Ta Tonka Ha, Roundezvous, & County fairs (but not Polska Kielbasa Days or Goat Racing)

Over the past 2 weeks we have been busy down in Southwest Minnesota. So busy in fact that we did NOT make it to the local Polish festival "Polska Kielbasa Days" in Ivanhoe, nor the famed "Goat Races" in Jasper. Perhaps next year...

We did however make it to many other festivities:

Last weekend was the Lincoln County Fair, and we all particpated with at least a few projects. You can read more about it elsewhere on this page. It was interesting to see all the projects and people, and we had a lot of fun. But fair can also be tiring; so some of us got a little cranky and whiney... so Christin told me to be quiet and behave or I'd have to wait in the car. So it was was nice to be done, too.

William after a little too much 4-leafed clover

We also spent an evening at the Pipestone County Fair this week, petting animals, trying out the musical instruments, and checking out the projects in the 4-H and Open Class buildings. This is my kind of fun!

Aug 11-13 was Ta Tonka Ha Roundezvous and John C. Fremont Days in Lake Benton. We dined on sweet corn, corn bread, and BUFFALO STEW!, enjoyed historical re-enactments, and shopped the trading post. What fun! With each bowl of stew, we received a raffle ticket for a star quilt. Christin, desiring to win the quilt for herself, put HER name on ALL 6 TICKETS!!!
But the raffle was for a variety of items, with the grand prize being the large, white Star Quilt. So, the raffle began and Christin won a Lake Benton t-shirt [size 3X], a bag of fishing lures and a reel, and a bottle of tanning lotion. By now, she was a little embarrassed that her name had been drawn 3 times but she was still determined to win the quilt. Then came a dry streak... Thermometers, Chamber bucks, antique wine decanters, antibellum prints, artwork. But then 'Christin' was drawn for a $10 gift certificate and groans of dismay escaped from the crowd. The announcer even chided her, "Why did you have to bring so many kids?"
With only a few items left, Christin had used 66% of her chances and still had no quilt to show for her efforts. Finally the gleaming white quilt was all that remained, the announcer read the card, "Christin!" After all of that, she even won the quilt, the only item she really wanted, or even thought she could win! Pictures to come...