Sunbonnet Sue

Flipping through my photo collections from the summer and realized I haven’t shared any images from the Grays Harbor County Fair in Elma, WA. Always the first week in August, the fair is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in the high heat of summer. (Perhaps my fondness is because of romanticized childhood memories as an exhibitor?) Things have certainly changed since I was a kid, elated with the freedom that came as a reward for entering as many categories as possible: my tailored clothes in one barn, bakery items in another, and across the fairgrounds, my beloved Shetland Sheepdog and I spend three days in Westminster-style competitions. Attending as an adult, participation seems to have faltered. But once I got past the indignity of an event with far fewer displays and barns, I began to see the bite-sized fair as a curated event: an ideal sampling of farm animals, FFA, 4-H participants, handmade ice creams, and of course the real reason one attends any fair – real Fischer Scones. (!)

The number of student vs open show (adult) exhibitors has flipped in the past decade, it seems. The arts section is full of stunning flowers, amateur photography, and beautiful handmade crafts entered by adults from around the Harbor. This falls under my mantra of “Make Your Own Fun” so I can only applaud their ingenuity. This quilt, called Sunbonnet Sue, was one of my favorite pieces this year (and this is coming from someone who really detests quilts). The name makes me smile – because of my mom – and the variety of patterns in the dresses is delightful, because in my mind each design holds a memory for the maker. The crazy quilt’s more refined cousin, Sunbonnet Sue. And that is art I can get behind.

 

Riparian Entertainment

Although I was very far — across the river, a steep river bank and a road — from this group of girls, the click of my camera spooked them enough to high-tail it out of their peaceful time by the side of the water. If only we all had such river access!

 

 

 

In the Wind

The wonderful, unexpected scenes you find.

 

 

Sunset over the Cornfields

The everyday turns spectacular. I needed to combat cabin fever so I headed out for a drive in my favorite farmland. Corn remains in a few fields; six-feet stalks waiting to be slashed and sorted before the first frosts. The sun began to set in the midst of my drive and a world I didn’t know existed bloomed outside my windshield. Flocks of birds swooped through the crops in search of a night cap; young horse riders returned to the barn; and the sky burst into saturated colors worthy of a Rothko painting.

 

 

Grange Flag

You know you are “R”ural if you can automatically recognize this flag.

 

Barrier to Entry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More scenes from South Bend, WA.

 

Golden Hour

Delicious surprise on our nightly. Nature provides so much serendipity to my life these days.

 

Plough the Earth

 

 

 

 

Far from the public eye, the fields of Grays Harbor are beginning the cycle of production. The earth is turned over to collect the spring water and allow the fog to coddle the soil preparing to feed us all for the coming year. Farm to table begins here.

 

Hot Pink

Living in the city you become accustomed to street light, store signs and restaurants scenes adding dimension and color to your daily life. In the country, the texture of daily life comes more from the weather. You know – unfiltered nature. After spending several long, dark months in a world of greys and greens, each pop of spring flowers brings a new level of joy and appreciation for COLOR.  The past few weeks of bursting buds has felt like stepping from black & white in to technicolor. Thankfully, hot pink like this is enough to tide me over until summer (which begins on July 10).

         Spring Flowers

No Hunting

The Sign Project continues.

This classic serif font sign gets the point across: Stay Off My Land.