I've Moved!

I've moved to a new site: mwgerard.com

But don't worry -- this site will remain open and all of these posts and comments are on the new site too.

All of my writings and posts, including book reviews, will be housed at the new site.


Please stop by!

DAY TWO: August 23, 2010

Fair entires were judged today!  But first we enjoyed an afternoon of harness racing.  This man won King for a Day:

A swing around the halls to see some of the other entries and the ribbons.

Elementary school artwork

Some winning photographs

A flipflop quilt

Winning green tomatoes

Collection of ephemera from the Illinois State Fair


This year, my mom decided to enter in the floral exhibitions. And she did pretty well! Especially considering she used only roadside weeds and found objects for vases.

DAY ONE: August 22, 2010

On Sunday, we dropped off our entries for the fair and then went to lovely party hosted by Cyndi, Jim, my mom and Gail.  Then Monday, we drove up to Lake Mattoon for a few hours to see Josh's family cabin.  We got a nice ride on their pontoon boat too.  Beautiful lake.

Then Ross's friends invited us over for a very nice cookout.

Day Seven: Saturday, August 29, 2009

Today was sadly the last day in Illinois. I stopped to take a picture of my favorite valley between Jewett and Ross's.

Then we went to the Historical Society Museum and Depot. We go every year, but it is always fun.

We went home for a little rest before the marathon of the demolition derby. Ross took Duncan and then myself on a four-wheeler ride.

While waiting my turn, I sat out in the backyard with Keyser.

I made Rachael drive to the fair so I could snap pictures along the way.

Then it was demo derby time.

This was the first year they added the lawnmower demo derby. It was kind of a funny idea, but it took WAY too long for the last two two duke it out.

Sunset over the grandstand, then fried oreos to go.

And I will have to wait another year, to re-visit this perfect summer idyll.

Day Six: Friday, August 28, 2009

Today was a very low key day. We were all worn out and slept too late. But it was vacation after all. We saw a few more harness races before heading up to Mattoon for another movie. I got better pictures of Toledo on the way back.

Day Five: Thursday, August 27, 2009

Thursday we got moving rather slowly, for some reason. But we got over to Grandad's house to take hike through his pasture. He owns about 75 acres (next to the house) and it is beautiful land. Meadows, wildflowers, woods -- and the very loud buzzing of happy bees.

It was very hot and difficult walking. So we returned home for some cool showers, fresh peaches and naps. Then we went to Mattoon to see a movie. On the way back, I tried to take a quick picture of the Toledo courthouse.

We got supplies at the IGA and returned to Ross's, built a fire, made S'mores and told stories under a perfect starry sky.

Day Four: Wednesday, August 26, 2009

We piled in the car to go to Moonshine for lunch. On the way, we stopped in at the hardware store. Steve asked me to show him the grain elevator that I had shot the day before and we went for a little walk. Then he pulled out a little box and proposed.

So newly engaged, we still went to Moonshine for burgers and Boylan's soda.

On the way back from Moonshine, we stopped a junkyard/car repair place to take pictures, especially of the very cool vintage fire truck.

We stopped by the fair to see who had won ribbons. And catch some more harness racing. Grandad set it up with Stan Hosapple so we could ride in the start car.

We decided to forego the third night of tractor pull. We stopped at the Green's excellent garden to collect supplies and I made dinner. Rachael drove and I snapped some pictures from the car.

Dinner while watching sunset over the corn.