Head dialogue of a mother 2 days leading up to the county fair:
Music Accompaniment: Pressure, Billy Joel
Please hit link before reading any further, for the full effect.
“Got to get ready for fair… getting ready for the fair, need to get things together for the fair…”
Figure out display, (sigh), picture frames, cow signs, get cow birth dates, correct names, whites. Where are the show whites?
White underwear…must not forget (for under the show whites).
Playing cards for showbox, vinyl table cloth, wheel barrel, pitch fork, shovel, playing cards (add them to the list), shovel again, refrigerator, extension cord–add to barn list.
Grab the list. Run to the store. So much to buy – so much to spend.
Friday night dinner for 30, 4-H barn, what am I going to cook and transport?!?! (wipe forehead…sigh again) Make batch of cookies, chocolate chips… add to grocery list.
Okay (you got this), cow bedding, picture frames, thumb tacks, zip ties, recipe for the caramels Jacob is entering…could they melt before they get judged? That is a possibility isn’t it??
Finish farm scenes (thank goodness for dad), pick vegetables, paint for farm scenes (add to list), pumpkin selection, pick tomatoes, pick peppers, Jacob to write recipe card for caramels, fill jars with corn silage, haylage, 3 ears of corn, dented right??
Have I mentioned school supplies yet?!?!? Might as well throw that in there too! ‘Tis the season. Where’s the list?
Clipping cows, clean, dry, dull clipper blades, toplines….MUST get more clear magic. Picture frames, cow signs..(wipe brow). Fan, add to barn list.
Got to get to Target..and A.C. Moore.
Grocery store, light corn syrup (for caramels), baby wipes for cows, signs for cows, clear magic, white underwear for the boys (don’t forget)…show whites…scissors, grocery list.
Can someone get the lawn mowed? Wax paper to wrap the caramels..where’s the darn list!!?
Flowers, milk cans, flowers again, lights for display, picture frames for kids’ art projects (so much money to spend!)…CERAMIC entries (must not break!).
Legos display for toy building, where’s the candy thermometer? My goodness the kitchen is a bomb. DOG!!
Run to Target, anyone??
Food, dinners, grocery store, drinking water, $$$$, grapes, apples, cherries…chocolate!!! Don’t forget to pack first aid kit. Grocery list. Is that the list I stuck in my other coat pocket?
Caramels; when to make with Jacob?
Must not forget the white underwear! Note to self; add 2 stain-sticks to grocery list, will go through a lot keeping whites clean.
Move kids into 4-H dorms, tell kids to pack, sleeping bags, pillows, 4-H food booth, shift at 4-H dairy bar, show halters, clear magic, hoof polish, hope the new exhibitor harness comes for Sam to wear….yikes!!!
Text pictures for 4-H club easel, dry sweatshirts, wet sweatshirts, (hope we can squeeze Sam into the wranglers next week), BOOTS! My gosh fair time is so expensive!!!!
Chocolate, need chocolate…for ME! Oh dear lord how will I ever get this all done in time—sigh.
(Maybe I should put the white underwear with the stack of whites? YES, good idea Kate.) Where did I put that stack of whites??
Show box ready—don’t forget the paper-towels—PAPERWORK—aye, health certificates?!?!?! BVD tests?
Get the water, freeze pops for the cooler, CHAIRS! Picture frames, correct sizes?? Lattice work, yes!
Get to Target–SHOOT, forgot the darn list!!!!
***REPEAT dialogue in your head, add or subtract items as needed every 5 minutes until the cows are in their stalls, the projects are entered in the youth building, and you have your first seat with an insulated coffee mug in hand, 9 pm, first night of the fair—-whew, only 7 more days to go!
Happy Washington County Fair!! Despite all the work it’s worth it every year!
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