A few weeks ago I went to the fair with my husband. Here's what struck my fancy when I walked through the gates: a 1942 Ford Washington State Patrol car. If only it could talk!
This week I went to another fair with my visiting grandkids. I certainly do different things with my grandkids - like hanging out at the animal barns more, riding rides, watching a magic show, etc. With my husband I don't get to play as much. Remember, grandparents, this can be a great way to build memories with those cherished grandkids.
Exhibits
I love every exhibit. I always learn something. We found at the Central Washington University extension agent exhibit the name of a wild evergreen plant that grows profusely and flowers on our acreage in late summer: Ocean Spray or holodiscus discolor. Wonder if that's where the cranberry company got its name?
I even like the commercial exhibits, as I'm always amazed at what people sell and how they sell it. (It seems to be less hard-sell now than I remember even ten years ago.) Sometimes, at our local fair, I even go home with some stuff. This year I got away with some spices and that's about it. But my grandkids came away with free bike helmets and even five pounds of carrots and some salad they won. They were tickled with their veggies! Unfortunately, my granddaughter forgot to take her carrots home.
I was lucky enough to meet Jan Green of the Olympia Weaver's Guild and see some of her work at the fair. She makes it look easy, but it's not. The photos I took of Jan and weaver Lana Schneider turned out great, didn't they? (If you want a hard copy, ladies, let me know via email.)
Lana Schneider, spinner and weaver, spent time talking with me about weaving machines and some of her projects. I love to see people's craft skills; Lana's a pro. She teaches classes; if you need more information, let me know. What I found most interesting at Lana's exhibit: She demonstrated anything can be used as a weaving machine.
Look at the weaving she's doing using a gift bag with a frog picture on it. When it's all done the bag will be covered with her pattern. The vertical lines you see top down on the bag are the lines of string used to weave the yarn through. The bottom of the bag is the part already woven (blues and purples). It's going to be a beauty.
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