A day at the fair

James took the day off on Monday so we could visit The Great New York State Fair; we last attended in 2010 and decided that it was high time that we went again (it didn't hurt that we were given free tickets, either!). We don't do rides or games, so we enjoy seeing the animals, eating junk food and people watching.

We were puzzled by this sign, displayed in front of a very small garden:

Was the intent of the sign to make sure that no horses got into the garden, or was it telling us not to bother to look for horses because there weren't any in there?

Piglets!

 

I was quite taken with this handsome llama, who was obviously also quite taken with himself:

Why is it that animals always think that the food in the next pen is better than the food in their pen?

 

There is always at least one chicken who gladly poses for a photo:

 

I always have to find a Tina Turner chicken and, yes, I recited the intro to "Proud Mary":

"Y'know, every now and then I think you might like to hear something from us nice and easy
But there's just one thing (left a good job down in the city)
You see we never ever do nothing (working for the man)
Nice and easy"

James  enjoyed a hot, greasy portion of fried dough:

 

Look at me - I'm a princess with a cute little calf:

When we exited the Horticulture Building, we noticed that it is a beautiful building. Built in 1937, it has an intricate design around the entrance:

 

I adore this little fish fountain to one side of the entrance:

We had all the fair fun we could handle by 2 pm and left just as the fairgrounds really started to fill with people. A fun trip was had by all, but we all agreed that we can take next year (or two) off.

There and back

On Saturday, August 17, Aidan and I traveled to Michigan to visit with my family. Our air travel to Detroit via Philadelphia was uneventful - always a good thing. It was the first time I had visited Mom in her East Lansing home and I have to admit that it was a bit difficult at first to see her and her things in a house without my dad also being there. She has a lovely house and is rightfully quite proud of it.

Aidan spent a few days with Aunt Tammie and Uncle Mike (which included a visit to Michigan's Adventure Amusement and Water Park) while Mom and I left on Sunday morning to make a quick overnight trip down to Lancaster, Ohio to see my Aunt Eula, who lives in an assisted living facility. My cousin Pam met us there and after some time with Eula, we went to Pam's house for a delicious dinner and a wonderful visit with Pam and her husband, Norm. It had been several years since I saw Eula, Pam or Norm, so it was a treat to spend time with them.

Some highlights of our week:

Mom and Aidan introduced me to Culver's, a Wisconsin-based chain of fast casual restaurants. Although home of the ButterBurger, Aidan chowed down on fried chicken:

I did choose the ButterBurger, and it was delicious. Perhaps it is a good thing that Culver's does not have any New York locations.

Aidan and Mom baked cookies together one afternoon:

While Aidan accompanied Mom to her Wild Walkers exercise class at the Hannah Community Center, Tammie and I wandered around Old Town in Lansing. My favorite shop there is a gift boutique called October Moon (a very dangerous store) but I was not impressed with the yarn store, Sticks and Strings. We ate lunch at Meat, where my Chapel Hill NC born and bred sister-in-law delighted in telling the waitress that the "Carolina" mustard sauce was representative of SOUTH Carolina, not North Carolina. Get it right, people. But my chopped brisket sandwich was delicious and I was happy to wash it down with a draft Founder's All Day IPA.

On Friday evening, we drove out to Lake Lansing Park for a picnic dinner and music on the lawn. It was a beautiful evening and as Mike, Tammie, Mom and I enjoyed listening to Avon Bomb (and people watching), Aidan ran around the playground playing tag with a group of new friends.

We flew back home on Saturday and it was such a joy to see James waiting for us at the airport. It is fun to travel and spend time with family, but there is no place like home.

Catching up

After a lazy start to the month of August, the last ten days have been busy and we will stay busy until the month ends and school starts on September 4. It is going to take me several posts over the next few days to catch up on all that has been going on in our lives.

On Friday, August 16, we had a visit from North Carolina friends, Cynthia and Steve. Cynthia and I worked together many years ago and have stayed in touch since. When she told me months ago that they were coming up in August to attend a wedding in Aurora, I asked if they could come to our house for dinner during their stay. Since the wedding weekend was the same weekend that Aidan and I were leaving for a visit in Michigan, Friday evening was the only available time.

What a fun evening! We love having friends come to dinner, especially friends whom we have not seen for some time. The weather was perfect and we dined outside on the party patio:

Steve took that photo, and then James took this photo:

Don't ask me what Aidan was doing because I have no idea.

While I put together a blueberry cobbler for dessert, James and Aidan took them on a walk by the river and through the village. I was about to send out a search party when they returned, ready for cobbler and ice cream. We ended the evening with a fire in the chimnea to ward off the evening chill.

We do love living in New York but I miss our friends in North Carolina. It did my soul so much good to spend an evening with Steve and Cynthia, laughing and talking about anything and everything.