Fair Time In Rural America

This little campsite was home sweet home for us for most of last week........

I don't want to brag or anything but..... I am a well travelled woman. I've seen Paris, London, Chicago, and Los Angeles. My father was in the Air Force and I've lived overseas. I've travelled quite a bit in the US and I am up for a road trip just about anytime. I am a southerner by birth and my family has lived in Kansas for the last ten years. This is home. I love our small town and the ruralness of our community.

As I watch the news and see the sheer craziness of the world, I am very greatful that middle America is still here. It is still thriving even though it has lost alot of the openess and trusting nature that it is known for. We aren't quite "Mayberry" anymore but we still have some of those better qualities.

This past week, it was fair time for our kids 4-H club. It began on Tuesday night with the horse show and ended last night with the livestock premium auction. A solid week of.......... the 4-H mom version of hell week. For the whole month, my mantra has been, " If I can just live throught the fair...." There have been times when emotional nuclear meltdown was very close. Physically we are exhausted but for some insane reason, we are already planning for next year.

Where else but in small town America could the fire department show up, throw down a canvas, open up the water valves and host a community wide slip & slide without worrying about litigation?

How about taking Ol' Dobbin for a little ride throught the park? Please notice that these little girls are riding this VERY tall horse at a trot without a bridle, bit or saddle. Nobody is too worried about a little horse manure on the well mowed grass either........

The city park and the fairgrounds are on the same piece of property. This is my middle son after spinning this merry-go-round for a whole gaggle of kids.

The little campsite in the top picture was on the side of the road on the edge of the fairgrounds. At night, we slept in the tent and the cattle were "tied out" to the other side of the trailer. The smallest heifer was tied to the bumper of the truck. As I would lay there on my air mattress listening to grazing and belching, I wondered if I could safely do this anywhere other than small town America? My next thought was if any body else out there was this crazy?

While we are recovering, my next few posts will be fair pictures and stories....