True to our tradition, we made our annual trek last night to the Orange County Fair. The evening was balmy, cooled by gentle ocean breezes, and the air was thick with Eau de Fairground: charred burgers and cinnamon rolls, beer tents and barnyard animals. "Home Sweet Home" is the theme this year, and by now our routine is so familiar, it did feel like a homecoming of sorts.
When I passed this sign, my arteries siezed I couldn't help thinking about poor old Wilbur, that RADIANT but HUMBLE character in Charlotte's Web. SOME PIG, anyone? 
I had barbequed chicken for dinner, roasted corn, and sugar-free Dip 'n' Dots–same as always. My husband, well…he pinged from one food booth to the next, ala Templeton. Bratwurst, barbequed chicken, homemade chips, my leftovers. You name it, he ate it!
Truth be told, I'm there for the exhibits. People-watching, too. I spotted this woman in the Master Gardener's tent, and for some inexplicable reason, I felt a tugging at my heart. Kindred spirits? I don't know, but I'd love to catch a glimpse of that sketchbook, and listen to some of her stories….
Here, a sad story with a happy ending: Daisy, a resident sow, gave birth to 11 piglets two weeks ago. But her brood survived, thanks to the generous dairy farmers that supply them with milk. As the crowds oohed and aahed over the three little piggies (and a spare) slurping dinner, their siblings romped through the straw and/or napped under a warming lamp nearby.
Meanwhile, their two-legged counterparts clogged the fairway, waiting for their heart attacks food. 
Imagine the yarns this wooly guy could spin, if only he could talk. Does he count people when he drifts off to sleep? I wonder…
A ferris wheel ride to the top of the world…Who among us doesn't treasure those memories?
This little guy settled in for a little shut-eye in the far corner of his pen, oblivious to the camera-wielding bystander at the fence.
A few hours later, we were equally ready to tuck in for the evening. As we exited the parking lot, a full moon lit up the night sky–a punctuation mark for yet another fun day at the fair.
Ferris wheel always gets me to remember the notebook movie. So romantic!
Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but I haven’t read THE NOTEBOOK, and I haven’t seen the movie. I know, right? I’m a romantic at heart, and yet…somehow I’ve missed it.
Ferris wheel is my favorite ride. It has to be at night though. I got to ride the London Eye about 5 years ago. It wasn’t at night but still great. Big Ben looked like a little guy down below.
I’m not a big fan of carnival-type rides, on the whole. (Translation: I’m a big scaredy-cat!). But ferris wheels move very slowly, and I feel safer in those baskets. It’s fun to get a bird’s eye view of things, especially at night. And if you’re in good company, all the better. 🙂
P.S. I loved The London Eye! Kinda slow, even for me, but wow, what a view!!
So true.
I’ve been to the DelMar Fair before, though I don’t know if they had animals…but the food and the people — once was enough 😉
Yeah, I get what you’re saying. It’s really fun, but timing is everything. Company, too. Once a year’s enough for me, and even then, I have to be in the mood. 🙂
Sounds like it was fun!
It was lots of fun! If you haven’t gone in a while, you should treat yourself. It’s a fun place to hang out on a hot summer night.
oh, wow. that looks wonderful!!
And look, you did capture some baby Wilburs! Too cute!
Thanks for sharing.
I get so geeked out things like this. Probably because it’s a really fun place to collect (and remember) stories.
Those wee Wilburs were so adorable. They’re the highlight of the fair every year, and this year…well. Everyone’s rooting for those sweet little piglets.
Are you going to your county fair? If so, I hope you’ll post pictures…
I’d like to go to our county fair.Haven’t ever been because I’ve no one to go with.
But I went to the FL state fair once. That was awesome!
Want…bacon!!!!
Hahahaha! Apparently you’re not alone. 🙂
I haven’t been to a fair in five years. I miss it.
Maybe you’ll go with Aadan this year? I’ll bet he’d love that–you too! Take pictures if you do…
Love your fair pictures! It’s funny how generally I don’t like crowds and noise. But I adore the fair. Maybe Charlotte’s Web had something to do with that?! We just rode the ferris wheel at our county fair last weekend–so much fun! My favorite though, is the garden and composting area. Oh, and the goats and pigs too. 🙂
And my dear Melodye, I owe you an email which I’m hoping to write this morning. xo
It’s funny how generally I don’t like crowds and noise. But I adore the fair. Maybe Charlotte’s Web had something to do with that?!
Same here! I do think our childhood memories (and expectations) have something to do with it. I loved CHARLOTTE’S WEB! I didn’t actually visit a county fair until I became a grown-up.
I got your email by the way. Thank you! I’ll get back to you after this busy weekend.
Melodye, I love this post so much! We have a town fair–it happens in late September–and this reminds me so much of it. The combination of the agricultural stuff with the carnival stuff–does it get more wonderful? When it’s fair time, all the kids are so excited. The school buses drive by the town common, and the kids are so excited to see the ferris wheel going up, and the other rides.
We don’t have pigs (usually–sometimes the 4-H tent will have piglets), but these ones are so cute! And your beautiful full moon, presiding over it all. ♥
Lucky you, that the whole town gets involved!! That sounds a lot like how I imagine it was for Fern Zuckerman and her Famous Pig.
They have pig races here. Too fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrRjbx8q6LU&feature=related
Oh, I **love** the racing pigs!! Thanks for that link; that was great!
They’re a highlight of the fair!!!! 🙂
If I were there (or you were here), we’d definitely hit the fairgrounds together.
Very nice photos you have here. Will be about 6 weeks til our fair comes to towm. Nothing better than a foot long corn dog. Makes my mouth water.
Have a great summer.
Is it cooler by then, PapaDan? I don’t like navigating big crowds in sweltering hot weather.
Corn dogs are really good. Do you like elephant ears and funnel cakes?
haven’t tried funnel cakes and there are not many elephants around here so I haven’t seen elephant ears. LOL. What are elephant ears beside the obvious?
Huge hunks of fried dough, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with a dollop of berry jam. They’re shaped like elephant ears, which is how they got their name. I don’t eat them, but my husband LOOOOOVES them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_ear_(doughnut)
I have tried bacon in chocolate before, not for my tastes.
You’re more courageous than I am! 🙂
I am simultaneously attracted and repelled by the idea of bacon covered in chocolate. The mind reels…
I wanted to tell you that I enjoyed all the photos you posted in this entry, but that one at the top is somehow mesmerizing! The colors, the images, the concepts… BACONBACONBACON!!! — and the goofy title of the attraction (“Bacon A-Fair”… I wonder what the meeting where they decided on THAT was like). Thanks for sharing! — PL
I am simultaneously attracted and repelled by the idea of bacon covered in chocolate. The mind reels…
Ha, I think this sums up how I feel about most fair cuisine: Sorely tempted, but oh lord, I don’t want to pay for my “sins”!
Oh, and Peter, thanks so much for your kind comment about my photos. In cases like this (jostling crowds, limited time & major distractions), I concentrate more on content than technique. But thanks to the wonderful camera I now own, I’m getting better photos than I ever dreamed possible. *is stoked*
What a perfect day!
I have to admit, your picture of all the pig fare (no pun intended) made me yearn for some pulled pork – I know, I’m horrible, but I have such a good recipe for it! It even involves root beer!
And on that fizzy note, I just wanted to say how much I love your pictures. They’re so crisp and vibrant ~ I feel like I was walking around with you guys.