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No Fulton Co. Fair for us. It happened like this. Labor Day weekend is the S.C.R.A.P. Show. That's the Sandusky Co. Restorers of Antique Power. It's a very large antique tractor show. The vendors have a lot of reproduction parts and there's a wealth of info from the old farmers there. I decided to take in all three days this time and see the fair on a weekday when it wouldn't be so crowded. Saturday went well. I even had time to watch the horse plowing with modern plows. Sunday , we walked around for a bit and then went to Perrysburg for some family time.
Monday was the auction, a chance to buy lots of useful things cheap. This year, it was fence and fenceposts for me. Even though there were four sets of auctioneers going, it would take until nightfall until they finished. I bought some fenceposts and waited until the fence would sell. I had a chair but neglected to bring food. No problem, the auction area was well supplied with food areas. I had a hot dog and a Pepsi. I had a long wait so I had another hot dog and Pepsi. Eventually, I got the fence and had to get the goods loaded up. The loading portion was not well organized. It took an hour just to get to the entrance. We finally got in and started loading. Did I mention that Stacey had purchased 800lbs of shale for her garden?
We were only able to load about half the stuff that night. We got home , I started unloading and began to experience a peculiar form of intestinal distress. I relieved it, felt ok and made it to bed. It seemed cold in the house. I was shivering. Tuesday was a work day and I didn't fell good at all. I had an install to do out in Bryan, Ohio. I just couldn't get started or stray too far from a bathroom. I was exhausted. I decided to rest a bit first. An hour and a half later, I felt ok and started out. I made it as far as Waterville when I realized it wasn't working out. I made it back to Gibsonberg and managed to talk some of the folks there into loading the last roll of fence. I got home and Stacey took my temp. It was a bit over 102 F. By now, I recognized the symptoms as food poisoning.
I had taken Wednesday off to go to the fair. Unfortunately, a family friend had died and his funeral was Wednesday. That took the morning and I wasn't feeling all that great yet, anyway. I rested the rest of the day.
Thursday was the last day of the fair and I had a doctor's appointment at the end of the day in Sandusky, the wrong direction. Actually, my appointment was on Tuesday but one of the effects of food poisoning is a substantial lowering of intelligence. That didn't work. Friday, I thought I was doing pretty well but I was still stupid. By Sunday, I think my mind cleared.
I accomplished some useful work on Sunday but unfortunately it was tomato picking. Stacey turned them into barbecue sauce and ketchup. Judging by the way she looked at me, I think if I bring anymore in that there's a real danger that they will be used as suppositories. One of the pictures show me operating our tomato processor.
The next vegetable to harvest in mass quantity is squash and do we have squash. I think there may be 30 buttercup on one vine. I'm looking forward to the Carnival squash. They are one of the few winter squash that I love to bake and eat. Stacey's big pumpkin is easily over 100lbs.
I've enclosed pictures of the duck house for Emily so she can see the Terry Gilliam influence. There's also a shot of Big Pig and a nice shot of the sheep in pasture. Just to be clear, Big Pig is a supply of future pork products. It's not a pet.

September is still Fair time

September came in to the sound of gunfire. The early goose season has started. I'm getting regular updates from my cousin Matt mostly asking where the geese are. Obviously, they're not near him. Squirrel season is open as well but I doubt I'll get out to hunt for awhile if at all.
We made it to the Wood County Fair and went to the bake goods auction. We bought a great cheesecake and a good chocolate pie. The cost was high but the money goes to the fair. There seems to be fewer animals on exhibit. We had a Pork-O-Lean sandwich, walked around for a while and headed back home for pie.
We had a great time at the Sandusky County Fair. The weather was perfect and the exhibits were excellent. We had our rib-eye sandwiches and rode the Scrambler. We try to ride the Scrambler every Sandusky County Fair. We rode the Scrambler there about 17 years ago and I decided I loved Stacey and proposed to her the next day. I suppose I should have taken into account possible brain damage related to the ride but it's worked for 16 years so far .
Canning is at a temporary halt. The last bushel (photo included) just about did Stacey in. I had to give the last bushel to Matt. I wasn't encouraged to bring ANY tomatoes into the house for awhile. The gardens are producing a few table grade tomatoes now, enough for hamburgers and such. The strawberry tomatoes are producing well now. That keeps Stacey happy. She cuts them in half, scoops out the little seed pocket and packs fresh mozzarella in it , topping it with a bit of onion. She snacks on those through the day.
Peppers are kicking in and the scallop squash are doing well. The winter squash are getting scary. The buttercup has maybe 50 squash on it and most are pretty big. The carnival squash is doing great. I should have plenty of those. Stacey's giant pumpkin is performing as advertised. It's huge and still yellow. I think it will go over 100 lbs. We've been eating watermelon from our garden and it's good. I've got a rattlesnake melon out there still growing. I hope I get to eat it while it's still warm out .
We've bought anther tractor. It's a 1952 Ford 8N that came with a bunch of equipment. I kept trying to find a pull-type plow for my H and they just aren't available. This is a small tractor but it's equipped with a 3 point hitch so I can use modern equipment. I'll see if I can make better use of the back of the farm.
The Sandusky County Antique Power Restorers show is this weekend. They'll will probably have a hundred plows I can use.
The Fulton County Fair starts this weekend. This is the county fair that more people attend than the state fair. I can taste the butterflied pork chop sandwiches now. I'll see you there.