Friday at the Fair

"The Tram," watercolor, 5x10

This morning at the State Fair was lovely. Unlike yesterday, when the humidity and temperature were higher, there was a fine breeze from the northeast and the sky was mostly clear. For whatever reason, fairgoers were more relaxed and less hurried today, and cheerier besides.

After a hearty breakfast at one of the concessions I hopped the tram at the foot of the Grand Concourse and rode happily to the highest spot on the grounds, Grandfather's Farm. There is a grand old barn up there at the top that dates to the days when this was a homestead farm. It houses the Iowa Wine Experience now, but even before the Civil War it was a working farm barn. The house has been demolished, but happily the barn is there as a reminder of days gone by. As always, there were considerably fewer visitors in this relatively remote corner. The view from the grounds of the old homestead is simply spectacular. To the west you can see miles beyond the city skyline.

"Fiddling Contest," watercolor, 3.5x5.5

After a visit to the museum I ambled downhill to Pioneer Hall where an old time fiddling contest was about to begin. The stage is at the north end of the old wooden building. Big doors propped open at the east and west ends, plus huge floor fans, make the old place habitable. The fiddlers this morning ranged in age from 8 to 16, and all of them, even the youngest, made those bows smoke. Each was required to play a hoedown, a waltz, and a selection of the contestant's choice. They could be accompanied or not. These young people were amazingly good--one young man almost professional. He played the old fiddle tune "Orange Blossom Special" (ask your dad) about as well as anyone could, drawing prolonged applause. The crowd was big and appreciative, but today's time was a bit limited so I made my way downhill again, past an exhibit of restored farm tractors that I always love to visit, then past the chainsaw sculptors who carve big chunks of wood into many creative projects.

"Demo Garden, ISF 2018," wc, 3.5x5.5

The Grand Concourse was getting full, but not oppressive, and the light breeze held, even at the foot of the hill. Down there, by the Agriculture Building (home of the Butter Cow) is a demonstration garden, planted and maintained by master gardener volunteers. Every year in conjunction with local garden and landscape dealers they produce a garden that shows off useful materials and techniques, new species and cultivars, and provides a spot of shade and color in the midst of the hurly-burly of the fair. This year the hydrangeas are huge and there are cascades of colorful blossoms everywhere. There was an unoccupied Cape Cod chair that beckoned, so I spent some time sketching a corner of the demonstration. One of the gardeners and I spent a fine half hour discussing all manner of garden lore, but in the end it was time to head home.

But, as someone famous once said "Tomorrow is another day."