Animal Instinct: Winter Fairs and Food

There have been lots of festivalling the past few weeks at churches, libraries and community halls all across Vermont and New Hampshire.
The signs went out....

and the plants and food came rolling in.

A Rosary bead plant, originally grown from a snippet of actor Walter Brennan's plant, from the 70's. The plant included the history of the plant.

It was quickly snatched up.

Lots of breads, muffins, cookies, baked beans, breads, fudge, all home made by the members of this little village church and made with local ingredients.

Several jugs of maple syrup were also here, from local sugar makers. I bought one.
One of the sugar makers, Paul, also made several batches of baked beans with his delicious maple syrup. I bought some.

Local authors came to sell books (and buy lemon meringue pie)

There were all kinds of crafts.

And at noon there was a lunch of soup or chilli with all the fixin's.

There were 12 crock pots full of different soups and chowders.

There were more soup pots on the stove.....

and more soups kept coming.
My favorite was the butternut curry soup.
With the corn chowder y next favorite.

The smells coming out of this kitchen were just to fabulous to ignore.

There were tables full of neat stuff to buy.
A full table of Christmas items.

Santa crafts.

Snowmen and trees..... I got a few.

These 2 women share the same birthday, 80 years apart.

A few days later I went to a community dinner in NH.

It was an awards dinner for the kids and adults who had spent the day engaged in all kinds of games inside and out. Races, basketball toss, obstacle courses, it went on all day.

There was a place setting contest so my date for the evening brought 3 sets to enter and for us to use to have dinner with. Complete with forks, spoons, knives and a pie dish.

Most of the kids were wearing several medals and sounded like sleigh bells as they walked around the gymnasium. The room was full of young athletes who had competed in every kind of

The team with the most points was called up at the end of the evening to be acknowledged.

The adults had as much fun as the kids.

After the final awards there was music and dancing. Good dancing. Good music.

A great evening.

We didn't win the place setting award. We forgot the napkin rings.......

A few evenings later there was a wonderful presentation about Abe Lincoln and the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address at the village library.

Of course I had to attend...and of course there were delicious refreshments.

A few days later there was a crafts fair and silent auction at the local high school.

I went.
The gymnasium and basement were full of craft vendors.
It seemed like everyone from both sides of the river were either selling something or buying something. I met dozens of people I know coming out with bags full of great, affordable, handmade items.
The two dedicated men selling 250th anniversary souvenirs were there. It has been a full year celebrating the 250th anniversary of our local towns. Lots of great events. There is going to be 2 more big celebrations this month and then its all over.
I bought a mug.

I bid on a half gallon of maple syrup.

The very next day was fellowship at church..by my favorite fellowship food provider!.

How I love these pumpkin truffles. I think she makes them just for me.

Mother and daughter are excellent cooks.

No detail is left undone.

I was on a sugar high for two solid days.

And today I went to a farm neighbors Thanksgiving get together. 2weeks after the real event, but this was the only time their families could all be in one place at the same time. Ages 4 - 97.

It looked a bit like Duck Dynasty with all the long beads and a moose skull on the wall.

We all went around the table and told what we were thankful for surviving in the past year.
This question was based on last weeks sermon at church.

With farmers in one of the most dangerous professions, the answers were interesting.

Logging trucks and tractors were mentioned as well as nasty medical issues. Several guests were lucky to be alive.

Gratefully, all the food we ate was either grown on their property or on one of the family members property.

I knew the turkey personally.

The milk and eggnog came from the nearby dairy farm and the apple cider from the orchard across the river. A friend made the delicious sweet pickles. I intend to get that recipe.

I brought a pumpkin pie made from one of the Long Island Cheese Pumpkins I had been gifted with, by them.

They had a bumper crop of Hubbard squash this year as well, so many guests left with a heavy gift.