The Royal

[vaneramos]

As usual, when the young woman from Enterprise Rent-a-Car picked me up on Thursday, she asked about my weekend plans. When I said I planned to take my daughters to the Royal Winter Fair, she enthused, "Oh, I love the Royal! I go every year. There's something for everyone." Neither I nor my daughters had ever been, and I didn't know what to expect.

One thing I knew for sure: there would be plenty of farm animals.



But some things went far beyond what one usually expects at an agricultural fair: for instance, butter sculpture. Sure enough that's outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on the left; almost looks like he's melting away.



Indeed, the displays featured something for everyone, sometimes with tenuous connections to agriculture.



Want to see more sights?

Of course when anyone mentions farm shows, there's one thing that comes first to many of our minds.



But we all have our obsessions and djjo, for one, will have a hard time keeping his eyes and hands off the wool when he attends the "Sheep to Shawl" event tomorrow. I admit it's hard to resist the allure of soft natural fibres like this alpaca.



My daughters and I witnessed a sheep sheering, and I took Danny a small sample of raw wool, which he was thrilled to receive this afternoon.

Of course a country fair would not be complete without vegetables.





We took in much more, including the dog agility trials, some fascinating storytelling by horse whisperer Linda Little Wolf, and a delicious apple dumpling with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch. There was the mandatory candy floss for the girls and some eye candy for Dad (though not as much, perhaps, as expected). Upon arrival I had no idea whether the fair would keep the girls entertained for long, but five hours later I had to persuade them it was time for us to leave.

The entire event was housed in the National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place..

Comments

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Butter sculpture! Well, I never...! I agree, Jean Chretien looks as though he's melting. Um, what is that woman sculpting? It looks very...er...suggestive.

I want that fridge.

[urso.livejournal.com]

Bill introduced me to the Royal and I always enjoyed going. The best part are the vendors selling eyeglass cleaner, leather belts, etc.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

weehoo a real fair inside none the less.
Butter sculpting, hmm now that is a new one. It sounds like you all had a good day and your daughter surely enjoyed her birthday.

I had a good one as well. Painting wouldn't have been my first choice but it was fun.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I kinda took that fridge picture specially for you. Glad you like it! :-)

[danthered.livejournal.com]

I do like it.

So, um, what's she sculpting? ;-{>}

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry, I forgot to mention....

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Let's try that again....

http://www.wonderboymi.com/vwaffle/5148.jpg

[xtc-cub.livejournal.com]

The fridge is amazing!!!! Excellent paint job on it.

Sounds like it was fum all around for you and the girls.

What's more crazy than butter sculpting......people do it with SPAM.
Try working in that medium!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

The vendors looked fascinating, but with all the animals to see I didn't get much chance to browse. The girls started to shift into shopping mode later on, but then I was getting too tired of being on my feet. It will be worth visiting another year.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you had a good birthday. :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I like butter, and yet found these sculptures mildly disgusting. Spam would be hard to look at!

Glad you liked the fridge; it was a beauty!

[danthered.livejournal.com]

It's a...um...a halved bell pepper...?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Methinks a butter halo would have been difficult to craft, not to mention tacky. ;-)

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Ai-yi-yi...