lazy sunny August day...

...everything in MN knows to get some sun while the getting's good...

 

Carver County Fair, Waconia, MN

So, I'm beginning to figure out how this summer fair season works...I believe the carnival employees and infrastructure has travelled from Delano 4th to Wright County to Carver County to who knows where...the next county fair? Maybe the state fair?
 

Here's some of the new items from Carver County:

 

I forget the name of these little guys/girls, but they were foreign and darn cute

 

 

Start that day off right with a gut-bomb! 

 

Why not? 

 

If you had a long night, why not curl up with your favorite bovine come mid-morning? They did look cozy... maybe a little too cozy...

 

How many states you got, yo?!

Just this past week, I was trying to recall how many US states I've been able to get to in my lifetime, and it prompted me to write them down (the ole memory isn't as sharp as it used to be). Here's my list so far (I ain't dead yet!). I'd like to say "in no particular order", but we all know that's not possible with me...

1. Illinois*
2. Wisconsin*
3. Minnesota*
4. Nebraska
5. Iowa
6. Indiana
7. Ohio
8. Michigan (Upper and Lower peninsulas)
9. Pennsylvania
10. West Virginia +
11. Kentucky +
12. Virginia
13. Maryland
15. Missouri
16. Texas
17. Oklahoma
18. Vermont
19. Rhode Island
20. Massachusetts
21. Connecticut
22. New York
23. Colorado
24. New Mexico
25. Arizona
26. Utah
27. California
28. Nevada
29. Idaho
30. North Carolina
31. Florida
32. Kansas
*official resident at one time or another
+ pretty sure, on a childhood vacation

Sorry, District of Columbia. Not all of these were for any extended stays or even overnights. I'm pretty Oklahoma was just as we drove through on a grad-school spring break, but I'll still count it.

Feel free to write your states or totals in the comments.

Wright County Fair, #2

When a coworker asked, "Do you wanna go to the demo derby?", I answered faster than a rattlesnake,  "Heck yes!"

 

It did not disappoint. The spectacle was a sight to behold, the crowd better than I could have hoped, and the noise coming out of the unmuffled cars was unrelenting.

 

This is how you wet down the track b/w heats... notice the high-tech human on/off switch for the water spout 

 

"Uhh, Sir, I think your car's on fire" 

 

"I get the way back!" 

 

  

I wanted to go left! 

 

This is the same car on fire above... you can see how cherry-red the exhaust pipes coming out of his hood are - yowza! 

 

Beautiful afternoon for some derby! 

 

Wright County Fair, #1

This small (in my mind) county fair was everything you could want and more. The pie eating contest (placed tied for 2nd) was worth the price of admission alone...and admission is like $3. The food vendors were numerous and somewhat inventive, a la "boar bites". And the entertainment was first class down home, home grown, honest to goodness, wholesome fun. Stay tuned...

 

 Lemon-squeezie is not optional. Get The Tanker... 64oz of refillable lemony goodness.

 

I never seen curly feathered pigeons before... 

 

... still kinda creepy... and still pigeons. 

 

Mmmmm, thirst-quenching! 

 

 

This was my downfall and also proudest achievement (at a county fair) 

 

the rolling hills of western iowa

First light makes it so right. Unlike other drives through this area, I was unable to capture any pics of the early morning mist, crowd-pleasing cloud-only, or windmills. Hopefully next time. The drive through the rolling farm hills is that much better for having these kinds of views. It might have been the only thing keeping me awake.

 

 

 

Omaha, Day 3

A little bit country... it the crossroads of America afterall. (I made that up)

Sweet, I was looking for a  rebel flag buckle!!!

 

Something to hang over your mantle without having to shoot it... and only a mere $1200. 

 

Something for the kids...