Deerfield Fair

 The Deerfield Fair, Deerfield, NH

Have you ever seen a pumpkin that weighed more than a thousand pounds? Here are three of them from the Deerfield Fair in New Hampshire. The winning entry, which is in the middle, weighed 1900 pounds plus. The owner, who happened to be nearby, told me that in the last week or so before harvesting, it was gaining something like 45 pounds per day. Can that be true? I suppose it can. I guess if you are serious about raising the biggest pumpkin in New Hampshire, you would weigh it every day. My question, which never had the opportunity to be asked, was "How do people get these pumpkins out of the garden and into the fairgrounds." A mystery for the moment, but I imagine a forklift would be involved somehow.

The fair today was especially attractive, amply decorated with pumpkins and autumn flowers. Jeff and I love fairs. We were talking about it on the way to the fair today. Why do we like them so much? I think it is partly the rural connection, which resonates with us both and the appreciation for the hard work of community members as they prepare--I don't know all the factors. But if there's a fair in the area, we have to visit it!

This is a sheep beauty parlor, sort of. The sheep stand on the platform, rest their heads in a little holder, and their caregivers shear away the soiled wool and make them ready to show.

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As anyone in our quilting group at church could tell you, I'm no quilter. But I love them. I thought this was really a beauty. Fairs are so much fun!