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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 14, 2018 8:14:10 GMT
That's right Piggles love, I will make sure I am set up next year.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Sept 17, 2018 7:07:22 GMT
My kids went to the Harrogate Flower Show this weekend, mostly motivated by seeing the giant veg! I think my daughter was a bit disappointed after seeing the actual cabbage in this picture in The Guardian - we had warned her there was definitely some use of perspective going! It was 30.2kg though, so still pretty impressive (if inedible!). There was also a 72.2kg marrow. And a 7.755kg onion. I love this picture of a pumpkin hugger - his was 319.8kg.
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 17, 2018 16:15:55 GMT
Cool! Even if the cabbage was set in a distance perspective, it's still big, and all of the veggies are so cool! One of the local towns has pumpkin boat races for Halloween. Those huge pumpkins are mostly hollowed out, then someone sits in the pumpkin and paddles/floats down the river in a wide, calm spot. It's a way to raise money for local events, and to bring area people together for some fun. Most of the pumpkins have already made the county fair circuit, and gotten their ribbons, so they're expendable. They have a last hurrah as a fun boat Glad the kids had fun
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Post by Bean on Sept 17, 2018 18:11:33 GMT
Oh I love the sound of the pumpkin boat races, what fun! We passed through a village on our way to the seaside this summer that was having their annual scarecrow festival. They were everywhere en route and many were designed to look like a well known person or represent a tv programme or a famous historical scene. It was very entertaining, and this one got a good chuckle from us all!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 18, 2018 8:04:49 GMT
Thanks for those great pictures Bean sweetie and I am glad everyone had a good day out in Harrogate. We used to have something like that around here where people made scarecrows in all sorts of situations and put them in their garden. I haven't seen any for a long time now though.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 18, 2018 21:20:49 GMT
I think a scarecrow competition would be great fun, and not too expensive. It's something schools could do using old clothes, etc. We don't have lots or reasons to bring people together around here. One town does a lot, and the results are great, but it hasn't caught on anywhere else That would be a great way to bring people together to see the scarecrows Was All Creatures Great and Small based in that area? We're entering county fair season. County fairs started as ways for farmers and artisans to show off their abilities or wares, and to fill time once the main growing season was over. Women baked their specialties, and they were all judged for ribbons. Craftspeople made crafts to sell for Christmas gifts. Pulling teams competed to pull the heaviest load, etc. IT's branched out a lot since then, with fair rides, food kiosks, petting zoos, and demolition derbies, but it's still about agriculture. The fairs are fun, but an awful lot of walking, so I haven't been for a long time.
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Post by Bean on Sept 19, 2018 8:24:21 GMT
Yes, this was in North Yorkshire, which is where All Creature Great and Small was set! I'd forgotten about that programme.
These types of fairs are usually set over a very large area, aren't they? But on the plus side, the ones here are usually quite well set up for access for wheelchairs and scooters now. My mum's not missed the Harrogate one in a while, and there was one year we thought it could well have rained too much to be possible! I remember going to The Great Yorkshire Show about 30 years ago and it was like a mud bath! It rained for the whole thing too (school trip, so no chance of going home early!). We had a good laugh though.
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 19, 2018 20:14:34 GMT
Some of the fairs cover really large areas, some of smaller. NH is small, population and land-wise, so our county fairs are much smaller than the ones out in the Midwest. They serve the need, though, and they are about local people being recognized for what they do on a daily basis. I think hubby likes to go to the fair to eat the fried dough. I don't think he's ever not bought a fried dough at a fair, or any place else they're sold Maybe if I make him some at home, he won't want to go to the fairs, lol www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/county-fair-fried-dough-recipeI googled Harrogate Fair. There seem to be quite a few different ones, from business fairs and community fairs. The rides looked like our rides, but beyond that, I couldn't tell how much it was like our fairs. Our fairs are about the pulling competitions, the livestock competitions, the food and clothing competitions, all where people do the very best at what they normally do, raising livestock, canning veggies, making preserves, driving a tractor, etc. The rest, the rides, food kiosks, games like tossing a ball at bottles, are all just for fun.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 20, 2018 7:54:11 GMT
I love All Creatures Great and Small, it is one of my all time favourites. I have read all the books. Paul lived in a Place in Yorkshire called Thirsk for a while and that was the place they used as Darrowby in the series. I love country fairs but I can't walk around them anymore.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Sept 20, 2018 8:02:00 GMT
Ah it's the Harrogate Flower Show they go to, I don't think there are any rides there, just floral, garden and some agricultural stuff. I think my kids would love to try that fried dough too! The food stalls are definitely a big pull for them. My mum's much more likely to treat them to that kind of stuff whereas I'd probably make them take a packed lunch!
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 20, 2018 15:28:49 GMT
This is one of the September county fairs: www.deerfieldfair.com/events-and-schedules.html If you check some of the links, look at the fairgrounds map, etc., it gives you a pretty good idea of what these fairs are like. It's not like a flower fair or a Christmas fair, at all. Buying something for a Christmas gift if more about craftspeople displaying their wares, earning ribbons in competitions, etc. That doesn't mean the people entering items in a knitting competition don't bring items they've knitted, that we can buy. There's also often a Made in NH area for local craftspeople and artisans to display their works and earn some money selling their wares. We have some fabulous flower shows displaying all sorts of flowering and landscape plants, hardscaping ideas, etc. I can't walk those shows anymore, but would love to be able to visit, even if on a scooter. I just love seeing all the options, and getting ideas
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 21, 2018 16:09:52 GMT
I loved going to these places and I would always treat myself to something nice to eat.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 21, 2018 16:48:14 GMT
We have an annual Made In New Hampshire Expo, where all the vendors of any level, from major manufacturers to cottage industries, can rent a cubicle and display their wares, and information about the company. When we used to go to those, everyone who made any type of food was handing out samples. We got a full meal just walking around the expo hall I did find some businesses I continue to follow, though being hampered by this stupid back problem has sidelined me from going to the fairs and farmers markets to buy their foods. I could order it online, but sometimes the shopping aspect, especially at farmers markets, is half the fun
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 22, 2018 8:00:11 GMT
I love walking around sampling different foods and it is amazing how quickly you fill up. I agree Piggles hunni, walking around these places is half the pleasure.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 22, 2018 15:09:24 GMT
Jo, if I need a wheelchair to get around those expos, I'd actually prefer a manual one, so I can work off some of the calories At least they are all indoors, so not hills to climb, or anything like that. The fairs our outdoors, and can be quite hilly in some areas. I know the ride-on shopping carts wouldn't make it up some of those hills. Maybe the scooters will.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 24, 2018 13:51:24 GMT
I would love something I could operate myself Piggles love as it is not much fun for Paul or I. I have to keep telling him where I want him to go and he is very slow. I would rather do it under my own steam so to speak. We simply can't afford one though.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 24, 2018 19:14:05 GMT
Jo, I would regularly check the for sale ads on Facebook, and whatever other places you can find things for sale in your area. I don't know if you have Craig's List over there, but there are often some great buys on that. The main problem is that you'd have to pick up whatever scooter you bought, so would have to have Paul drive you there and back, and know for sure you can fit the scooter in the car. I you can get it home, you could save a whole lot of money. Back to my comments on another thread about stopping the direct debits for the animal causes, and banking that money in your name to buy you something you need. You never know what you might find. Apparently two tornadoes touched down in Ottawa, Canada, and did a whole lot of damage. I've been looking for a site I can trust to donate to that relief fund. I love Ottawa. I think it's a beautiful place, and feel so badly for the people who lost everything to the tornadoes
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 25, 2018 8:03:52 GMT
There is something called Freecycle here Piggles love and they have all sorts coming up for sale. Yes, you are right, I would have to make sure the scooter I bought fitted in the car. We are thinking of having something with a slightly bigger boot next time we change our car because I am sure a scooter would not fit into this one.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 25, 2018 19:42:59 GMT
We have some pretty good space in the back of the Kia Soul, but if we had extra people in the car, so the back seat needed to be up, we wouldn't have enough space for a scooter. So it's kind of bring granddaughter or bring scooter, which isn't a good restriction. We aren't going to get any more vehicles, so if anything, we have to find a scooter that will fit in what's left of the space, with the back seat in use. Maybe a folding one, or something. I have no idea, as I haven't started looking at them, yet. I hope you can get a car with a good space for a scooter, Jo, and can start getting out and about, again Cold and rainy today, and maybe part of tomorrow, but at least it's not hot, humid and rainy. I'm so glad to have summer behind me, and Autumn ahead of me. The smell of chicken soup simmering on the stove is so nice!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 26, 2018 8:07:06 GMT
It is another three years before we get to change our car again and I am not sure if you can change them in between that three years. No doubt about it though, if I did have a scooter we would have to have a bigger car. It is definitely getting colder here too sweetie but at the moment we have a few rays of sunshine. I much prefer this to hot and humid too.
Hugs JO xx
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