The Fair!

We had an awesome time at the Hillsdale County Fair yesterday. We made it a day trip this year so that Wayne and Sally could come  too. We really appreciated the kids taking a whole Sunday out of their schedules. It was Jack's 38th consecutive fair and my 26th (not consecutive; I have missed two fairs). So many memories wrapped up in this tradition.

We started out the morning by picking up Wayne at his place in the city. He rolled out of bed just as we pulled up. We got to the fair by about 1 pm and were ready for action. We usually start out with the photo button. We have a collection of all of our photo buttons since my first fair in 1982. But to our shock, the photo button booth that we have gone to all of these years was not there! It sounded like the woman (who was the granddaughter of the guy who took Jack's first Fair photo button back in 1973) might have passed away, but no one knew for sure. We didn't panic; we thought maybe we could just take our own picture, then get a photo button made back home. We went ahead and did our traditional corn dog and Fiske fries, then did a few games. Wayne won several "prizes" (I use that term loosely) and Sally did not, just like the old days. We had to find a "everyone wins a prize" game for Sally and thank goodness there was one. Jack and Wayne went in the fun house and that was the only ride we did this year. We looked at a few exhibits and then started to head back to the car and then we saw it.... a replacement photo button booth. We were so excited to have our Fair tradition continue. This new photo button vendor had not quite perfected her technique yet as she cut off the tops of Wayne and Jack's heads, even though she used a giant button :)
After the Fair, we stopped at the college, found our brick and then headed to Schuler's. Meatballs, barcheeze, and some peppermint ribbon pie. Doesn't get much better than that.

Oh, yeah, Wayne is the man.

Wayne is trying not to show off two of his prizes. Sally may be pouting.

Sally is trying to figure out which deluxe prize she will choose from the everyone wins game.

Corn dogs, a Fair delicacy

Isn't this just great? At the fair!

Schuler's!

Wayne and Jack with their half yards of ale

Meatballs! They were exceptionally good this year.

It is never a good angle when I lean in like this. I shoulda known better.