Rhonda Gibson here and I agree October can be scary.
But, I choose to enjoy the crisp air, the changing colors of leaves and family fun time.
You know what I'm talking about, craft fairs and hay rides!
When I was a pre-teen/teen our church had a hay ride every October. I loved the smell of the hay and since the ride time fell around dusky dark, what great fun to see the scarecrows, hay bales, and pumpkins we passed along the way. My fellow passengers speaking in soft tones heightened the feeling of adventure. The cool crisp air on my cheeks and the warm blanket covering my little brother and I made it cozy.
And, we can't forget the craft fairs! I love them. My daughter and granddaughters go with me every year. Browsing the new crafts is my favorite part and hearing the stories of what people planned to do with their homemade goods puts a smile on my face. Discovering new projects to try during the winter months, well, there's just nothing better. My daughter is always on the hunt for Christmas gifts to buy or ideas to make herself. I often find myself returning without her to purchase something she or one of the grandgirls liked. It's fun to see their expressions later when the gifts are opened.
See? Nothing scary about craft fairs and hay rides.
What is your favorite part of a craft fair? Is it the homemade items? The food? The excitement on faces when they find the perfect gift for a loved one?
And, let's not forget the hayrides. Did you go on hay rides when you were a kid? Do you still?
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I used to do craft fairs. I made crocheted dolls. My favorite part, no kidding, was getting to know the other venders, seeing familiar faces at different venues. One year a twelve year old boy made duck faces out of plastic cups and had a string that if you pulled it, it quacked. He outsold all us adults!
ReplyDeleteAs for hayrides. I used to be kindergarten teacher. My school did hayrides for fall festival. What I remember is I never got to ride without having a kid on my lap. Hmmm, I don't think I've taken my own kid on a hayride. I'll need to remedy that.
I've always loved going to the craft fairs. In Houston, there's the big Nutcracker Market which is a great place to go to get some special gifts.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved seeing the quilts and things. Haven't been to one in a LONG time though.
Hayrides, I enjoy them but I sneeze the entire time.
Good morning Pamela,
ReplyDeleteI do craft fairs every year. My friend, Lilly, sales beaded jewelry and often I will help her with her booth. She taught me how to bead so I also have a few pieces in the fair. I'm like you, I love seeing the familiar faces of other vendors.
I haven't been on a hayride in a few years but I do love going with my grandgirl. Thinking now, we need to go this year again :)
I love the quilts too, Dawn! It is so fun to see the new colors and designs.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you sneeze through the whole ride, that part doesn't sound fun at all!
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ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda, love your post! I love craft fairs, too. I've found several special gifts for famiy members at them. And I like getting ideas for crafts of my own--now just to find the time to do them! :) And hayrides are very special. Haven't been on one in years, but would love to go on one again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janet! One of my favorite "gifts" I found at ours was tea pot ornaments. They were so cute, I had to have some for me and bought more for family members.
ReplyDeleteI love craft fairs. In fact, I'm headed to one this Saturday. I especially like the one with handmade items. Quilted wall hangings is my favorite thing to buy.
ReplyDeleteI've only been to a couple craft fairs but always enjoyed looking at everything. My family always hosted the hayrides for our church while I was growing up. Now that I'm married, my husband's family always hosts the hayrides for the church. But we moved our hayrides from October to New Year's Eve. October is usually too hot for hayrides down here. You ought to come join us for our next one.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me ready for Fall activities to begin. In Texas, we have the craft fairs which I love and we enjoy the corn maize that ends in a hay ride. In the Carolina's they have the Apple Festival and the "apple" crafts are out of this world. And the food!!!! What are those deep fried things called that they sprinkle white sugar over? Yummm.
ReplyDeleteVickie, I have a beautiful Christmas wall hanging I got one year. Need to look for a fall one.
ReplyDeleteHey Janelle! That would be so fun! I'd love to do a New Year's hay ride. Do they put up colored lights or what? You know... to entertain the riders. LOL
I've never been a big fan of apples, Jean. BUT, I do like eating the caramel off of them :) so I'd probably enjoy an apple festival. Are you talking about funnel cake?
Hi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI like the hayrides! I especially like to take my boys on hayrides to the pumpkin patch and let them pick one out. The yummy food is a big draw, too. Love the apple cider.
I'm so glad you're posting here, Rhonda. I still enjoy the craftie earrings you made for me several years ago, and I will certainly wear my new flower. You are definitely a craftie lady. Today in Mississippi, the Canton Flea Market is open. Loads of crafts to choose from for everyone on your gift list. It has grown so large over the years that it takes over the whole town and snarls traffic for miles.
ReplyDeleteFUNNEL CAKES!!!! That's what they're called.Thanks Rhonda. But remember also the deep fried turkey legs or the onion blossoms, pumpkin pie....Oh yes, weight gain waiting to happen. And quilts or Christmas decorations. I'm ready. Let's go.
ReplyDeleteHey Karen we do the same thing, only my kids are all grown up now so I get to take the grandgirls :) We go to a place called Sutterland Farms and they ride the wagon to the field and then pick out a pumpkin. The girls have the best time!
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Diane, I'm glad you like your jewelry. I love making it.
Maybe you and RD should come here Jean, we are about to have the Renaissance fair! We'll get you a BIG OLE Turkey leg and a funnel cake! Plus, they sell crafts, pumpkin bread and all kinds of other food stuff. Every had a Navajo Taco???? Yummmmm
ReplyDeleteOpps, that's ever had a Navajo Taco? :)
ReplyDeleteNo, never had a Navajo taco, but sounds interesting. Because of this blog I searched for craft fairs in The Rio Grande Valley. Seems there are quite a few in the Winter Texan parks. Sure wish we had a pottery painting class. That's on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteHad to share what my four year old grandson said about hay rides. I asked him about his traditional hay ride with his family at a local farm and if the wagon was pulled by horses or a tractor.
ReplyDeleteHe laughed and said, "You're funny Grandma Juju. Wagons aren't pulled by horses. They're pulled by tractors."
Sigh. You can tell my children and grandchildren didn't spend their summers on the farm like we did.
Peace, Julie
I love the hayrides and thankfully don't have hay fever 'cause I love the smell of HAY!
ReplyDeleteMy best memory is when my husband and I were dating and we had a hayride and planned to roast hot dogs, along with chips, and choc. cake. When we my church group got there, no one had a match or a lighter, so we at raw hot dogs and I cooked the cake. Well, half was not completely cooked.
ReplyDeleteIt was one disaster after another and the best time I ever had. We laughed so hard.
I love craft fairs, especially the outdoor summer ones. It's fun seeing what innovative ideas people have. And yes, as a former quilter, I love the quilts.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I had to laugh at your grandson's observation that wagons are pulled by tractors, not horses. Then it made me sad. There's something noble about the horse-drawn wagon. No doubt I'm romanticizing it. And that's why I write historical romance. :-)
Julie, I love that he calls you Juju... sweet! Yeah, when I was a kid it was a horse pulling the wagon. Don't date me...LOL
ReplyDeleteSounds like lots of fun, Leann! I love the horse drawn rides the best too, Christine.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been on a hayride in years, but they used to be a part of every fall when I was young and even into college.
ReplyDeleteLove your little pumpkin! So cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debby! That is grandgirl #1 :) She is a sweetie, I call her Honey Bee.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for coming by today! I had a blast!!!
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