Saturday 21 September 2013

Fall Fair



The 4H barn is always my first stop



I might get some Muscovy ducks (above), they eat slugs and don't take any nonsense from would be predators. I'll get them if I can't find my first choice which would be geese. Local readers, if you hear of any geese for sale let me know.


I couldn't get the little guys above to look up, they had found some food on the floor under the tarpaulin and straw and were too busy to pose


The straw and manure was free on a "shovel it yourself" basis at the end of the weekend.


Its not all animals, this beautiful quilt was made by a 4H-er


Then on to the produce competition. It was all about veggie envy

purple russian tomatoes (just in case you thought they were plums)




Then preserving


I bought a jar of the first place blackberry jam to give to a visiting celebrity. How many people find something like that in their loot bag!

Next were the flowers



winner of largest sunflower head
I must track down the winner and beg for some seed. Beside it was this pretty cake


Time for some fun




Then home for tea and fair bought sour cherry muffins.

16 comments:

  1. Geese are wonderful 'guard dogs'. They always have a flock of them in the grounds surrounding the Whiskey Distilleries in Scotland. They eat the grass too, which saves on lawn mowing.
    Lots of lovely produce and animals at the Fall Fair.

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    1. Calgary once had a flock of sheep grazing the city green spaces. It would be nice if more commercial enterprises went the natural route.

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  2. I love visiting village fairs with fruit and vegetable competitions. Such fairs we have in our country less and less, a pity. Nice pictures of the farm animals and I never saw such a pretty cake, hope it will taste like it looks.

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    1. Maybe the fairs will come back as people become more interested in growing their own food.

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  3. I do like a nice country fair - are you intending to buy those ducks (or geese if you can get them) for your new place?
    I like that striped pumpkin or gourd in the first photograph!
    Bye for now
    Kirk

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    1. Nice to have you back Kirk. The variety of gourds was a visual treat. I'd really like geese as they are good groundskeepers for the orchard plus as Rosemary says excellent watchdogs.

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  4. Darn, Susan. Wished we lived closer - I have a friend who wants to rehome three geese! I love fairs - everything about them.

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    1. These little fairs are perfect for strolling and catching up with friends. It really is too bad about the geese.

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  5. I enjoyed the visit to your fair. I haven't been to our local one in years. Just too crowded. I hope you can find some geese or ducks. They would be great in keeping the slug and snail population in check. Did you take advatage of the free compost makings? That alone would be worth the visit!

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    1. I would love to have taken advantage of the free compost but we really need a truck first. I find crowds overwhelming so this little fair is perfect.

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  6. Oh I miss the 4H county fair...I used to bake and sew (badly) and win ribbons...so much fun!

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  7. Sounds like a wonderful day! I just love farm animals. So cute!

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  8. I love fall fairs and am so disappointed to have missed our local fair this year. My favourite part of a fall fair has to be the animals. I love watching dog obedience trials, the farm animals and there is usually a birds of prey demo at our fair here.

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  9. Now that is my kind of fair! I would so enjoy bringing the beans to something like this! And how very wonderful that you may be getting ducks for your farm!!! From the flowers to that gorgeous cake...sounded like the perfect day!!!

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  10. I really wanted to get to the Fall Fair this year, but it was a crazy day. Town days seem to always be that way. There's nothing like the peace and quiet of the cabin. - Margy

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  11. Good luck with the Muscovy ducks - we've always had a couple and they are great at eating slugs - but they are prodigious 'poopers' - be warned!

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