Puddle Jumper Days, aka Funnel Cake Day, was quite a disappointment this year. We only had one funnel cake, and even that one left something to be desired.
We’ve been meeting at Lovi’s for this annual event for a number of years now. We adopted PJ, our collie/golden retriever mix, from one of the crafters there five years ago. The woman lived in the country outside of town and someone had dumped PJ and her littermates, so the woman took a picture of one of them and posted it at her booth. We took pictures of PJ the following year to show her and found out she had kept one of the boys.
We try to get there in time to grab a funnel cake for breakfast, then we sit out under the tree and watch the parade go by. My favorite is the horse-drawn hearse that the local funeral home enters and usually signaled the end of the parade. No hearse last year, which was a major disappointment. Fortunately, it was back this year, but the parade was only 30 minutes long.
And to top THAT off: NO craft tents. There used to be two large tents, then last year there was only one, and now none. We loved going up and down the aisles, checking out all kinds of merchandise. I got one of my favorite t-shirts there several years ago, a huge yellow smiley face with a bullet hole and oozing blood in the forehead. (Take THAT, Wal-Mart!)
You could get a custom made garden stone, handmade jewelry, refrigerator magnets, quilts, stained glass, or fun bumper stickers. Even the main street didn’t have as many tents this year, and very little unusual merchandise, All they had were mostly food booths or tents for various churches or a raffle of one kind or another. Oh, and sunglasses. There were about three places with those knock-off sunglasses.
Lovi and I would go up sometime after the parade and scope things out. The kids usually set off for the carnival area. Then we’d go home during the hottest part of the day. After Mass, we’d have dinner, then the whole lot of us would go back out—Lovi and me to buy anything we hadn’t gotten earlier, visit friends we’d run into, watch the little ones on the rides, and see the cute (or ugly) dogs.
No dogs allowed this year! I finally have a dog that’s not hyper, doesn’t have to sniff every little thing, likes attention, and isn’t bothered in the least by unfamiliar dogs, and she can’t go. Which was probably a good thing, because evidently the day was exhausting for her—she would lie down with a groan, flop over, and go to sleep.
Anyway, there wasn’t much worth going back for in the evening, so we hung out with Lovi’s family, her oldest son and his girlfriend, and her folks, and had a nice time visiting and pigging out on her hubby’s brisket. No leftovers for them!
I might have to write a letter to the local paper expressing my disappointment. The Puddle Jumper Committee should be darn grateful we don’t need no stinkin’ festival to have fun!
7 comments:
Did the helicopter make it?
How did you know about the helicopter, Lainy? A helicopter showed up, but not the helicopter. I heard it was supposed to be a Blackhawk, but they sent a Huey.
Maybe they weren't expecting someone of my aviation expertise to be there and know the difference. ;-)
I'm sorry you didn't have the great time you were expecting. Maybe, since so many were disappointed, they will shape things up for next year.
Lovi's son told me all about the helicopter, that's how I know. He also told me stories I could use against you and Lovi for future use if I chose to. Beware! Baaawwwwaaaa!!!!!!!
Easy there Lainey.....the man child happened to have mentioned a drink or two in your hand that evening. I might have to drill him a little more on that subject.....
:)
It was a lame PJD If you need the address sis - let me know!
Good food, good friends/family and good beer made the day great though!
One drink and I hit the hay. Grill away. He really is a an adorable man child.
Too bad the Puddle Jumper committee drabbed it all up for everyone. Maybe they'll get wise next time.
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