Clay County Fair

Thursday, Bill and I went to the Clay County Fair in Spencer.  The link/web site says it has the second largest agricultural exposition in N. America.  Everyone here likes it much better than the Iowa State Fair which is in Des Moines.  It was an overcast, cold day to go, but that meant less people.  

I really didn't take pictures this time - just these of Farmer Bob. It was "Thank a Farmer Day" at the fair.

I still appreciate not working and being able to do these fun things during the week!!

We always split up - Bill goes to check out the new and bigger farm equipment and looks at tools, and I go check out all the booths in the buildings and occasionally a show.  Last year I wasted a bunch of time watching cherry pie judging so didn't make that mistake this year.  (they didn't talk about the pies entered at all so I didn't learn any tips)   We meet for lunch and then split up again until we're done.  

Even though it was cold this time (last year was perfect!), we always look forward to going at the end of the summer and before we get busy, and then it's kinda sad when it's over. 

This morning the temp. was right around 33 so we had a little frost in the yard but looks like my flowers next to the house may have been spared this time. 

Another Amazing Freedom Rock

A couple of years ago, Bill and I went to southwest Iowa on a little anniversary getaway.  On our way home, we made a point to go through Greenfield, Iowa to see the big Freedom Rock which is painted every year by Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II.  You may remember seeing a post here about it.

He is now also painting one in each of the 99 Iowa counties, and there are several already.  We have one here in our town which was one of the first to be done I think.  I recently went to lunch with friends, and we stopped to see the one in Rockwell City.  Wish you could see the details up close - amazing!

He is so talented.  Check out his web site HERE.  He says that he is doing this to honor America's veterans, promote Iowa tourism, and to provide for his family.  What a good guy!

Perfect Peaches

On my way home from a trip to Peoria, IL, I detoured just a little to stop in Muscatine, Iowa to get some canteloupes and a watermelon.  They were selling lots of other vegetables and Missouri peaches.  I bought a few peaches - you never know if they're going to be good.  Got home and everything was so good.  A couple weeks later Bill and I headed east to find and try a catfish place (another blog soon) and came home through Muscatine.  This time we got a whole box of peaches and every single one in the box were beautiful. 

 

I Googled how to freeze them since Bill loves peach pie almost as much as apple!  It sounded easy.  What I read said to let them ripen to the eating stage and then refrigerate them, not touching, for up to a week before freezing.  Then for easy peeling, lightly cut an X on the bottom of the peach and boil for 40 seconds.  Then put in a bowl of ice water.

I was amazed at how easy and fast it was to peel them with just my fingers!  And no waste this way!  I cut them in half and they pulled away from the seed perfect.  

I sliced them and then dunked them quickly into a bowl of water mixed with some Fruit Fresh (no picture).  This is supposed to keep them from turning brown when they thaw.  Some directions I read didn't mention doing this step.







I put them on a tray lined with paper towels to drain.

Then I layed them out on a tray lined with parchment paper so that they would freeze individually, and then I could bag them.  

This way if you'd want to just use part of them, they wouldn't be all stuck together.  I ended up with 4 bags/4 c. each of beautiful peach slices - enough for four pies I hope!  Such an easy thing to do - I will do this every year if I can find good peaches again!  We have a couple more in the refrigerator and they are still as good as when I put them in there.  

 

Restyled Barn Sale

On Friday's post I mentioned that my friend, Debbie, and I made plans to go to a barn sale together.  Actually it was called the Restyled Barn Sale and was west of Carmel (IN) out in the "country".  It was at the home and barn of a couple that I went to church with.  Here is Lori at her booth, Fancy That.  Fancy That can now be found at 488 Gradle Dr. at Carmel Midland (an arts & antiques market) for those in the Carmel area.

There were lots of booths inside and outside of the big barn

and a few of these trucks you could go in plus look at their stuff outside the truck.  (below)

I had been to our minister's daughter's wedding outside in a big grassy area near big trees, and the reception was in this barn.  Very nice wedding.  The barn looked great.

The only thing I was really looking for was a plant stand for our screened porch - and I found two or three that would've worked.  This is the one I chose (for a good price), and I love it.  I guess it's a good thing this plant isn't growing super fast! 

Wedding Card

Our seed dealer's daughter is getting married today at 2:00.  It was raining at 5 a.m. and the first thing I thought of was "oh no, the wedding".  The reception for about 400 is at the parents' home.  But the rain has stopped - we got almost a half inch which is good for our yard, new trees and crops - and the sun is supposed to come out and be very hot this afternoon.

This is the simple card I made for them.  I cut their picture out of their invitation in a heart shape with my Big Shot heart framelits and layered it on a bigger black heart.  It's fun when you make your own cards to make them personal like this.  I like to use the wedding colors when I know what they are (I didn't know this time).   On the inside it says "so happy for you".

Nice Day with a Friend

Debbie and me at a barn sale

Back in June when I was in Indiana, I got to visit a friend at her new home in Noblesville.  Debbie and I have known each other since 7th grade (we liked the same boy in 7th grade!).  For several years, she and her husband lived up near Chicago so we didn't see each other much, but now she has moved back near where we grew up.

We made plans to get together, and she invited me to have lunch at her house.  I loved her lunch:  chicken salad in a waffle bowl, grapes, cheese and crackers, fruit cup, and she had made little loaves of blueberry bread.  Dessert was some yummy chocolate covered cheesecake bites.   Love all her garnishes and doilies.                                                    

chicken salad, fruit cup, blueberry bread

creamy cheesecake bites

Then after a tour of her beautiful home and this wonderful lunch, I got to shop!  Debbie is very artistic and can do lots of things.  **She is the one who introduced me to Stampin' Up! almost 20 years ago!!  And I'm thankful for that. 

For a few years now she's been making vintage jewelry.  Her business is called Old Tyme Adornments.  She buys various misc. pieces of old jewelry and chains and takes them apart and puts pieces together to come up with her own pieces of repurposed jewelry!  No two pieces are alike!  So interesting to see and hear about how she does this!  She mainly sells at vendor or craft shows.

I bought the necklace on the left below for myself (I like hearts), the necklace in the middle for a friend's birthday and the bracelet on the right for Diane.  Diane wears a necklace with a sideways cross so I think she'll like this.  (she doesn't read my blog!)  It's really special to have a piece that Debbie has made and special to give them for gifts.  (notice the detail in her packaging too) 

It was a really nice day that went too fast.  But we made plans to go to a barn sale together - pictures in a blog post soon.