All's Fair in Sundre

As I sit in the quiet of the morning: cat on my lap, electric fireplace on, very strong coffee in my cup, watching the sky slowly lighten, I find myself reflecting.  Today's dawn bring's Fair Day. 

The Sundre School Fair started in 1918 and may be one of the only school fairs left. It was the first ever community event we participated in when we moved to Sundre in 2007. Donovan was just starting Kindergarten and we didn't have a pet for the Pet Parade. So he took a slug from the garden, carrying in proudly around the circle of 5&6 year olds. He made the front page of the paper! What a welcome to a new community. 

A few years later I happened to be chit chatting with Joan, who ran the community side of the Fair. I mentioned that I had a couple ideas, and she said, "Welcome to the committee!"  It's now been about 10 years. When Joan moved, I took over for a few years, until my husband got sick. Joan stayed involved,  until we lost her this spring. She may have been tiny, but she left a big hole!

My hobbies make the Fair a natural fit for me. I garden, I can, I craft and I take more pictures than even Grandma Ulrich. (of course, if she had digital cameras, all bets would be off!)

This year, even my 4-H experience comes into play. For the first time, we have 4-H members using the Fair as a venue for their final projects. I found out around 8pm last night that I was volunteered to judge those projects! I've taken animal judging workshops and I've judged public speaking, but this is a whole new kettle of fish! 

Even though it's a lot of work and I joke about the first week of September being H-E-double hockey sticks Week, I love it. I love gathering up all the things I did last year and seeing my accomplishments. I have tried new crafts, just to enter them for competition. It influences my garden planning. 

I have forged relationships with ladies in the community that I never would have met otherwise  Last night, at registration, a young mom was so excited to see another spinner in the area (fibre festivals are coming up!). I was thrilled when she gifted me with some flax for my farm to yarn display.

There were two things I wanted to bring to the Fair, when I spoke to Joan a decade ago. The first was food, and the second was activities during the judging. Several years ago I created a Farm to Yarn display that has been to the Fair and the Museum several times. 

Over the years, I have collected antique fiber tools and built up my own workshop of tools and gadgets. From one end of a table to the other, you can see how to get from a sheep to a sweater.

You may remember,  the Trolls and I attended a fibre festival a couple years ago. While there, I collected samples of as many types of fibre as I could (within budget!) With these I have created a matching game. Kids (and not kids) can feel the fibres and try to match them to the source.

As a working Mom, who has one foot at home and one foot in the city,  it can be hard to find time to do the things you love. If you can find away to volunteer in your community that encompasses your hobbies or the things you are passionate about, you've struck gold.

I know at the end of the day, my feet will hurt and I will be so tired I won't be able to form coherent sentences.  But in the quiet of this frosty September morning, I'm cutting a bouquet of herbs from my garden.