One-Word Sarcomical Sunday #20

Cool beans! I noticed from Dawn's blog that Sarcomical is posting these fun things again so wanted to play along too.


Rules: Answer with ONLY one word!

1. Your holiday decor: festive
2. The weather where you live this time of year: cold
3. Your favorite smell of the season: cinnamon
4. Your favorite beverage of the season: cider
5. Something you wish you could avoid during the holidays: shopping
6. What you typically bring to the potluck: veggies
7. What you wish people would stop bringing to the potluck: mystifiers
8. A word to describe how you feel about the word 'potluck': enjoyable
9. What is on your feet right now: socks
10. How many layers you are wearing right now: two
11. Where in the world you would rather be right now: Caribbean
12. Something that makes you feel invigorated this time of year: baking
13. Something that makes you feel challenged this time of year: gifting
14. A cold weather comfort food you crave: soup
15. Something you wish you were doing right now: visiting
16. Something you SHOULD be doing right now: wrapping
17. Your opinion of snow: pretty
18. Your opinion of those big furry-looking hats with earflaps: goofy
19. A tradition you'll be sure to keep this season: donating
20. A tradition you'd like to start this season: reunions

October tradition

After my date with a couple of very nice X-ray tech types yesterday, we were off to the 47th Annual Catoctin Colorfest in Thurmont, MD. The day was absolutely perfect for the event with beautiful blue skies and temperatures ranging from cool in the morning to warmer and sunnier as the day wore on.

This two-day thing -- one of the largest Arts & Crafts Shows on the east coast -- is huuuuge, with hundreds of artists and vendors and so much to see. We were there about 5 hours and I know we missed a lot even though we walked all over what seemed like the whole town of Thurmont! We bought some seasonal decorative things, some Christmas gifts, and snacked on warm apple dumplings and crispy kettle-cooked chips, fresh and still warm right from the kettle, Delicious!

Local home decorated for the festive season

Entrance to one of the craft areas

Lots of people

One of many wood art stops

more wood art

I mean, lottts of people!

We saw (but didn't buy) more chainsaw art

This little giggly guy almost made it
home with me... but I refrained

It was a full day, and we were a good tired when we got home, but it was fun and we're looking forward to next year's gala.

Fall Festivities

Last week it was the Great Frederick Fair, and this weekend it's Oktoberfest! So, on another beautifully blue-skied and crisp, sunshiney day, we went back to the fairgrounds yesterday to take in the first of this 2-day annual event.

We looked forward to enjoying traditional German dishes and some of the same vendors we liked last year, as well as discovering new ones. As we wandered around, I was delighted to find wood carver Jake Albright of Hanover, PA. because I was hoping to obtain a friend for the goofy guy we bought from him last year (more in an upcoming post.)

the pumpkin, not the bearheads

In the kid's activities area, we
met this amusing young lady,

along with this most energetic older gent
leading the little ones in a romping
version of the chicken dance.

Of course, there was the inevitable lost balloon,

the traditionally-clad staff,

and a delicious slice of authentic apple streudel.

After a bit of roaming, we headed for the FestHall and enjoyed sauerbraten, hot potato salad, and bratwurst. I'm not a beer drinker, German or otherwise, and Lew didn't feel like imbibing, so we had freshly pressed cider instead as we ate, drank, and listened to the Die Immergrün Musikanten band's alpine music.

We had a good time, but all in all, this year's event just didn't seem as well assembled or as varied as last year's, and we came away somewhat disappointed. There was an awful lot of jewelry vendors, which didn't grab our interest, and a major lack of outdoor food booths, so next year I'll be double-checking the vendor/food list!

After a quick home pitstop, we decided to finish off the day with First Saturday "Into The Night" activities in downtown Frederick.

Local merchants floated Halloween-colored
balloons showing participation,

as well as displaying spooky decorations.

I especially liked the dismembered foot touch
in this usually flower-filled bicycle basket!

We wandered around awhile, admired the events and creativity,

listened to several street musicians,

and ended up with a light dinner at , a Sports Bar and Family Restaurant. It was a good day.

Since we seem to be into the local fall festivities this year (I opted out, but Lew also went to the Rose Hill Manor Fall Festival today,) next weekend we'll probably take in the annual Catoctin Colorfest in Thurmont, MD - a huuuge Arts and Crafts Show.

Fair weather...

When September rolls into town, so rolls The Great Frederick Fair. After our brutally hot summer, the temperatures have fallen to a more tolerable level, so under cool skies of blue, off we went yesterday to enjoy a day at the Fair.

There was antique farm equipment...


all kinds of animals...

mama and her future '"baa, baa black sheep"

one biiig piggy mama

and her ten little piggies

baby chicks

this little one was barely two hours old

bovine advertising

a very haughty alpaca pair

another mama and her kid

rides for the other kind of kids, young and old...



the usual oddity shows...


a mere two of the innumerable displays...

pretty fall florals

see that big guy on the left?
next to that puny 205 lb one?

it's a whopping 364 pounder!!!

entertainment...


and, of course, food, food, and more food...

the requisite funnel cake

okay, my curiosity finally got the best of me and
I had to try a deep-fried Twinkie (with raspberry
sauce) that I've been hearing about for years...

oh, gag me with a spoon - disgustingly sweet!!

I opted to pass on the deep-fried Snickers, Oreos, and strawberries, but next year I'm definitely going for a deep-fried pickle! ;-)

An annual fun experience!

My baby girl...

... is going to have a baby!! My first-born grandchild is going to be a mommy! Lord, how did she grow up soooo fast??? I know I was just singing her a lullaby and rocking her to sleep not too terribly long ago and now -- she's making me a great-grandma!!

when my baby girl was a brand new baby girl...

Baby will be making an appearance on or about the 2nd of July and needless to say, I've been having a grand time poring through and drooling over all the baby stuff out there.

She's chosen neutral colors... greens, yellows, browns, tans... in an animal theme so almost anything goes. This seems to be the year for greens and browns so the choices are endless! 'Course I'll be sneaking in a few blues or pinks, depending on what we discover later on, but in the meantime I've got my eye on an array of monkeys, giraffes, froggies, elephants, kitty, and puppy dog goodies (with a few things already tucked away, jes' waiting.) ;)

We are excited!

Oktoberfest

Fredericktowne held it's annual Oktoberfest at the fairgrounds this weekend, so we decided to mosey on over and check it out yesterday. The weather was perfect, crisp and clear with sunny, blue skies so we looked forward to a good day.

There were various vendors selling their wares, including one place with cute alpacas and alpaca products. We sampled the German beer, some traditional foods, and enjoyed some oom-pah music. We chatted with a bunch of friendly folks, contributed to the benefiting charities by spending more than we should on cute or pretty, and we had fun!

This year's logo

one of the fleecy alpacas

cute scarecrow decor

deep fried and slathered with sour cream... to die for!!

costumed fraus

buttery, flaky apple streudel - delicious!

Items carved with a chainsaw, then decorated.
See that doofy dude on the far right?
He now resides on my front porch for the fall season! ;)