The great MN get together

Yesterday we spent the day at the Minnesota State Fair. We found out kind of last minute on Friday that Nate had yesterday approved off, but I am so thankful that he actually did get the day. The Fair has always been something special the two of us do every year and has been a tradition from the first year we were dating and we haven't missed one yet. I was laughing with him yesterday in fact that I think I have now been to the Fair more times than either of my parents ever have. It's just never been something that they were into much and there's nothing wrong with that. I know plenty of people who are just not into the Fair. But for Nate and I, it's just something we can't miss each year.

We have kind of a pattern of how we like to do things at the Fair and have just figured out what works best for us. We eat plenty, but actually, that isn't even the biggest part of the whole shebang for us anymore. We like seeing different things and people watching too.

Yesterday was no different. We got going nice and early and it was a good thing too since our usual favorite park and ride spot was all full up and we had to find a different one! I was panicked at first, but we found a good lot just a little further away. It took just a few extra minutes to get to the Fairgrounds, but it ended up working out pretty well.

Once on grounds we sought out some coffee for me and started with our favorite breakfast crepe from the French Crepe place and then kind of planned out our day. We visited Heritage Square where Nate bought a new wallet, we visited the sheep, chickens and roosters, we stopped by the MPR booth, we tried out some of the new craft beer that is available this year at the Fair and then we hit up some of our favorite things like the Skyride and the Art building. Of course we had cheese curds, can't come to the Fair and not have cheese curds!

It did rain a bit, but I think it kept the crowds down and it was quite enjoyable in that respect! We were gone by 3:00 and went home and pretty much crashed! All in all it was a great day. Below are a few picture highlights.

Crazy rooster - you think you had a bad hair day?

Our craft beer flight

I'm drinking before noon! (It was 11:55)

Nate with one of our beers

Fair for all

Just off another lovely three day weekend. I took Monday off this week so I could go to the MN State Fair with Nate. So hard to believe August comes to a close today and tomorrow marks September and the slow creep into my favorite season ever, Fall.

We had a great time at the Fair even though it was one of the hotter ones we've dealt with for a number of years. We've been quite spoiled by picking a day the last few years that has ended up cool and comfortable. The downside of that has been that it's usually been the first Saturday of the Fair and often times it has been the first nice day of the Fair and it ends up mega crowded. So this year we chose to take a day off of work and go. When I saw the forecast for yesterday I was a little unsure, but we went with it and like I said, we ended up having a great time.

It was somewhat comfortable for close the first two hours actually. There was a breeze and the sun was in and out of clouds. We chose that time to go to the animal buildings before it got too hot and smelly later. We still managed to eat a pretty large amount of food - nothing terribly out of the ordinary this year, mostly just hit up our favorites. My favorite thing we did was sample six different types of wine at the MN Wine exhibit in the Agriculture building. I got a chance to taste some from some wineries I haven't even heard of before and now have some wonderful ideas for fall field trips!

We rode the Skyride and Ye Old Mill - both must do attractions for me from the time I was young. We wandered through some other buildings - the Art Building, the Eco living building, the Home Improvement building (and somewhere my father is going - "there is a God!" because I used to HATE that building as a kid). Nate bought a really awesome hat in Heritage Square.

It was a really nice day. We got out of there about 2:30 or so when the sun really started to get to be too much.

I have to say, we've really been making the most of these final days of summer. I'm not sad about summer winding down. I'm enjoying myself in the moment and am looking forward to the days to come, because they are my favorite of the entire year.

*Quick note on my thoughts on the Emmys - last year I ranted and raved about the Emmy awards and how it was the same old, same old. This year I was extremely pleased - I feel they really got it right in most all of the categories and there was quite a bit of variety in the winners this year. And I have now added the first season of three different shows to my Netflix queue as well just based on things I saw!*