Indiana State Fair - Miscellaneous

A 444 pound pumpkin

The home arts at the fair were amazing.  There are so many talented people out there. (It seems unfair that talents weren't distributed evenly--some people have many, and some, like me, have none.)

The quilts were gorgeous.  I can't imagine the number of hours that goes into something like that.

There was a Lego exhibit of the Indianapolis Speedway that was incredible.  It even had the museum and the golf course that is inside the track.

Look at all the people!

There was a canned good sculpture competition.  All the canned goods go to Gleaners afterwards.  The winner was a Super Bowl theme (since the 2012 Super Bowl will take place in Indianapolis).  The cans used in the sculptures were chosen not only for color, but for how well they can be used in menus of the families that will eventually get them.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy and Lucas Oil Stadium

We watched a bit of the watermelon seed spitting contest.  The winner spit a seed over 18 feet.

 The beauty queen gave out the ribbons to the winners.

The runner-up had to sweep up the seeds between each contestant.

Of course, they had a competition for home grown produce.  The judging must have been at the beginning of the fair (it goes on for about three weeks), because a lot of the fruits and vegetables were shriveled up.

 You wouldn't have to worry about Halloween pranksters 

stealing this one off the front porch and smashing it.

Of course, there were a gazillion competitions, from the best fruit pies and baked goods to photography.

One of the oddest things we saw at the fair was the Blue Monkey Sideshow.  In one act, a guy put carabiners in his earlobes and then hooked a bowling ball onto them.  He not only lifted the ball up but swung it back and forth.  Now that's talent!  (You have to wonder who came up with that one.)

So this is it--my last post on the Indiana State Fair.  We probably won't go again for another 2-3 years.  Who knows, maybe I'll be hanging a bowling ball from my earlobes by then.

Proud To Be a Hoosier-In-Law

My husband grew up in Indianapolis and with his parents and older brother (and family) still there, we make several trips a year to Indiana.  This weekend, we coupled our visit with a trip to the Indiana State Fair.  (Of course, the fair has been in the news due to the tragedy last weekend before the Sugarland concert.  Our hearts go out to the families of those who were injured or killed in that tragic accident.)  If you have never been to the fair, it is definitely one you should go to if you want a slice of Americana.  I apologize to those who aren't interested because it's going to take a few posts to cover all the fun we had. 

To avoid the parking hassles, we parked several miles away and took the free shuttle to the fair.

 My daughter, Anne (in the hat), and my niece, Sophie (back seat with the headband) 

with her friends on the shuttle bus.

 My sister-in-law, Laura and Anne

with the Mercedes Benz of tractors.

 Annie dwarfed by Indiana corn.

 The theme this year was the soy bean.

This shuttle was fueled by soy biodiesel.

 Tackle the rides before sampling the deep-fried food.

 A section of the Berlin wall in the German exhibit

 There's nothing like a little corn dipped in butter.

 Gotta love the cowhide garbage cans

One of the many bands warming up.

There is so much to see and do (and smell) at the fair.  Between the food, the farm animals, the crafts, and people, it's hard to take it all in in one day, although I did my best with the food.  After this weekend, I may as well check in to the HEART Center and become a patient with my patients.  More to come tomorrow.