LOVING Fair food isn't a crime!

Mixing business with pleasure is always easy for me at the Fair. I LOVE the Fair. This time of year reminds me of my birthday (which is Friday, September 3rd, hint-hint Daddy-O). I needed to deliver more wall hung Ravens to the Bad Girls of the North fair booth today and agreed to meet 3 girlfriends at the Fair just as it opened for an afternoon of chick Fair fun. Another treat was Bad Girl Vicki had a FREE ticket waiting for me at the gate. My friends and I

all agreed to eat our way through the Fair along the Green, Purple, Red and Yellow trails after reading an article by Julia O'Malley on the good and the bad of the Fair food. Hands down all of us agreed that the deep fried cheese curds ROCK and we'd have been in big trouble if we had them with our beer in the Sluice Box! The sun was shining, we'd been shopping, laughing, dreaming of raising chickens, mini-goats and the curds were hot and the beer was cold... The 2010State Fair Official Beer -Kassik's Cream of the Coop which went down smooth after a tamale, a Gyro and a Fireweed Honey ice cream waffle cone. Normally, I would have fit in Taco Dans and Friar Tucks Corn on the Cobb... Here's a link to the master list of Fair fo

od.

Today a new Alaska State Fair Record was set for this pumpkin at 1,101 POUNDS! Grown by Dale Marshall of Anchorage -yaay Anchorage, usually these monsters are grown by people in the Valley. Way to go Dale!!

Gallery Palette

Last night we were able to start painting the newly prepped walls in Katie’s Gallery. Katie is much more color brave than I am! At the paint store she knew exactly what she wanted in terms of the paint colors for her new space. While I was leaning towards taupe neutrals, she picked colors like “Mexican Café Yellow” and “Reflecting Pool Blue” –and last night all are working together beautifully! It’s been fun to see the transformation of the new space. We’re hoping for an October 1, First Friday Grand Opening –barring any inspection issues with the Muni. On the positive, it’s an all licensed and professional crew that the building owner is using, and to keep costs down Katie (and volunteers) are helping with the minor decorating details. Speaking of volunteers –I have one sweet Art Husband, even on his birthday last night he knocked out an entire section of wall painting! Katie treated him to his favorite sweet from Cake Studio (the bakery next door to the new Gallery) after we finished and all three of us sat on the steps outside in the lovely evening air (no rain!!) and watched as people held their hands to the windows of the new space trying to get a peek at what new business was going in the building.

As the Spenard Farmers Market nears it’s final Saturday for me (this Saturday 8/28) it was time to deliver some new metal work up the Alaska State Fair, Bad Girls of the North booth. You’d never know Anchorage had set a rain record by the incredible blue skies we’ve had the last few days –let’s hope it holds for the Sate Fair! The Bad Girls booth is next to my all-time favorite food booth… TAMALES! I (heart) Tamales :o)

Willie’s new toy (tool) box arrived yesterday. He spent the afternoon unloading all the goodies that any mechanic (or artist) lusts after. I’m excited because whether

it’s cell phones, fishing gear or new tool boxes we always manage a way to get the hand-me-downs -and his “old” tool box is pretty sweet and looks fine right where it’s at –in our garage!

A Great Way to Spend A Day

Get UP & Get Happy is the theme for this years fair and that's just what we did to celebrate my birthday. We found a parking spot in the front row and it was 2 for 1 day under clear blue skies at the Alaska State Fair! After we delivered the artwork to the Bad Girls of the North booth, we enjoyed a fresh tamale from the booth next door. Gus and I rode a few rides (2 for 1!), won a few games and ate some more at my favorite spot, “Taco Dans.”  I won at betting Orange on the Rat Race -10 to 1 odds too! We saw the new world record Cabbage at 125.9 pounds plus other HUGE Alaskan size veggies. Gus and I were inspired to enter the Veggie Art contest next year… Fed some of the livestock and picked out our favorite Holsteins, rabbits, pigs and sheep. We were able to see and visit with a lot of friends who were also enjoying a night out at the Fair. As the sun was setting, Derek and I dreamed of raising cows and goats and putting Gus in 4-H, but in the end we settled for fresh Alaska Berry Ice Cream and a romantic late-night drive back home.

Born to Be Wild

Born: September 3, 1962    At: “Around 10:00 P.M. En Route”  

Delivered By: “Her Father in the front seat of his truck”  

Hospital: “Hwy 101 San Luis Rey, Oceanside CA”  

Weight: 9 lbs. 4 oz.  

Happy Birthday to me, I love birthdays, and each year look forward to celebrating mine! Mixing a bit of business with pleasure, we’re heading up to the Alaska State Fair to celebrate, eat and bring more Ravens and Wind Salmon to The Bad Girls of the North booth. They’ve been rocking the sales and needed more inventory from me –oh darn!

Yes, it’s true, my Dad delivered me in the front seat of his truck, 47 years ago on Labor Day. Being their first child (and large), my Mom was a very brave woman and my Dad probably a bit frantic. Or more accurately, Dad was relieved that after the BIG event on the side of the road, once back at Camp Pendleton, his USMC buddies cleaned up his new truck while Mom & I rested at the base hospital. Being born in my Dad’s truck has turned into a bit of an urban legend in our family. A few years ago, the story was last told in fantastic, bard-like style by my Dad in what was probably the best version yet at my 40^th birthday party. We had a “Princesses & Banditos”  themed party, with authentic Mexican food, Margarita’s and everyone dressed in costumes –hence, princesses and banditos. We handed out glitter, crowns and fem for the women and girls in prom-like dresses and sombreros, mustaches and fake ammo belts for the guys in tough jeans and boots. Everyone laughed and danced to Fiesta and Salsa music all night long under a huge outdoor tent –which is really funny because when you “Google Earth” our house, the party was immortalized by the satellite capturing an image of this big yellow tent on our deck! I know I’ve said thanks to my Mom & Dad every year for being brave on the side of that dark road 47 years ago, but I know they’ll read my Blog so I’ll say it again “thank you and I love you both!” Oh, and mark your calendars, only 3 more years to the big Five-Oh, PRINCESSES & BANDITOS PART DEUX!

Bird Lips

It’s Alaska State Fair (food!) season! One of my favorite times, because Fall and Fair times mean its almost my birthday time too. I love to have my birthday, always have and always will. I delivered several metal art pieces up to Palmer to The Bad Girls of the North fair booth. The drive was lovely. Each year Vicki & Carol have been kind enough to invite me to sell my metal work in their Bad Girls booth. I like being a Bad Girl too. I get many, many people who say the either bought my work at the Fair or saw my work and would like to order more. It has been a good venue for me without the hassle because Vicki & Carol do the real work :o)

As we were going over the inventory a woman walked by with a lovely Peach Faced Love Bird on her shoulder. It’s name was “Squeaky” and squeaked when the woman poked its tummy (!?) Vicki and I didn’t think that was very nice and really didn’t like it when the woman INSISTED that we let the bird KISS US. I mean on the LIPS KISS! She would not let up. The only way we could get back to our inventory was to comply. I will spare you the more graphic of images I have of our “encounter” with the Peach Faced Love Bird… Vicki and I swear out lips were a bit “itchy” afterward. There are all types at the Fair... If you want to visit the Bad Girls booth, they are on the Red Path next to Rae's YUMMY Tamales, one of my favorite foods.

On Sunday night we had a HUGE rainstorm. Well, huge for Anchorage. It flooded our street and Will and I took Tauzer out to make sure the storm drain was clear of debris

(The street completely drained by morning). We laughed at Tauzer who looked like a drowned rat. But all the rain didn’t diminish her intelligence, Will couldn’t coax her into the water –even with a pocket full of treats!

The FUN news this morning is that I’m off to CLAY DAY with Gina and Steve! Photos to follow, I promise.