the show

I know you are eagerly awaiting a report on our local agricultural show. So here it is...despite the wet weather and looming clouds we booted up and headed in (white linen pants not being on the list of wardrobe choices for the day!) I had a busy morning sorting out the neighbours animals (they were away) and having not one but TWO smokos with visitors, so it was just after lunch by the time we got to town. Judging by the crowd, or lack thereof, no one else was in a rush much to be there either.

Gosh, I love these outstanding photos for the family album. Hats were really just an accessory, what sun came through was very watery and momentary.  (it wasn't even high UV glary sort of day) (and here's one of me, taken by Georgie, just to show I was indeed there - using the charming backdrop inside the toilet block. As you can see, I refrained from tucking my jeans inside my top boots)

First stop, the arts and crafts pavilion (firstly checking on the chook displays) the kids were eager to see if they had gotten any prizes.

Big girl got first and champion on her section with some sewing she had done with her granny, a little trinket box.

Boy got a rosette too, finally showing some of his mothers genetics and a eye for photography, submitted from school.

Daughter #2 missing out on rosette action, but scoring much more prize money with consistent placings and firsts in her submitted work from home and school (her collection getting a second).

  

Entries in the fruit, veges and photography were well supported, as well as quilting although the rest of the arts and crafts section was lower in numbers, which may be why I ended up getting Senior Champion for Scrapbooking with my four entries!

was pleased with the teal rosette, its my favourite colour at the moment.

We then headed down that wallet draining section of the show, Sideshow Alley.  The rainy weather may have also contributed to the low number of rides etc, but of course the Dodgems were there. The girls went together (very bad drivers) and then Angus and I went...the longest dodgem ride of my life. I really Do Not Like them, hating being hit from behind with a passion (as does my back) hence we hugged the outside minimising our hits. Not totally unavoidable and I have to say I took some pleasure rear ending some wicked boys (their mother is a masseuse, drumming up business much?!) who had done the same to us.

Tuned beforehand that they only got one ride if they wanted a showbag (another wallet draining exercise) they rushed off to choose one and then whined for food on regular intervals afterwards, as we wandered and chatted the rest of the afternoon away.

 

(beautifully decorated and fitted out RM Williams shop truck, from which I did not purchase anything. Husband was pacing outside in fear)

(yes, that is daughter #2 riding the mechanical bull. She has been wanting to for AGES)

And of course, the fireworks that we weren't going to stay for, where spectacular, and wasn't I lucky to get THAT photo on my point and shoot?!!

and this last one cracks me up. Can you hear the ahhhs and the ooohs coming from the kids.

And that concludes our show outing for twenty-twelve.

PS. no rosette winning photos from this camp this year, although I did get a couple of firsts and placings. You don't really want to see them, do you?

the lazy scrapper

so I took some mental health time in light of the crazy two weeks in front of me, and did some scrapping. Printed out a few digital pages and assembled to put away.

It has struck me what a lazy scrapper I have become....

Evidence of such:

A digitally created page I have shared over at Simple Aussie Girls before. Simply printed out, trimmed a little and then plomped on a bit of cardstock, embracing white space and embellished (oh yes, EMBELLISHED!) with a bit o' brad action. Tried Nicole's circle punch idea. Not sure I carry it off as well as she does, to be honest. Oh well.

I don't think I could possibly get much lazier than this!

blame instagram

I feel like I am doing mini blog posts every time I put up a photo on Instagram, hence the brevity of posts here. I may have mentioned it before, but I love it.

So, if you peek at my instagram page from time to time (see the link above) you will see what I have been up to...not very much. Its been rather brisk and chilly this past week, with rain returning yesterday and 25mm falling last night. Normally very welcome, but with our local show today and tomorrow, well lets just say gumboots might be the newest fashion accessory in the west. However the sun is peeking out now and then, so am hopeful that by the time we head in tomorrow to view what the district has to offer in their arts and crafts and cooking and fruit and sewing, and catch up with everyone, it might be a little less muddy and my nice brown leather boots might get an outing (oh yes, its all about ME of course!)

Was going to be slack and not enter anything into the show, but ever mindful of bloggy show president friends giving me a roasting about supporting ones local show committee, and with the kids nagging, at the last minute rallied. Every mothers nightmare at show-time, we have entered two Collections.

(not a photo that is even close to show worthy! ack...new cheap ebay "play" lens not cutting the mustard and will henceforth be relisted....) Dressed in their finest, and hair brushed and styled, the girls are having a lovely old chat, reclining in their tissue paper lined basket.

and, involving paint and bluetac....

very much bluetac to hold those little critters into place....Georgie's Little Pet Shop Collection.

Not having it in me to create some sort of backing and holding for a myriad of well loved matchbox cars, the boy just had to be content with a promise of "next year" and his entries from school.

Myself, I ran my eye over my digital files for the past twelve months and quickly selected a few of what I consider my better shots that met a few of the photographic sections. Printed at home, I don't have high hopes for them doing much, the finish far less superior to a lab print. I also grabbed a couple of scrapbook pages, just to appear like I was sort of trying :-) (let me not go into the judging of scrapbook pages at our local show, I have issues with correct spelling which I guess may go against the spirit of the whole thing, but......)

With the return of my little handbag camera from our mate the chopper pilot (complete with bonus photographs of his children pulling faces) I am roaring and ready to capture the action at the show tomorrow.

Gumboots or not. Its just a pity that none of us own any at the moment.