Texting While Driving – New Hampshire-Style

The Cheshire County Fair opened for the 75th year on Wednesday.  Can I just say, I love county fairs?  As a child my brother and I showed our 4-H sheep at county fairs all across the region.  My childhood memories are vivid but the shows have lost their luster for the current generation, or perhaps video games have replaced 4-H.  There were still a few hearty souls with their teams of cows, but for the most part the fun of going to the fair this year was just the atmosphere of a rural carnival.

Carolyn was having a slow day with her Creamee Cones.

Not sure the cutesy misspelling worked here. Not sure what would have worked here…

Hopefully, Angelino’s has changed the grease since he visited the “World’s Fair” in Tunbridge, VT last September.  But seriously, what’s a fair without hot, fly-specked condiments for your foot-long hot dog?

What does anybody do with all this stuff? Yard Sale next week!

The tractors were amazing.  Do I sound a little like a true red-neck? The colors, shapes, names and makes.  The people driving them! Who doesn’t appreciate a good tractor?  This particular little number exemplifies the evolution of the farmer’s ass, obviously since seats don’t grow with age.

The competitors were required to drive their machines up on a platform to be weighed, measured, and inspected for “after market alterations”.  It’s all very technical, you wouldn’t understand…

On to the 4-H Barn.  One of the activities of 4-H I remember, was you “had the opportunity” (looked an awful lot like school work in the summer to me) to construct a cardboard diorama that explained/taught something.  Think “How to Milk a Cow”, here.  These projects involved lots of diagrams, photos and hand-written instructions.  The over-achieving kids then entered their projects to be judged at the county fair.  By my tone, you probably have surmised I never took up the challenge.  There were two displays that I just could not fathom.  These kids either had a huge sense of humor or they are a potential danger to society.

Exhibit 1: Chicken of Happiness – Complete instructions to build your very own.  Note: you need a hot-glue gun.

Exhibit 2: This was the “What Animal Can YOU Make From A Lightbulb” competition. Materials include a hot-glue gun, paint and fragile glass.  Sounds like a perfect rainy day project for the kiddees!

This momma stepped off the trailer with a brand new hours-old baby…

Texting while driving New Hampshire-style

The star attraction was the “World Famous LumberJills.”  Let me just say, what they lack in talent they more than made up for in, um, well, I think their parents are not thrilled with the money they spent on college for these girls. And, apparently, there are institutions of higher learning that offer “wood sportsmanship” in the curriculum.  Who knew?

On a brighter note, when they roll into town in their big Ford dually truck emblazoned with “Chics with Axes” you can just bet they are a hit at the local pub. After a lack-luster performance of chopping, sawing and throwing, the finale was a log-rolling exhibition.  Why didn’t I expect there would be wet T-shirts involved?

Ouch!

Couldn’t resist a bucket of Bucky’s Fried Pickles.

You just never know what you will see or who you will meet at the fair!!