WILL SHE WIN OR WILL SHE LOSE? YOU BE THE JUDGE!

WEll, it's that time again! Time for the annual St. Joseph County Fair in Centreville, Michigan!

This year I decided to post a different way. You get to see at least one of my entries before the judging. You can decide if it's a winner or a loser!

This carnival glass dish was a wedding gift to Clint and I 31 years ago. Several years ago I started taking floral arrangements to the fair in this dish. The category is THE MORNING SERVICE-arrangement for a church.

My first attempt back then was GORGEOUS! However....I used the wrong floral foam and the water dried up within hours and it never made it to judging with a flower still alive! Some of the workers informed me of my mistake and thought it would have been a winner otherwise. The next year I tried very hard to get the right foam and re-create the piece. I failed again, with a second purchase of incorrect foam.

The other arrangements were basically the same as this one, only with lots more pink (zinnias). This year because of the late drought I was literally searching my flower beds for any available blossom (except the profuse marigolds) and picked the very last of any pink or purple flower on the property. Even those were shaggy and almost gone, but somehow, I made it work.--complete with the RIGHT FOAM!

When the people in the flower barn saw me coming today, they began recounting the story of those other arrangements and how they had been so pretty! So will we win this year????

RIGHT FLORAL FOAM--ALMOST NO FLOWERS

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

I used a profusion of sage leaves to fill in the holes. Do you think that little touch in lieu of flowers will put me over the top?

REPORT AT THE END OF THE WEEK! I also entered a crocheted shawl, a scarf, a jar of canned venison, black raspberry jelly, two pressed flower pictures, a card of antique buttons, and a box of tiny darning threads, also antiques.

WILL SHE WIN OR WILL SHE LOSE???

Blessings, Lori

UPDATE!

Yes, I'm still here! It's been quite a while since I posted. We are entering our busiest time of year. In addition to the Colorado trip--went quite well--Huxley is beautiful, by the way!--we have our county Fair, harvest time for Rhiannon (long hours), a ladies' Bible study finishing up, and more hours at work for both Clint and I.

Just wanted to say "hi," to everyone. I'm also working on the final prep of book three in the midst of all this and joined our church worship team. Yesterday was my first time to play and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! This means a weekly practice. I'll be working at the County Fair several different times during the week as well.

More information on my projects and pictures from Colorado coming up! Blessings, LORI

REPLETE WITH RIBBONS--WELL, NOT EXACTLY

Here's the picture of the ribbon results from last week's county fair. I had a good year, but not an outstanding one. More blue ribbons than red, no white ones, but no "big" ribbons either. I am always working for the Judge's Choice in the different categories since the ribbon is huge, and represents a major distinction. Plus, it pays a much larger dividend and who can't use that?

Our fair is paying premiums of 70% of the former rates since the state had to pull all the funding for county fairs during the economic crisis. At least that's the way I understand it. Still I got a nice little check when all was said and done and not having a job, every little bit is like gold to me. A friend of mine has a goal of entering 50 items and this year she had over 30. I think I'll set that kind of goal for next year. I have one item in mind that I've thought of making for years. It's a huge tatted tablecloth that has over 2500 individual motifs in its design. I would hope against hope for a Judge's Choice on that one and it would be crushing if it didn't happen! Maybe someday I'll get it completed!

Just by way of description, the large picture in the back is embroidery and cross stitch-a blue ribbon. (That was a surprise to me!) Sophie's dedication dress and overcoat is next to it--a blue ribbon. Two little ovals in front of the big picture are pressed flowers on velvet--I make a set every year and have won Judge's Choice in the past. This year I got a blue ribbon on those. In front of that is the little embroidered oval picture that I posted in a picture of the "farm corner" before. I could only enter one and I chose the covered bridge. It won a blue. Underneath that is a crocheted table runner that got no ribbon. I didn't quite understand that one, but that's the way the ribbon awarding goes. Sophie's little knit hat that I designed is next to that--no ribbon--truthfully I was very disappointed on that one. My long knitted "ribbon" made of scrap yarn and recently pictured on another post of the "European Corner" drew a red ribbon. The large garment is several years old. It's a Civil War costume pattern that I decided to use for everyday wear. Actually only the top is the pattern. I think I just made the skirt from two pieces of straight fabric-no pattern. It received a blue. My knitted fingerless gloves are next to the dress and they got a red. Somewhere in all that is a tiny bobbin lace bookmark, barely visible. It's on another post as well--it received a blue and was the only comparable item in the entire needlework barn. The judge wrote a note on the entry tag, "Beautiful!" I always consider it a privilege to receive a written compliment from a judge because it rarely happens.

It's always nice to receive earthly rewards and recognitions, but let's face it--what we really want is to hear, "well done, good and faithful servant," at the end of our lives, is it not? The crowns we will receive to lay at Jesus' feet are the real important awards. Someday all these items and ribbons will fade away and only the eternal matters. We should be working hard for the kingdom of God while we have breath in us. Blessings, LORI

FAIR UPDATE

I'm pleased to share a little more of our exciting week with you! As Clint and I spend time at the St. Joseph County Fair in our old hometown, Centreville, Michigan, I hope to share the fun of the fair with you!

On Tuesday we spent the day volunteering in the Miracle of Birth tent as we do every year. We worked from 9am-3pm helping do whatever was needed for the animals. Clint helped alot with the cow, doing chores and as you can see, (in the very unflatering picture of me!) I took care of the incubator where the chicks were hatching. It was very hot at the fair yesterday and we were trying to claim any breeze we could. As you see, the sides of the tent had been rolled up. Several chicks hatched on my shift and I turned all the eggs at least once. The incubator stays at a steady 100 degrees and when a hatched chick is completely dry they go over to the other glassed in pen where they can eat and drink and walk around under a very warm light. Having been a sort of "chicken farmer" for a while, I really enjoy talking to all the people who are interested in knowing more about the chicks.

When we were done, Clint went to work at the chaplaincy's booth and I went to spin with the spinning and weaving guild in the needlework building. One of the other spinners and I got our pictures taken by a man from the local newspaper. I guess it appeared today. I haven't seen it yet.

Today I went and spun some more while Clint manned the chaplaincy booth again. It is great fun seeing lots of old friends and talking to people interested in what you are doing. I got all my alpaca/wool blend spun and plied. I really liked working with it and was sorry to see the product finished in one way. I immediately started some 100% alpaca--a little more challenging! I'll post pictures of the finished yarns later.

This evening Rhiannon came over to the fair and we did what we do nearly every year--attended the Demolition Derby! Hooray for wrecking cars on purpose under safe conditions! We got kind of hooked on this while my dad was still alive. He always took our kids when we lived in Centreville just a block from the fairgrounds. They enjoyed it so much that we all started going. Most of the time now, it's me and Rhiannon that enjoy the derby and tonight we had a friend driving in it for the first time. She did really well, but wasn't the final top prize winner. Yes, I know, this is out of character for me! But I really do enjoy the derby! The one picture of the upside down ride with the flags was taken by Rhi from the top of the grandstand while we waited for the derby to start. While we still were living in Centreville we awoke early one morning to fire whistles and a glow in the sky. The very, very old grandstand, a sort of icon in the county, was on fire. It burned beyond saving and a new grandstand was built to replace it. It is very nice and tonight was great mild weather for sitting outside to watch the show.

More pictures later in the week! Blessings, LORI

SOME PRETTY FAIR SPINNING!

"She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands."

Here's a picture of how I spent my day today! Our county fair is underway and I was demonstrating spinning in the women's arts building along with others from the spinning and weaving guild that I attend.

I had a great day. One of the gals helped me adjust and oil my wheel and then the spinning was easy and fun. I replaced the drive band a few days ago and hadn't spun all summer. It was suddenly very easy again and I got some great yarn (for me!). The yarn you see me spinning here is 50% Alpaca, 50% Wool--my favorite blend so far! I really like the natural heathered color. I am striving to spin yarn fine enough to use for sock knitting since I have a goal of becoming a knitter of lace socks. I think the handspun, naturally colored yarns will look great done up in lace patterns, sort of an unusual combination!

I hope to be spinning at the fair every day this week. Tomorrow my husband and I will serve as helpers in the Miracle of Birth Tent for the third or fourth year in a row. Several animals are there waiting to give birth. Lambs have already been born this week. I will probably keep an eye on the chick incubator while Clint acts as a general host, answering questions and helping wherever needed.

I've been enjoying the county fair since I can't remember how long! I was in 4H and began exhibiting projects years ago. This year I entered 11 items in open class categories. Report on that at the end of the week!

Hopefully more pictures later this week! Blessings, LORI

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM THE FAIR!

What a day! I spent the entire morning doing all the little details to finish Fair projects. Finally at about 12:30 Mom and I set out for Centreville. Today was a "free" day at the fair and so there were lots more people than usual. We could have parked inside, but the parking lots were quite full. I told Mom to go park at our old house and I'd carry my stuff in. First was the flower arrangement I had just finished--a nearly identical arrangement to the one I made a few years ago that dried up. You will never guess what happened---well, maybe you will. Yes, I used the wrong foam again. I could have promised you I had purchased the correct stuff. I wondered why it wasn't soaking up the water, but I thought it just needed a little more time. Here I was building a beautiful arrangement using nearly all the flowers left in my garden only to make the EXACT SAME MISTAKE AGAIN!!!!! (Clint's cousin in the flower judge--oh, how embarrassing!)

When I got there I had to walk quite a ways to the building where the flowers are housed. The wind was brisk and I feared for my arrangement. People passing me were commenting on how pretty it was. Got it into the barn and asked to water it. I noticed some of the flowers were starting to droop. I got it all entered and moved on to make another trip to the car for the second load of items. After I got all done I took Clint's camera back to take a picture of the arrangement because I knew by the end of the week it would be a goner even with everything done correctly. A new gal was in the barn and she mentioned to me that I had used the wrong foam! The flowers were starting to droop again! Tomorrow is the judging and there's only a shred of hope that it will still look even decent by then. We learn from our mistakes and some of us have to make the same mistakes twice! It made me think over and over today how thankful I am that the Lord looks at us through eyes of mercy and His judgement on us was paid for by Jesus. We are free from a judge looking at us and inspecting every detail.

Because the premium books are costly to print, the Fair quit sending them out a few years ago. You can get them online. I didn't bother thinking I have nearly memorized the book. That was until I tried to enter the jelly today! For some strange reason, you are supposed to bring 3 jars. I brought only one. They coaxed me to leave it anyway, but I know it will be disqualified because it doesn't meet the requirement. Another lesson learned--read the book! You can make all the necessary spritutal applications on that one without me even embellishing!

Did get the antique fan card holder entered although since we didn't know the age and there was no real category for it, they put in the WW1 items since the cards were great examples of that era. Ok, there.

I did try to check the premium book online for this next item, only I coudln't find the entry I was familiar with. This was the category I usually put my pressed flower pics in. I thought I remembered that you needed two pictures and there were two divisions for different sizes. So this morning I put two more pics together, this time very modern looking done on my homemade recycled paper complete with pressed butterflies. Way cool! Got there only to find out that there is only one category and now I have two sets of pics. They said it was ok to enter them both and I'd just be competing against myself! Well, why not?! Again, it pays to read the book!

Got down to the needlework building and started getting all the stuff out. Alpaca shawl, tatted cross, 70's dress, felted handbag and I realized something. The 70's dress had some threads that needed to be clipped. The more I looked at it (and some of my other stuff), the more I realized that I am a "cobbler." I doubt it will place very highly if at all. I have always "made do" with whatever I have. I will not go buy new matching thread if I have a whole drawer full and can "make do." I did that on this dress. Same with the handbag, it's made of leftover ancient wool yarn. If I didn't have what I needed, I used something else. In this economy, that's a very good quality to possess--but maybe not for entering to win prizes! Spiritual lesson: second best will not work in getting to heaven. You must have the "real thing," you must enter by the narrow way or not at all! Jesus is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. Not A way, or A truth, or A life. You either accept His way of salvation or you'll have none at all.

I do have hight hopes for the tatted cross and some of the other knitted items. Maybe even the postcards and pressed flower pictures, but we'll keep you posted! Highlights of the day--Clint bought me a really nice pair of cowboy boots at the fair tonight! They are of the same style as a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY EXPENSIVE pair I happened to find in Nashville. I liked them so well, but knew those would never be mine. These will do just fine and I can't wait to wear them with a nice ruffled skirt. Plus we got to really enjoy Emma. Animals are a big thing to her--books, toys, etc. She even makes many of the animal sounds if you ask her. So taking her through the barns to actually see and hear all the animals was great fun. Her eyes were big as saucers and when she had heard the cows bellow enough, she looked a bit apprehensive and said to us, "All done," which translates to, "I'm ready to move on!"Blessings, LORI