Country Living Fair 2010

This fair is HUGE!  Talk about sensory overload! I wanted to go last year but the good or shall I say the 'bad' husband refused to take me so sadly I forgot all about it until 'Miss Amy' from Verde Farm blog invited me to join her.  Yay!  There was no stopping me this time so off we went.

The weather cooperated and surprisingly the traffic wasn't too bad considering the throngs of women walking towards the entrance gates.  There weren't many men at all.  I could just imagine being with the bad husband and hearing the typical 'you don't need that!' mantra as I would attempt to get a closer look at something cute.

As we reached the ticket booth, Amy discovered her camera wasn't behaving.  Oh no! After a few worrisome moments, I got it going and we began trekking towards the tents.  Goff Creek Pottery from upstate New York proved to be our first find! I found these tasteful but very heavy cow figures for my kitchen.  Reasonable pricing afforded me two and thankfully, they held our bags so we didn't have to lug additional weight around.

The crowds began to thicken and the lines grew to extreme lengths.  One vendor had the longest wait to purchase which was a complete turnoff so I didn't spend much time with them knowing there would be that punishing delay....and I so wanted those straw pumpkins!

Did you know there are hundreds of 'war dogs' saving our soldiers from bombs that are killed? So very sad, I could not be a soldier, love a dog and see it die for me...I hate war!

There were all sorts of crafters.  Cute pumpkin pillows, scarecrows, aprons, and vintage linens attracted me but one of my favorites was a woman who featured dried florals.  Very different from the norm.  I didn't get any photos but did notice she had participated in the Philadelphia Flower Show.  I really wanted to buy some of her arrangements but due to too many bags I feared the delicate beauties would be crushed to bits by the time we reached the truck.  I loved her Fairy Grass.  And speaking of dried plants...Sweet Annie was all over the place.  I hadn't heard of it until I read about it on a blog a week ago.  I think I will grow some next year.  Its' distinct scent had a mix of mint and floral and a kind lady told me that it is exceptional at repelling insects. 


Nancy Drew Birdhouses!  I wanted one!!



A few reanactors in a small colonial house.

 

I wanted that cute scarecrow too!

Lunch was easy and quick and we were lucky to find a table.  We met two separate sets of folks who shared our table from Indiana and they were so friendly! Kudos to Indiana! We stopped in the Country Living store and finally found those green floral canvas bags that so many were carrying.  My fingers were relieved that the blood could now flow ending the purple hued tips.  Seriously, my bags were full!

I loved seeing all the pumpkins and gourds everyone was friendly and mannerly which was nice.  I don't think it was layed out well though and for 'nubies' like us, colored tent tops would have helped so we could know what areas we already visited. You know, blue over there, orange near the food area, etc.  'Bag Check' tents should have been installed (i think there was only one) and scattered throughout and I would have paid to store mine.  It began to get tiresome to always put down my bags in order to take a pic or examine a potential find and it prevented me from further purchases.  Crafts can be bulky!

 Boo! No hanging animals!!

 Overall it was a blast and I am so glad we went.  Amy and I are a lot alike especially when we ooohed and aaahhhed over all of the neat 'eye candy'.  The bad husband always mocks me when I exclaim over something unique, insisting that I sound like Edith on Archie Bunker....thanks honey, such a nice thing to tell your wife! Now I feel better as Amy is even worse and I told her we were like the folks at Mayberry (Andy Griffith show) who have never been out of our small town.  We just couldn't help ourselves as bad as we tried to control it!  For those of you further south, Country Living is having this same fair in October near Atanta at Stone Mountain.  If you attend, I am sure you will not leave empty handed, unless you bring your husband! ; )