History repeats itself!
We woke up early and were waiting for Robin and Nick to arrive, as they were joining us for the day. Before we left, Mary took Domi for a garden tour, and she returned with some delicious zucchini. Domi is a talented cook, and we’ve enjoyed many of her dishes in the past.
Domi and Mary made a tour of the garden!
Robin, Colleen, and I are heading to the 2023 OC Fair. We decided to go early to beat the heat, as temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s. This year’s fair is themed “Happy Together” and will occur from July 14 to August 13, running Wednesdays through Sundays. The fair is also putting a special emphasis on community inclusion.
We entered through the Orange Gate leading to the fair’s ride area. Then, we headed north towards the Centennial Gardens.
It was warm but not hot.
Screech! We stopped at the Surf Shack, and we excitedly contemplated what our ten-day vacation would hold. I sang a lively rendition of “Aloha Oe,” which delighted the nearby cows and pigs. When I stopped singing and took my hat off to adjust the straps, a few kind passersby offered me some small coins. We will never know if they wanted me to stop singing or keep singing.
Off to Hawaii early.
The Surf Shack is a thrilling two-story fun house with many surprises and tricks. It has a beach theme and is a fantastic walk-through attraction for the entire family to experience.
Colleen examined the ride’s decorations and promptly inspected the nearby nuts. We were horrified and quickly clarified to passersby that she was not with us. Although we can dress her up, we cannot take her anywhere.
COLLEEN!!!!
“Where are we headed?” Colleen and Mary insisted on grabbing a map from the kiosk despite my magnificent navigation skills. While they were playing with the phone, I went to the Centennial Farm Barn and rested in the shade.
I thought, “What do you use to find your way around Alcatraz? A con-tour map. Obviously!”
I am getting a copy of the map.
As we headed towards the vegetable section, we took a slight detour to admire the stunning displays at the flower house. Among all the beautiful flowers, the Hawaiian hibiscus caught our attention the most. It looks like we’ll see more of these lovely blooms in the coming days.
While I enjoy the displays, my fear of roses is a thorny issue. I’m not sure what it stems from, but I’m stuck with it.
Hawaiian flowers were on display.
I can see additional flowers joining our garden shortly.
Did you hear about one flower who went on a date with another? It’s a budding romance.
She loves flowers.
Mary created a checklist comparing our Plumeria to the display, and we require six additional plants to have all the colors. Do you have any suggestions on where we can place them? Careful! This is a G-Rated site.
Plumeria on display.
Our sunflowers are ten feet in the sky, so I took this opportunity to explain how we will process the flowers in the near future.
Did you know that sunflowers are initially from North America? Interestingly, it was the Spanish explorers who brought sunflower seeds to Europe back in the 1500s.
How To Make Sunflower Seeds! Once your sunflowers have died back completely and the backs of the blooms are brown, it’s time to harvest. You’ll also notice the seeds are plump and somewhat loose.
Leave the flower head on the stem for two weeks to properly preserve your flowers. After the petals have faded, remove the flower heads and store them in a warm, dry area with plenty of sunlight for an additional week. When ready to collect the seeds, lay a sheet of newspaper on a flat surface and delicately rub the seed head to release the seeds easily.
Boiling the sunflower seeds in salted water infuses the salty flavor into the seeds.
We examined the sunflowers.
Our stomachs were growling with hunger, so we made our way to the two-block-long food display. We steered clear of the fried Twinkies and roasted ice cream and opted for the delicious BBQ.
On our way to the dining area, we stumbled upon a Tie Dye store that caught the attention of Colleen and Mary. They couldn’t resist the temptation and ended up purchasing various items of clothing such as dresses and pants.
I was so hungry; I could eat a horse… or at least a small pony.
The thick smoke made it hard to see, so we had to feel our way forward. Luckily, Nick went ahead and found us an excellent spot at the Bayou outdoor restaurant. From our table, we could observe the arrivals and departures of the guests, which was always entertaining.
The BBQ smoke was intense.
Mary and I were drawn to the scent of a massive BBQ machine emitting smoke from the top. Mary indulged in a turkey leg for thirty minutes while I savored a chicken skewer with onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. We also ordered a side of fries, which we probably shouldn’t have, but we couldn’t resist since we were at the fair.
On a fair day, Robin believes there are no calories.
Lunch is served!
When we arrived at the BBQ stand, Mary expressed her desire for a turkey leg. The head cook, Happy, sifted through the pile of legs and selected the best one available for Mary.
Happy was on a mission!
The sounds terminating from this beautiful lady gnawing, biting, and ripping the flesh off the turkey leg was frightening and terrorized the livestock which were nearby. They all cowered in their stalls, afraid they would be next!
How did she know I was a leg man?
It was getting hot, so we decided to go on a shirt-shopping spree. I’ve been buying shirts from him for 33 years now! It all started back in 1988 when I visited the fair for the first time.
Today, we purchased 12 shirts: two for Nick, two for Mark, and the rest for me. We even got two matching shirts for Mary and me for our upcoming trip!
I have been buying shirts from him since 1988!
On our way home, we adjusted the inside temperature to 76 degrees, twenty degrees cooler than the outside. Mary took a quick nap to digest her seventeen-pound turkey leg. Can you believe how big the turkey must have been? OMG!
Mary took on the “bug patrol” task, ensuring that we rescued as many bees as possible. We’re preparing for a late-night swim, which, given our age, usually happens around 8:00 pm.
I am getting the pool ready for a chunky dunk!
We will convert this space into a dining hall and dance floor on Saturday night to celebrate our second anniversary and Colleen’s milestone birthday with approximately 45 guests. I prefer not to disclose Colleen’s exact age to avoid any potential issues or damage to my body!
Remember, “Hear no evil, speak no evil, and you won’t be invited to cocktail parties.”? Oscar Wilde
The yard before the transformation; wait until Saturday!
We sat by the fire to dry off and steam our swimming outfits. Unfortunately, our swim outfits were our epidermis! On the bright side, we saved wear and tear on the swimming attire, and it kept the piranhas at bay!
We sat by the fire to dry off.
Time to in! The moon was on its way down. The lights beneath the moon were a helicopter with its navigation light flashing.
The moon was bright this evening.
Despite our efforts to stay awake, the hot day and refreshing swim inevitably led to a long night’s sleep.
