Happy B-day Big Sis !

Sunday, rainy & cold..br-r-r-r

I hope my oldest sister

is enjoying her 58th Birthday...

we sang and left her a phone message.

Since she didn't answer

I hope that meant

she is out enjoying herself !!!

Tet Trung Thu

Happy

Mid-Autumn

Moon Festival

- a fall harvest celebration

in Asian cultures.

We are feasting on a bountiful

meal made by my daughter

and 4 yr old granddaughter.

Barbeque Pork Dumplings, Crab Ragoon,

Spring Rolls, Shrimp Lomein,

Orange Chicken and

of course Moon Cakes.

Mm-m-m-m-m-m-m-m!

It is rainy and dreary today so I am not sure

we will see our Beautiful Harvest Moon tonight.

Background:

Vietnamese families plan their activities around their children on this special day. In a Vietnamese folklore, parents were working so hard to prepare for the harvest that they left the children playing by themselves. To make up for lost time, parents would use the Mid-Autumn festival as an opportunity to show their love and appreciation for their children.
Appropriately, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Children’s Festival. Trung-Thu activities are often centered around children and education. Parents buy lanterns for their children so that they can participate in a candlelit lantern procession at dawn. Lanterns represent brightness while the procession symbolizes success in school. Unicorn dancers are also very popular in Trung-Thu festivities.
Parents tell their children fairy tales and serve mooncakes and other special treats under the silvery moon. A favorite folklore is about a carp that wanted to become a dragon. The carp worked and worked and eventually transformed itself into a dragon. This is the story behind the mythical symbol, Cá hóa Rông. Parents use this story to encourage their children to work hard so that they can become whatever they want to be.

Go Panthers !!

We

Welcome

You,

from...

Lil Orchid is one of the cutest Cheerleaders...she Loves it !

She loves the dance, cheers and her new friends.

It was the first home game and she did great,

even though I (MamMaw) thought she looked way to old.

The Football team is for boys 5-14 yrs and the girls are

matched to the different teams.

She has eight girls on her squad.

Packing Up and Driving Home..no wait!

Yes, we should have packed the van and head home today, Monday, but, the graceful person I have become since my knee surgery prevented that. My legs were tired ,even tough I had my brace on,I became unbalanced and stumbled almost going down. So I called my son and asked if we could stay an extra night to rest my leg and hopefully get the swelling down.

Lil Orchid waited patiently when it was time for Uncle Nathan to get home from work (she stood on his balcony for over 45 minutes). But I never saw two bigger smiles when her tiny voice called to him when he exited his car "Uncle Nathan Your Home".

Sunday, Last Day of Oktoberfest

It was a nice day, so before the crowds started to descend upon us we let Lil Orchid write & draw on the walkway by our tent with chalk, she had lots of fun and met a local bike rider, Jimmy enjoying the park. He stopped to watch Lil Orchid and began a conversation with us, then Lil Orchid handed him some chalk and asked "What do you want to draw?" He clumsily made some marks and even I had trouble identifying them, but he was quick to say it had been a very long time. He also said he never imagined how such a little one could make him smile. I learned in his conversation that he and his buddy were both disabled vets. He talked quite a bit with Lil Orchid and asked her if she new her ABC's, of course she sang them to him. Then he asked if she sang anything else...he opened that door didn't he...so she sang You are my Sunshine, then God Bless America....that's when he got teary eyed and said he had to go - watching him made me tear up too.

The day went on meeting some CUTE customers whom their parents let us take their photos...Thanks!! Look at the little Beauty in Zebra Stripes and one of our Hair bows, that afternoon she won Lil Gretel 2010. Later a precious little girl's parents bought her a Turquoise knit hat & flower, and strolling in ready to take on the world this Sweetheart got two of our hair bows to adorn her head (she tasted them to make sure they were good) We were then visited by the Brightest Bengal Fan who's wearing one of our custom handprinted Bengals Hair bows.

Saturday's Oktoberfest in Kentucky

Our first full day started with a thunderstorm and winds from the hurricane down south. After the downpour in the tent and the clean up we were just thankful that this all happened before the Festival actually started.

Lil Orchid is wearing the Pretzel dirndle skirt and petticoats, bloomers and top I made her for a festive Bavarian look. So So CUTE...don't ya think.

Oktoberfest Opening Ceremony

Got up early to drive across the river into Kentucky and finish setting up before the afternoon crowds. Got to sit down for a breif time but used that time to get some extra sewing done on my daughters knit hats and pacifier clips. Then Lil Orchid and I walked the fair grounds and checked out the very loud rides. My son drove over from Cincinatti after work and joined us, he is always such a Big Help, Thanks!

Long Drive to Kentucky

I can't believe the constant construction

we encountered on our way to Kentucky/Ohio.

We were exhausted with the slo-o-o-o-w drive

but got the tents up and most our merchandise unloaded.

For the Love of Kentucky & Ohio

Been working really hard for the Oktoberfest in Covington, KY

Pumpkins are ready

Harvest Thyme Festival,

2nd & final day.

The weather turned warm and there were no breezes to reach a nice comfort zone, but good news "no rain". The crowds were sporadic so Lil Orchid and I slowly managed the hilly terrain during our walks while my daughter watched the tent. We met alot of new friendly vendors, who Lil Orchid calls our new friends. We would play and collect acorns we will use on a new craft idea. We are very grateful for our NEW Customers!

We met a nice young couple (Moms a teacher) who makes attractive primitive furniture, they were selling at the opposite end of the City Park. They have a 2 yr old little girl, what a cutie! So if you are looking for unique, well made accent pieces for yourself or as a gift , just email them for information of their next shows. They don't have a web site at this time, but you can reach them at:

Saturday Sunshine for the Festival

Harvest Thyme Festival,

Carlyle, IL

It was a cool morning,

made it nice for early set up.

We had a big space

to really showcase our creations.

A little disappointed,

because we asked prior

to applying if there were other children or hairbow vendors and was told only one, (there were 4 not including ourselves).

Thank goodness no one creates the quality and originality that my daughter does with her hair bows and flowers...unfortunately, they had to pass all of them before reaching us. ;(

Working around the house...

How do you have fun when Mam Maw mows and Mom Mom weeds....