Friday, July 18

Up at 6 a.m. on this unusually cool, cloudy, morning so I could get ready to go to water aerobics. Street work is still going on at an intersection near the college campus, so I detoured through the chapel parking lot again.


A fleece hoodie felt good for the walk to the gym. But gad the pool was chilly! I wish they would warm it up a little. Took a while to get used to the water, but when I did I enjoyed the workout. I left a little early, though, so I could get home and get ready to go to the fairgrounds for senior day at the fair.


We headed to the fair around 10 a.m., leaving the guy who is laying tile in the sunroom to continue his job. He was gone by the time we got back, since he and his family were scheduled to go on a trip to the southern part of our state.


As soon as we arrived at the fair, Mother and I toured the educational building as Hubbie went to buy lunch tickets and attend the door prize drawing. Mother and I were surprised at how scant the crafts, baking, and canned goods exhibits were. The exhibits are displayed on stair step shelves, and several were completely empty. During the years that Mother and I exhibited, those shelves were stuffed. We were also surprised at how many white ribbons were awarded. Usually, there are far more red and blue ribbons.


We noticed, too, that many of the booths displayed political exhibits. There seemed to be general themes of patriotism, religion, or salutes to our state athletic programs among the individual exhibits, with most of those receiving Best of Show awards. The number of exhibits in the vegetables/plants/cut flowers departments was drastically down, too, as were the animal exhibits.


Just as we were finishing our tour of the 4-H exhibit booths, Hubbie came to tell us that lunch was about to be served. So we headed to the entertainment pavilion, where we had a meal of tuna sandwiches, baked chips, broccoli salad, a half an orange, and a box of "Jungle Juice."


I'm not a real fan of tuna, but it was fine. Not a fan of  Jungle Juice, either, but it was probably donated to the Area Agency on Aging, which sponsored the lunch. The orange was hard to handle...the fruit should have been cut into quarters instead of halves.


After lunch, we visited the commercial building to register for prizes. As with the other exhibit areas, this one had few business exhibit booths, too, though there were lots of political booths. Didn't take long to go through the building.


Headed to the animal exhibits after that, where Mother enjoyed petting the goats, and stroking the noses of mules. We were ready to leave the fair after that.


Before we came home, we went to a town about 20 minutes away to buy a watermelon and a cantaloupe from our favorite farmer. Stopped at another roadside vendor to pick up tomatoes, and a box of blackberries.


Back home, I washed and sugared the berries for a snack later. Then we all relaxed until time to prepare supper, which tonight was pancakes. Hubbie did the honors of making the pancakes, after Mother and I made the batter.


Mother was ready to go home after supper, so Hubbie accompanied her, and then he and I attended the visitation for our neighbor, who died suddenly Wednesday.


We learned tonight that the man had gone to check on pasture fences, and simply dropped dead of a massive heart attack. When his wife found him, the truck was still running.


This is a long-established family in our community, so everyone knows them. Therefore, the line at the funeral home stretched around two sides of the building. We inched along in the line for an hour and a half.


We were surprised that there was an elderly woman in line right behind us who is 94 years old. She became visibly tired of standing, so we encouraged her to be seated as the line progressed. There were couches and chairs along the walls, so she could get up and move from one seat to another. But I really think she should not have tried to attend. She could have visited with the bereaved at another, more comfortable time.


We were back home just after 7 p.m. Around 8:30, I took a helping of the blackberries to Mother, and put drops in her eyes.


Hubbie and I spent the evening watching "The Good Wife" episodes, during which we had helpings of the blackberries, topped with ice cream. The berries, despite my generously sugaring them, were quite tart. I wonder if Mother will be able to eat them.