For bacon-flavored cotton candy, check out the fair
No doubt you’ve noticed the fair is in town.
I was out at the Baxter County Fair on Friday at our booth (where you still can sign up today for subscriptions and get free Razorback stuff). It was school day with all the little ones from the schools going through the fair, and it brought back a few memories.
It’s been a long time since Eli and Amelia went to the fair with their elementary school classes. It always was nice to be able to cut loose from work long enough to go along with them and their classmates.
It’s sort of like being on fast-forward as the teachers and chaperones escort them through the exhibit buildings and livestock barn, taking in the sights as they quickly move along, looking every bit like little ducklings following the big ducks. To be honest, it looked as though the youngsters were more interested in the Icy Pops they’d acquired than in signing up for drawings, insurance or even subscribing to a newspaper.
I didn’t recognize too many of the parents — who keep getting younger — although I did spot a grandparent or two I know (though you’d be surprised to learn they were grandparents). That’s to be expected, I guess. Eli’s been out of school 10 years, and Amelia’s a senior this year (which I’m still coming to terms with), although it doesn’t seem that long ago that they were among those little ducklings.
I’ve been busy this week and haven’t had a chance to get out to the fair other than to sit at The Bulletin booth. Fairs can be fun, especially if you like people watching. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but sometimes there are people you see only at the fair. I’ve always wondered where they are the rest of the year.
Seriously, I think there are some folks who only come out once a year from wherever they stay so they can go to the fair. Of course, the allure of giant air-filled hammer balloons, etched mirror tiles, oversized fuzzy pink hats, giant stuffed animals and the opportunity to win them at various games of chance ... uh, challenge, is hard to resist.
One thing that can be hard to resist at a fair is the aroma of food. Burgers sizzling on the grill at the Kiwanis’ kitchen, hot dogs and nachos at the 4-H stand, the barbecue place this year with the scent of hickory wafting through the air and, one of my favorites, the onions and peppers grilling at the carny food booths to accompany the sausages they serve.
I know I’ve hit it right when I’m grilling at home and get that aroma.
And this year’s new fair food is bacon-flavored cotton candy.
At least it isn’t deep fried.
At least, I don’t think it is. Hmm, ... deep-fried cotton candy ... it’ll probably show up at the Texas State Fair next year where they deep fry anything that doesn’t get away.
As I wandered around the fairgrounds after I finished my time at the booth, I got to visit with a couple of gentlemen with the National Guard. As a display on their table were an M-16 and a SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon). I asked about borrowing the SAW for deer hunting — it’d sure increase the odds for hitting one, and even tenderizing it at the same time — but while they were agreeable, they thought the folks with a higher pay grade might not appreciate it.
There’s a lot going on here this weekend, but if you get a chance swing by the Baxter County Fair, sign up for a few drawings, check out the livestock, say howdy to folks and maybe even try the bacon-flavored cotton candy ... even if it isn’t deep fried.
I was out at the Baxter County Fair on Friday at our booth (where you still can sign up today for subscriptions and get free Razorback stuff). It was school day with all the little ones from the schools going through the fair, and it brought back a few memories.
It’s been a long time since Eli and Amelia went to the fair with their elementary school classes. It always was nice to be able to cut loose from work long enough to go along with them and their classmates.
It’s sort of like being on fast-forward as the teachers and chaperones escort them through the exhibit buildings and livestock barn, taking in the sights as they quickly move along, looking every bit like little ducklings following the big ducks. To be honest, it looked as though the youngsters were more interested in the Icy Pops they’d acquired than in signing up for drawings, insurance or even subscribing to a newspaper.
I didn’t recognize too many of the parents — who keep getting younger — although I did spot a grandparent or two I know (though you’d be surprised to learn they were grandparents). That’s to be expected, I guess. Eli’s been out of school 10 years, and Amelia’s a senior this year (which I’m still coming to terms with), although it doesn’t seem that long ago that they were among those little ducklings.
I’ve been busy this week and haven’t had a chance to get out to the fair other than to sit at The Bulletin booth. Fairs can be fun, especially if you like people watching. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but sometimes there are people you see only at the fair. I’ve always wondered where they are the rest of the year.
Seriously, I think there are some folks who only come out once a year from wherever they stay so they can go to the fair. Of course, the allure of giant air-filled hammer balloons, etched mirror tiles, oversized fuzzy pink hats, giant stuffed animals and the opportunity to win them at various games of chance ... uh, challenge, is hard to resist.
One thing that can be hard to resist at a fair is the aroma of food. Burgers sizzling on the grill at the Kiwanis’ kitchen, hot dogs and nachos at the 4-H stand, the barbecue place this year with the scent of hickory wafting through the air and, one of my favorites, the onions and peppers grilling at the carny food booths to accompany the sausages they serve.
I know I’ve hit it right when I’m grilling at home and get that aroma.
And this year’s new fair food is bacon-flavored cotton candy.
At least it isn’t deep fried.
At least, I don’t think it is. Hmm, ... deep-fried cotton candy ... it’ll probably show up at the Texas State Fair next year where they deep fry anything that doesn’t get away.
As I wandered around the fairgrounds after I finished my time at the booth, I got to visit with a couple of gentlemen with the National Guard. As a display on their table were an M-16 and a SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon). I asked about borrowing the SAW for deer hunting — it’d sure increase the odds for hitting one, and even tenderizing it at the same time — but while they were agreeable, they thought the folks with a higher pay grade might not appreciate it.
There’s a lot going on here this weekend, but if you get a chance swing by the Baxter County Fair, sign up for a few drawings, check out the livestock, say howdy to folks and maybe even try the bacon-flavored cotton candy ... even if it isn’t deep fried.
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