Friday, August 29, 2008

Small Town Saturday Night

Last Saturday night our family went to the Broiler Festival in the nearby tiny town of Crane. We still don't know what a broiler is, but we sure had a great time.

I just adore carnivals, especially the Ferris Wheel.

I love state fairs, reunions, company picnics, amusement parks, homecomings, baseball games, Fourth of July... any place where people gather to laugh, play, and celebrate life. While I do believe life's greatest joys are in the small daily moments, I adore the bigger celebrations, too.

I love spinny rides that makes your tummy jump and your head spin. The smaller the fair, the creakier, scary, more fun the ride.

Thank God my little girl is going to grow up enjoying all the crazy rides as much as I do. There are just some traits I felt it was imperative that she inherit from me. Things like unabashed public singing, extreme joy in life's small moments, and the thrill of a carny.

After all, there is nothing like an upside-down-loopdy-loop roller coaster. Except maybe a ride that spins you so hard your insides feel squishy.


As much as I love the rides, one of the best things about carnivals is the people watching. All the teenagers dress up for a carnival with as much care as we used to put into a Friday night trip to the mall. I loved listening to their over-loud, over-eager laughter, and the snatches of their earnest conversations. Since I can't show those particular teenagers to you, I'll show you my two favorite companions for a carnival, a baseball game, a life.

Summer isn't over yet, but this felt like a perfect ending. Happy, happy end of summer.





I took all these photos. Click here for a few of my favorite Ferris Wheel images.

15 comments:

tangobaby said...

That little girl of yours is the cutest thing! I love that photo of her on the ride. Precious. Glad you had such a fun time.

christina said...

Looks like much fun was had. We had the Harley Davison anniversary here this weekend. So many street festivals and parades going on. My daughter came in the house and I could smell her warm cotton candy immediately.

Wonderful post.

Lynn said...

Relyn, I just discovered you via your lovely comment at Blue Yonder. I'm going to enjoy getting to know you!

Patti said...

I just love fairs and carnivals too! To me they are such an old-fashioned sign of summer and have such a small town feel. I love all the sights and sounds and I love to people watch (although some of the carnies are a bit scary).

Rustic Tarts said...

What a beautiful blog Relyn, I have enjoyed having a peek into your life!
Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog too and to leave a comment for us.
I have to ask you - I spotted the recipe for the Oreo balls - is white almond bark just white chocolate with bits of almond in it?(why do they call it bark??)

Christina

dee said...

OMG I love carnivals! We just went to Coney Island and rode the ferris wheel, ate enormous amounts of junk food, and snapped pics. SO fun! And that little one of yours is a doll:)

Jaime said...

It's been so long since I have been on a ferris wheel! Don't you just love the view from the top?

xo

JUST ME said...

Relyn -

Thanks for visiting my blog. it is totatlly appreciated. If you don't mind I am going to add you to my fav links so that I can check back with you often.

Have a great day.

P.S. When I was a teenager many moons ago I loved going to our church carnival. I don't really enjoy the rides but I loved playing the games especially the quarter slot one where you add the quarter and wait to see if the little slide thingy will give you a prize or give you some quarters in return.

Peace, Angelica

Jeanne said...

Blessings and much love.
Rabbit Rabbit

Caroline said...

What fun! I so enjoy a carnival. Your pictures capture the moment perfectly. I felt like I was there.

Jessica said...

I have to say that I am not a rides person, but I do love a good fair. Especially at night when all the lights fill the sky and the rides look almost magical!

Anonymous said...

it is one of life's greatest losses related to age that i can no longer enjoy those heart stopping rides for fear of throwing up losing my lunch, breakfast and dinner to the dizzyness :)

i did however take your post on the zoo to heart and managed to get my sweet olivia there while visiting last week. what fun it was to try for a giraffe photo like yours! i didn't even come close though!

p.s. i just know i saw a fabulous photo of a giraffe looking into your camera lens here bit i simply cannot find it again...where can it be?
xo

Anonymous said...

Oh what FUN! I like going to the State Fairs. Did you have funnel cake? We don't have that up in Canada so my husband and I just had to try it when we discovered it here in the States. And your daughter is so pretty, Relyn. :)

Yolanda said...

This brings back wonderful memories for me.

TIG said...

Great shots! Looks like you had such a fun time.

Oldies, but Goodies