Notes from the Fair

The results are in.

The judging is done.

Some of my entries fared far better than others.

You know about the 10 photos that I entered... I also entered a few items that I put together on my sewing machine this past year AND one crafty item that I made with mosaic tiles.

Let me tell you a little bit about our fair, first. Open class entries are sort of "interesting" in our county. The classes are not very evenly entered. By that, I mean that some divisions and classes have no entries at all and others have too many to count!

I noticed, at the fair last year, that while there are MANY quilts entered into the fair... there are few other projects entered into sewing categories. So, I decided that I would enter a few of the things that I sewed this past year for the kids and one other item that I whipped up last week and haven't decided if it will be a Christmas present OR one of my Pay-It-Forward gifts. So, my chances were relatively high that I would place in SOMETHING for my sewing projects. On the flip side is the photography divisions. It appears that everyone is a photographer these days and there were more than a thousand photographs entered in all of the photography divisions and classes. SO, my chances there were diminishing a bit when I saw the rows and rows and walls covered with photographs. As far as the mosaic, I felt it was a shot in the dark... lots of crafts were entered, but there were so many classes in which to enter, it was hard to know if your class would be competitive or not.

On to the ribbons... In "open class," a blue ribbon is first place; a red ribbon is second; a white ribbon is third; a green ribbon is an honorable mention. OH - and on a side note, please forgive all these icky photos... the lighting in the exhibit building was terrible, I was hurrying, and I was feeling weird about taking pictures of these exhibits... that were mostly MINE! :)

Let's start with my sewing entries...

Hello Kitty Nightgown - green ribbon

Boy's Baseball Pajama Pants - white ribbon

Little Girl's Barrel Racing Apron - white ribbon

Little Girl's Patchwork Rodeo Apron - red ribbon

Christmas/Nativity Table Runner - white ribbon

My craft entry...

Mosaic Western Boot Wall Art - blue ribbon!

Photography. You recall the photos that I entered? For comparison, I have placed the 1st place ribbon winner next to my own photo.

Class: Abstract - no ribbon

(But, isn't the 1st place entry SUPER cool!?!)


Class: Buildings & Structures - no ribbon

Class: Interesting Object - no ribbon

(don't be fooled by the one above mine which is the actual red ribbon winner!)

Class: Portrait, people, families - no ribbon


Class: Portrait, animal - no ribbon

Class: Human Interest - white ribbon


Class: Animals, fish, fowl and reptiles - red ribbon

(WOW! I love that snake photo, eh? Not sure I would have been happy being in the "right place at the right time" for this picture, but lucky ducky for the one who was!!)

Class: Individual Person - red ribbon

Class: Action - blue ribbon!!

Class: Sunrise, sunset - blue ribbon!!!

Overall, I am quite pleased with my results for a first time entering anything into a county fair! I am inspired to create more things this coming year for the fair next August! Yipppeee!!! Oh, and why don't you try your hand this year in creating something to enter in your county fair next year! It sure was fun to go to the exhibit building to see my very own entry.

Wordless Wednesday

Rodeo Returns

Well, we've been to a few rodeos in the past month and I haven't posted about ANY of them. So... hold onto your cowboy hats, folk! Here's a look at our rodeoing family from early July until now!

This little calf eluded the roper, but I just thought it was such a cute one. And I rarely get a decent pic of the rodeo stock, since they move so quickly.

It was a hot dry day, and a water truck came through to wet down the rodeo arena so that we wouldn't have to sit and breathe in quite so much rodeo dust!

I believe that this was Bud's favorite part of the whole rodeo! He isn't too into the rodeo scene, but endures for his buckle-seeking sister!

Here Branch and Pop are, getting ready to mount her sheep for the mass chaos of group mutton bustin'!! Branch was a bit unhappy with her "draw" here and isn't happy with its size (it is too big!), its demeanor (While Pops was holding onto it, the sheep was hopping around - she claims it was a bucking sheep.), as well as her need for help getting on by someone she didn't know!

Things were just all going the wrong way for her...

and she decided that this was not her time. So, she opted for a no score and walked out of the arena. She was so mad and disappointed in herself all afternoon, though. We talked all about why those sheep seem like they are bucking and what she could do differently "next time."

She was ready for her turn the next go 'round at another local rodeo! She was excited and ready to show that she was tough enough to ride.

This time, that little bit, Blossom, thought she needed a try, too! We were a bit surprised that she wanted to try, but encourage them to try new things, sooooooooo...

Onto the sheep she went in the buckin' shoots! She wass getting pointers from Pops and the local cowboys!

She went a little ways before falling off into the soft dirt. I wasn't sure how she'd react, but with a stiff upper lip she came running back over to Geemah (who was here for a bit) and I. She passed by me without a tear, but was really wanting to get her sympathy from Geemah! She didn't like that the sheep stepped on her, but she was just fine with al the dirt caked all over her head!

Branch was last and got up on her sheep ready to hold on tight!

But, as she started to slide, her sheep took a stumble...

and it was all down to the ground from there. She made a great attempt and was happy to receive a patch that we can sew on to a jacket or vest. But, the prize of a western belt buckle was what she was working toward and so, on to the next rodeo we head!

Walking over to her shoot with her sheep... a big girl, all by herself! Pops joined her in the shoot to help her get all set up.

The gate was opened and she shot out of the shoot like a bullet! It wasn't long and she was sliding off the side and onto the ground.

But she didn't let go, and was being dragged! The bull fighter (running toward her on the left side of the picture below) and much of the rest of the crowd thought that she was "hung up" on the sheep. In the world of rough stock rodeo, being hung up is a pretty bad deal and can cause some really serious harm.

Anyway, the bull fighter took off after them and dove to catch them and pulled Branch off when the sheep got to the white sign hanging on the fence (bottom left of the picture by the guy with the orang shirt). Pops got over to her and as she got up, the rodeo announcer said, "Well, look at that! I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile! You could sure teach those bull riders a thing or two, honey!"

The goofy rodeo clown and Pops got over to her and were asking if she was stuck and what happened and she let them know in her very indignant voice that she wasn't stuck. But, she WAS mad that the bull fighter guy had tackled her and pulled her off the sheep. She was hanging on for the longest - she wanted to win and even if she fell off... she could still hang on!

So, the clown took her hand and said, "Come on, we'll go get him!"

They ran over to the bull fighter where the clown told Branch to "kick him in the shins!!" She wasn't too sure at first and looked at Pops with those big questioning eyes and he gave her the nod and she gave him a big kick in the shins and the crowd ROARED with their approval! She received a great amount of applause even though she was not a local gal!

She was super disappointed that her ride wasn't counted as the longest and therefore did not get the coveted buckle. But, she did get a frozen lemonade slush and a big bag of cotton candy from Pops! And she did enjoy the recognition of the "people" who saw her walking about and would tell her that they thought she should have won. One little kid even gave her their balloon because they thought she deserved a prize!

She had fun and I suppose that is the best part. She is ready to try again...

Blossom had signed up at this rodeo, but after seeing big sis getting dragged across the arena, she was certain she'd rather not have a go at it!

Only a few more rodeos this year before rodeo season is over in our neck of the woods and her chance of earning a buckle for mutton bustin' is over. She will be past the age and weight limit next year...

Until the next rodeo, we'll practice on balance and maybe even waving to the crowd!!

Check

I considered and pondered and talked to the "guy" at the photo center, the "lady" at the art store, and the "gal" at the photography fair entry booth. I considered what you all suggested and here is what I decided regarding those six photos.

Sturdy Gertie - Class: Buildings & Structures

Galapagos Turtle - Class: Animals, Fish, Fowl or Reptiles

Blossom - Class: Portrait, people, family

But, I had the other ones printed. SO, I asked for help in where they could go and it was a resounding "USE THEM" from the above mentioned folks.

Mayan Ruins - Class: Interesting Object

Macaw - Class: Portrait, animal

Bud - Class: Individual Person

Whew! So, with all that... we will say that is checked off my list and I am on to announcing the "WINNER" of the photo.

Congrats, Angela! Bud was a teeny bit embarrassed to read your comment about him!! I say it is good for him! Strangely, I put all your suggestions into the "alternate" classes!!