Minnesota State Fair 2010

I know you have all been waiting to hear how we did at the State Fair this year? The results are in, the grand total is thirteen ribbons. Of the thirteen, Kim won first place on here Blueberry Jam. This is kind of a big deal in Minnesota, since everyone, thinks they can make Blueberry Jam. But for me, it was winning Fourth place on my Honey Baked Nut. If you don't know it, Kim and I compete against each other in this category. Kim receive fifth place. I think it was the smoking of the nuts and the soaking them in Jack Daniels, that put me over her. The Fair was great, it was hot, it was windy, it was 12 hours long. And by the end of the day, I wished, I could have traded places with this kid.

Fair Week

You know it is fair week when, for the past days, the house smells of fresh bread, cakes, cookies and the kitchens is covered in this thin layer of flower. This Sunday was the drop off day for all baked goods. Kim has her wagon full and the now the waiting begins. One more drop off, for honey baked good, and we are done for the year.

This past week has been HOT. The birds are just sitting in the water, but some, like the Robin are really into it.
How soon till Fall comes?

Carver County Fair Totals

As promised, here is this year's ribbon count from the 2010 Carver County Fair. A combined total of 45 is listed below.
Ted: Bonsai Champion/First
Swan Photos Reserve Champion/Best in class/First Place
Other photos, 1-Second 2-Thirds
Kim: Canning: Jams/Jellies/BBQ Sauce, 13-First 1-Second 4-Thirds 2-Reserve Champion 3 Champion
Baked Goods: Bread/Cookies/Cakes 8-First 2-Thirds 2-Reserve Champion 2-Champion
Rubber Stamped Greeting Cards: 1-First Reserve Champion

Look out Minnesota State Fair!

Little Things

If you have been following our Blog, you know that I'm always saying to look around for the small thing, or what should not be there. A Humming bird with bright pink billstick? Were is she going, on a Sunday Morning, dressed like this? Hussy! A Squirrel with Mosquito earrings? How about, these orange mushrooms, that are no taller then 1/2" tall. Or that Bees have hair or what looks to be hair on their eye's. Keep looking, the little things are out there.

Oh and yes the ribbon totals are coming from Carver County Fair. Keep watching.

Those Day's

Ever have one of those days! The kind where you should just have stayed home and looked out the window and called it a big deal. That was my day along the river. If I wanted to take a photo of a bird, it either tried to hide, turned it's back to me or flew away! And then to top it off, the Egret looks like it is laughing at me. I should have stayed home, plus it would have been a lot cooler.
The Carver County Fair is next weekend, stay tuned for results and also next weekend, Jam's and Jelly's to out to the State Fair. A true sign that summer is almost over.

Lets Eat

I have been going through suet, just about as fast I can replace it this past month, more then in the dead of winter. I know that someone is eating it and I know it is not the squirrels, since it has hot pepper in it. Finally I caught, who has a craving for it. A father and son, Pileated Woodpecker. If you have never seen a Pileated Woodpecker, they are about the size of a crow.

The bottom two photo's are from Kim. Some of her Marco works and her friend the hawk, keeping the squirrel population in check in the backyard.

Round two of the fairs is counting down. The Carver County Fair is in less then ten days. All the jams, and jellies are done. Now all I have to do is grease the eclectic meter, for the start of bread baking. I will be doing some bread in the Green Egg today. Enjoy the week.