Sunday July 27th, 2008
Its not all beaches, plastic surgery and gas-thirsty Hummers in Orange County. We also have a county fair.
Yes, we have pig races, deep fried twinkies and the giant bbq semi parked at the entrance. We have cowboys (Alan Jackson WAS in town last night), carnies (need I say more?) and cattle drives. The Orange County fair is home to produce and livestock competitions, craft and art exhibits and a really great carne asada taco.
Hope dove into a life sized bowl of “macaroni and cheese”.
Naomi maneuvered a “tractor”.
And I slid down a giant slide. With my two girls.
We all ate ice cream and my dad found a giant turkey leg. We gobbled down two big baskets of fresh sliced potato chips. We visited the newborn piglets and the baby goats. The girls touched the chicks hatched 5 days ago and Hope found the queen bee in a hive.
But it still is Orange County.
Now, the fairgrounds here are situated on a bluff near the ocean. We get the ocean breeze so it doesn’t get too sticky. And, there was a wine and cheese bar. And there were Mercedes in the parking lot. And a couple limos. And there is always, how should I say, “plastic surgery” walking nearby.
We do have a fair. We just spin it with a little bit of Orange County style.
This post makes me smile.
It also makes me miss my guilty pleasure TV show, The OC.
And it makes me remember family vacations in the OC, too. But we never went to the county fair, just the Sawdust Festival – art, wine and cheese and wood chips!
Very fun. Neat pix too!
sounds fun and you’re making me hungry!!
ohhhh I LOVE fairs! I can’t wait to “Do the Puyallup” this year! And we don’t have a giant bowl of mac n’ cheese!
a non-sticky, by the ocean fair sounds wonderful.
ours (in Fresno) is always in Oct. it is hot, sticky, and full of Fresnoites. it does not have a bowl of mac n cheese to dive into, but we did see a baby lamb be born, very cool.
wine & cheese.
limos?
puh-leeze
Your fair sounds incredibly classy compared to ours. Ours starts tomorrow! Three of our boys (sons #2, 3 & 4) will be showing steers.
DO i hear a little bragging in there?
Very cute pics! You look like a young Sandra Bullock in the slide one!
You’ve not been to the fair until you’ve gone to the Mid State Fair in Paso. Lots of cowboys, no plastic surgery!
Anon: I wish you knew me in person to know how much NOT of an Orange County person I am. No bragging. Not in the least. I just think its funny watching limos pull up to a county fair. Believe me, I’m not in the Hummer; I’m in the hybrid. And if you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I’m transparent and not arrogant. Not when you’ve been humbled in life like I have. Let’s try to be nice here in the comments. Or at least leave your name.
Hannah: love the sawdust festival! i haven’t been there in years.
Denise: i’m sure i’d love the fresno fair. =)
Mandy: sorry. there might have been salsa dancing…we just didn’t stay that late.
fw: so cooool about the steers. hope they win!
lindaz: thanks for the bullock shout out. also, i love paso! did i ever mention that i ate at the most amazing restarant there in june?
that pix of your girl in the bowl made me take a double look…hilarious!
our county fair is quite pitiful compared to yours. although we have that highly anticipated treat of “elephant ears”…which REALLY threw my boys the first year we went and kept talking about getting them to eat. boys, so literal sometimes! love it!
i just wrote about our fair too, but not quiet so eloquently as you did my friend.
your fair looks far better than ours – even the rides are clean and definitely more inviting. our fair, well let’s just say it is a bit redneck and leave it at that. i still love the fair, but maybe i need to travel to the oc for the fair next year
)
how fun! glad you guys had such a good time. wish i were there to join you