair just as much if we had stayed in the car and driven around to see all the "PO-wice CAHS" and their flashing lights.
We were in line to milk a cow, but just before our turn, Jesse decided he wanted to go outside!! Don't think that bodes well for a Vet in our family anytime soon.
We have family in FL that plan their NC visit around the State Fair.
clv