Fryeburg Fair, part 4 – we could have come home with a pig.

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Last fair post, I promise.

As we were winding down our day in Fryeburg, my husband took a test drive.

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On a potato planter.

He spent a good amount of time in the antique tool shed, and as usual entered into a half hour conversation.

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Topic?

Identification of that weird contraption in the foreground. They could only get as far as a tying machine, for what is still a mystery.

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A 1940’s television? That’s seriously early technology.

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Next stop was the sugar house where they were actively boiling down sap for maple syrup.

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My husband used to do this on the farm where he grew up so naturally that was another half hour conversation with the sugarer.

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Syrup is a lot of work.

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We stopped in the 4 H building and enjoyed the displays by local kids.

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Raising livestock for market is a popular project in country schools and the students get to name their animals.

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I admit I snorted over Magic Mike.

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Our last stop was the swine barn.

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And there were lots of baby piggies.

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They’re so sweet.

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Did you know pigs are very intelligent, loving and make good pets?

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I tried talking my husband into one…

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But he wasn’t the least bit interested.

And because no trip to the fair is complete without prize winning squash…

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Here’s a 1,210 pound pumpkin.

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On our way to the exit gate we ran across a few women walking their calves. Bovine kids get bored and restless just like humans when they’re cooped up all day.

💕

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Fryeburg Fair, part three – he’s talking cows.

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When I see cows in a field as we’re driving in the country? I’m compelled to announce it.

“Cow!”

But when I’m walking around the Fryeburg fair surrounded by bodacious bovines?

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I just sigh with adoration.

My husband was raised on a dairy farm and the man knows cows. Which is why I think it’s cruel he won’t let me have one.. or ten. Of course I don’t want to muck out stalls or water them when it’s 10 below, which could be a deciding factor in his refusal.

So I get my cow fix when we go to fairs. I love the Belted Galloways which we always call Oreo cows.

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The one in the middle is clearly a double stuff.

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And look, there’s a vanilla cream.

While I was adoring?

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The husband was talking.

And talking.

And talking.

About cows.

And after 20 minutes, about politics. Which is odd because I don’t think cows vote.

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Did you know a cow isn’t technically a cow until she has a calf?

Now you do.

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Can I get an awwww?

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Scottish Highlands are so fuzzy I just want to curl up with a few and stroke them for hours.

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This little beauty was only three days old! Momma delivered at the fair.

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There’s the husband, talking cows again.

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Did you know your veal parmigiana is almost always male?

Now you do.

And because no fair visit is complete without a beauty pageant.

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Cow!

🐄

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Maps.. in case you forgot where you live.

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Forget where’s the beef….

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This map clearly asks where’s the cacio e pepe?

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Way to go New Hampshire.

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I’ve been to northwestern Maine and can vouch for this.

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We bypassed Paris on my one and only trip to France and did Provence and the Côte d’Azur instead. Never regretted it.

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My husband and I paid $6 for the license and tipped the Justice of the Peace $30.

41 years later… believe me when I tell you it’s not about what you spend.

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This makes no sense whatsoever.

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To be honest we never used to. Most Mainers didn’t. But now, we do… and that’s sad.

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Fryeburg Fair, part two – llamas and chickens and steer. Oh my.

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It’s no secret my favorite part of a fair is the animals.

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The llama barn only had 3 occupants this year.

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And this one was too cranky to pet.

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But there were lots of chickens.

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And lots of blue ribbons.

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The silkies look like they’re covered in fur not feathers.

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There were some very impressive birds.

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Though this one looked a little pissed at missing first place.

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Next up, the big boys.

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And a very sweet little guy with his mom.

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Look at that face!

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💕

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News you can’t use.

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Because it’s Monday, and that’s how we start the week around here.

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Proof there’s a little sunshine behind every dark cloud.

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Adult camp?

Hell no. I hated it as a kid and I was way more sociable then.

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Talk about an embarrassing 911 call.

Geesh.

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Oh my god, no.

My husband and I visited a nude beach in France years ago (both wearing bathing suits thank you very much) and believe me when I say it wasn’t pretty. We saw more naked grandmas and grandpas than anyone should ever see. A cruise ship of naked all you can eat buffet loving passengers? That’s the voyage of the damned right there.

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Can you guess who it is?

Answer in comments…

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I take it back, this was the most embarrassing 911 call ever.

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I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that man is single.

😳

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Let’s go to the fair! Part one – big *ss horses.

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Heading out to the 175th Fryeburg Fair, a selfie.

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This is the oldest (175 years) and the biggest fair in Maine. How big, you ask?

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This big.

And after a late start due to my husband playing cribbage at breakfast with friends, we arrived two hours later than planned.

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On the way to parking the car? RV heaven.

Or hell as far as I’m concerned. Densely packed on flat dirt as far as the eye can see, I can’t imagine spending a week like that, but people come from all over New England and look forward to it every year.

To each their own.

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Many people go to the fair for the rides and carnival atmosphere … we’re not those people.

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We started with the race horses.

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Beautiful creatures who enjoy an occasional scratch.

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This poor fellow was trying to take a nap.

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While this one looked ready to munch a mum.

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Food trucks and vendors were everywhere but my husband hates eating lunch standing up and ducked into the one little restaurant they have on site instead.

Big mistake.

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It’s a bare bones place with a limited menu. They didn’t even have ice for our drinks. Warm Pepsi anyone?

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Husband had a watery bowl of stew with a biscuit you could use for a boat anchor while I had a dry turkey salad roll the waitress mistakenly charged me $1 for instead of the $11 it cost. A dollar was really all it was worth, but the cashier caught the error and we moved on.

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To the draft horses.

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Who were finishing the pulling show the husband usually likes to watch.

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These horses are gentle giants and I hate to see them straining …

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So I wasn’t disappointed we’d missed most of it.

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This beauty stood almost 19 hands.

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And the husband spent more than 19 minutes talking to this owner while I wandered around.

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Out back, these fellows were getting a bath.

Percherons, Belgians, and Haflingers. They never fail to impress.

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Muted color, but still a nice drive.

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We drove west to Fryeburg the other day for the last fair of the agricultural season.

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It’s always a gorgeous drive this time of year…

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But due to the ongoing lack of rain and drought conditions the leaves weren’t nearly as bright.

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Patches of color, yes.

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But the trees have been stressed this year.

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They started turning early and in much more muted shades.

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Disappointing.

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But still scenic.

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😊

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Let’s play.

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It won’t hurt your brain.

I promise.

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As much as I enjoy my craft cocktails and beer, if I could only drink one thing it would have to be fresh brewed unsweetened iced tea with a wedge of lemon.

I don’t drink coffee, so tea is my mainstay pick me up. Lower in caffeine and full of healthy antioxidants, I love it and drink it every day regardless of the weather.

How about you?

One beverage, forever.

Go!

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This really creams my corn!

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I went to the doctor recently.

Nothing worrisome, just my annual physical. I’m ridiculously healthy for my age and though I have a bad knee, bunions and the normal aches and pains associated with reaching my sixth decade… there were thankfully no major issues to discuss.

I don’t have diabetes, or high cholesterol or any other ailments that require medication so my annual wellness check is usually a quick in and out with a stamp of good health.

We have excellent insurance due to my husband’s military service and my visit is always completely covered.

Free.

Until the other day when I received this bill.

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It showed a $25 balance and while that certainly wasn’t a problem…. it was different, and made me wonder what had changed.

Not being able to decipher the coded language on the bill, I did some research.

Turns out I’m too healthy.

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I’m being penalized because I’m healthy?

The doctor didn’t have to make any medical decisions.

So they charge me more?

What the utter hell is that about!

😡

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