Fourth of July at the Fair

On the Fourth of July, we took a little drive south to the Palouse town of Oakesdale, Washington, population 420. There was a little Independence Day ho-down festival going on, hosted by Mary Jane's Farm, so we thought it might be fun to drop in. Plus, our friends Ariadne and Michael had a tent/booth there to sell Ari's handmade bags, aprons, and other Buttercuppity crafts, and we wanted to surprise them. We did surprise them, and we did have fun. So mission accomplished. This was the scene as we arrived at the fair, with the Mary Jane's Farm historic mill in the background:



After enjoying a group of young musicians playing traditional Irish music, along with some step-dancers, followed by a really good bluegrass string band, and then meeting some sheep, goats, and a llama at a small petting zoo, we decided it was time for lunch. Tracey and the kids cooling off in the shade:





Maeve took a little ride on a pony after lunch:



After more music, a final visit with Mike and Ari, and a walk down main street, it was time to head north again for some nap-time in the car. We took the long way back and then had a splashing good time in the little wading pool in the back yard at home. We'd taken it out for our cookout on Friday, when Mike and Stephanie came over with their kids, Devin and Eamon. Plus Lynn dropped in. All in all, a fun two-day Fourth.

—posted by B