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Candy Floss, Parades and Horse Pucky
Like most people, there are times when I find it incredibly difficult to just get something done. This week my mind is all over the place. Should I write about our friends south-of-the-border? Should I say something about the County Fair? Should I write about how no matter what you do the brown stuff will hit the fan when you least expect it? Let’s me see. I think I’ll go with the Fair.
Like I’ve said before, it took a few years for us (by us, I mean “me”) to warm up to going to a small, agricultural fair. We were, after all, from the big smoke and had the Canadian National Exhibition to celebrate the end of summer and the start of autumn. After moving to the County in the early, early 1970s we continued to schlep ourselves to Toronto to attend the CNE. When we were asked on the Monday after Fair Weekend if we’d attended our answer was “Why would we? We had the CNE.” I don’t remember anyone ever pushing back on that point, but I’m happy to say we changed our mind and away we went. The cool thing about going to the Picton Fair was we could walk from our house to the fairground. We didn’t have to pay for parking and didn’t have to drive for three hours on a crowded highway to get to the fun. Is going to a small, agricultural fair the same as going to the CNE? Well, we all know the answer to that question. Of course it isn’t the same. I’d have to say it took a bit of an adjustment to stop comparing apples to oranges, or in the case of the Picton Fair, weirdly shaped carrots on paper plates to antique tractors parked in front of the sorta, kinda “grand” stand.
And, so we went to the Picton Fair this past Saturday. I was grumpy because I didn’t want to speak to anyone on Saturday and there wasn’t enough coffee in the mug to make me change my mind. The thing is, if you go to the Fair, chatting with friends, family and neighbours is, often, the best part of the excursion—especially if you have a bucket of mini-donuts in yer mitts. By the time we had chatted with half dozen friends and met up with the Belleville part of the family, my grumpiness had disappeared. I was enjoying the bright, sunny day, the craft exhibits, the fruit, vegetables, the baked goods and the animals. Now, for those of you who think you know me, you’d know I’m not exactly a social butterfly. Going out in public is really the very last thing I like to do. But I knew in my heartof- hearts going to the Fair would bust up my protective candy coating. And so it did. Who doesn’t enjoy a sunny day, the scent of candy floss, the eau de farm animal and the chime and clang of the midway and a guy with flaming batons telling kids, “Don’t do this at home”? LOML and I had a great afternoon. I know I’ll feel the same next year—reluctant to go and happy because I did.
And here we are. It’s Monday the 8th as I write this. The Picton Fair is being put to bed for another year. All of the ribbons were awarded. All of the rides have been loaded onto trucks. All of the horse pucky has been scooped up and here we are, just a few days until the Milford Fair. The Picton Fair warmed me up for the Milford Fair parade (a total must see!), The Shed Exhibits, nail driving, pumpkin painting, music, the Citizenship Awards presentation, local vendors and lots of food! It’s where everyone meets up with everyone else to chat about the family, the weather, the season, the tourists, politics, the farm and farm equipment. It’s where the kids get messy painting those pumpkins and the playground is more exciting than a carousel.
It’s September! It has all of the daytime warmth of summer with a dash of fresh veggies, a dollop of homemade jam and hum of the wasps looking for something sweet. I’ll have to work on my grumpy attitude. I wonder if mini-donuts are still good to eat after two days?
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