Wednesday Gratitude #33: the County Fair at Heart and Home

Has it been a week already?

That means it's time for Wednesday Gratitude.

Thank you for stopping by Heart and Home,

I appreciate your visit.

 Link in below if you have a gratitude post to share.

The more the merrier!

“Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.” -G.B. Stern

The simple things in life take on more meaning when life becomes more difficult.

I'm very grateful for my daily routine,

the kindness and support of my friends and family-in-law,

and the sweet memories of a day spent at the county fair.

Every year around this time we head to our county fair.

It's one of our favorite destinations,

and annual event we eagerly anticipate.

We look forward to the Fair's arrival in the week just before Fall officially begins.

We head out to the fair grounds,

I'm thankful for the long afternoon we spend enjoying the sights.

Our first stop is always the Harvest Building.

These pumpkins are huge!

They weigh hundreds of pounds a piece.

Think of the gigantic pie that could be made from one of them.

If you could get the pumpkin into the kitchen.

It takes cranes and tractors and fork-lifts

 to move them from garden to fairgrounds.

Wandering into the Fowl Pavilion,

 we're surrounded by a chorus of clucking, quacking and cock-a-doodle-doing.

This handsome fellow didn't look too happy to be stuck in his cage.

Possibly he was thinking about November,

or maybe he was just shy.

Either way, it took some convincing to get him to pose for his portrait.

This one, on the other hand, was another story.

I'm not a turkey expert,

but to me it looked like he was strutting around and showing off.

Well, there were a lot of good-looking lady turkeys in the cages all around him.

Can't hardly blame him for wanting to show his stuff

 with such a captive audience around.

The hens didn't seem to notice him though.

They were probably used to his swaggering.

Or, maybe this he is a SHE?

I'm not sure.

Speaking of swaggering and strutting -

it's hard not to notice

the cowboys in their Wranglers!

The horse show draws a crowd.

Not a very big one at this fair, but still.

This is the place for those of us who enjoy

watching a cowboy or two,

running barrels and roping calves.

Showing us their rodeo-ing skills.

Wearing cowboy hats and boots.

I may have a small thing for cowboys, I'm not telling...
(I'm thankful I get my "cowboy fix" at the fair every year!)

 I will admit to my love affair with nannies, billies and kids.

Have I told you I'm partial to goats?

Well, I am. All kinds, I'm not particular.

As long as they are goats, I love 'em.

Someday I might even get me one.

Look at that face!

And those big brown eyes.

He's a cutie!

Of course, goats at the fair always look their best.

All cleaned up, shampooed, brushed, and polished.

A well groomed goat is a happy goat.

For now, I am very thankful that I can take my time,

enjoying and petting these sweet creatures.

No goats at my house.

Yet.

The Swine Pavilion around the corner

is another favorite place to linger.

We can't get enough of the piggies.

We especially enjoy making oinking sounds.

Yes, we are very talented in the "pig-noises" department.

They don't seem all that thrilled to see us.

Underwhelmed at the very least.

Guess we're not as good at pig-talk as we think.

Now here's a booth that speaks every one's language.

Those are some extra huge pretzels.

As you can see, they come in nearly every flavor imaginable.

But we walked right on by.

What amazing restraint!

We had our hearts set on cinnamon rolls.

We get some every year.

It's a tradition we won't give up willingly.

Hot, fresh, gooey cinnamon rolls are the last thing we buy,

 right before we head home.

The aroma in the car is so strong you can taste the cinnamon.

 I'm so thankful for the deliciousness of

cinnamon rolls at the fair.

We stop at the rose garden,

and then the flower display where we inhale the scent of hundreds of locally grown roses.

These are roses at their finest, grown by local farmers in green houses nearby.

I'm grateful they are not shipped in from across the world,

grown on land cleared of rain-forest.

Earth-friendly roses, you might say.

Their colors are so brilliant.

I matched the color of my kitchen to one of my favorite varieties.

I am so thankful for the beauty these flowers add to my life.

After the flowers we check out the photographs and art, and the quilts and collections.

Next, it's time to see the commercial tents,

and then, finally, we get to eat fair food.

It's not a completely satisfying visit to the fair

if we don't partake in some deep-fried artichokes, and chicken on a skewer.

We are enthusiastic fair-food-eaters.

And, we are probably the only ones who don't head over to the carnival.

It's really not our thing.

We're not thrill-seeking, scary-ride riding girls.

But, we do enjoy the milder attractions,

and the traditions,

and the memories we take home with us.

We get the most out of our visit, every year.
I am so thankful
 for the opportunity to spend the day with my girls at the county fair.

The end!

What simple pleasures in your life are you most grateful for?

Until next time

XO

Heidi
Linking to Outdoor Wednesday, at  A Southern Daydreamer. Thank you Susan!