Farmhouse Friday - Week 41 - Celebration

 

Well, with the Lord's help, I completed 30 years of organizing this event.  I will officially have a team next year to help me and for as long as the Lord allows.  

It was an absolutely beautiful day out for the Ringle Harvest Day

The crowd was unbelievable - thousands.  So many new people saying "where have I been the last 30 years?"  I don't know...but, you've missed it.  If you happen to come and started a conversation with me, I'm sorry if I never completed it.  I feel I left so many people like that, as duty calling to another thing.

New this year was a FREE train ride.

Santa Ray - outside the post office.  They had letters to Santa.

That is an overview of our booth along with 2 vignettes set up by local businesses.  

I could NOT believe how much I sold.  I went back and looked at before pictures to remember what was missing.  Our booth did really well.  I would say, the 2nd best EVER!  Thank the Lord.

Everyone was happy, lots of positive feedback from vendors.  The vendors even gave me thank you cards and flowers.  On Tuesday, one vendor came into our little shop and told me that an hour after the event, while packing up, a customer came and bought another $350 from them and even unloaded the trailer for the stuff she wanted. 

I was waiting for Al to come back and get me - I was the last load - hahah my scooter - and the fire department invited me to come and talk with them.  The told me that they did very good and I said, "I'm not good with compliments, I don't need them," and they said....well, you're going to get them.  I came home to this, on our Ringle community page from the fire chief.

Like I said...I don't do good with this kind of stuff.  That is why I didn't go to the town meeting the following Monday.  It is nice to hear, but I don't know what to do with "it."  

After review of the social media "reach" - was over 327,000 views - we need to revaluate the other advertising.  I have for 30 years put ads in newspapers - yet, this year more than ever we hear - "never heard of this."  I don't know how as over 50% of our budget is advertising.  Just some thoughts.  

I bought these and some food from our 4H club.  Some members had their own little table with stuff for sale.  Of course, needle felting (smile).

We had some warm, sunny days earlier this week.  So, Al prepared the Zinnia patch for next year.

I love the smell of earth, dirt.

I went to the orthopedic surgeon.  It has officially been a year since breaking my femur.  He said my leg finally fully healed and filled in with new bone.  

I got back to aqua therapy.  It was wonderful.

Justine and her family came for a load of hay so we made supper.  I made a chopped kale, apple, craisin and candied pecans salad.  I want to share how I made the pecans.  I made a whole container full - none left.  They all just loved them.  

Start out with like 4 C pecans, put in a bowl.

Mix 1/2 C brown sugar, 1/2 C maple sugar (or white), 1 heaping T of cinnamon, 1 t of salt.  Stir together well, put to the side.

Mix 1 egg white, 2 T of water and 1 t (give or take) vanilla in a bowl.  Beat till white and frothy.  

Pour this wet mixture over pecans, stir until coated.  Add the dry mixture, keep tossing until all is covered.  

Bake 300 for 40 minutes.  

I also made a simple vinaigrette with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and garlic powder.  So Good.  

The next day, I made a wrap with left overs.  The vinaigrette was even better next day.  

I'll end with this picture of me and my grandson, Ezra.  Lauren was around all day, but working in the 4H booth.  I missed getting a photo with her.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.