From Teats to Feet & the Ugliest Dog!

As most of you know from my previous posts, it's fair time in our area.  And I hope I'm not boring you with all the photos I take, but I know I like to check out photos of different areas and events happening around the U.S. so I hope you do as well.

The Sonoma-Marin Fair is located in Petaluma, CA.  I really like it because  A) I grew up going to this fair,

B) It's a small fair  and  C) There's a lot of agriculture involved and shown in this fair, which really gives people an up-close view of farm animals and farming.

I love all the hands-on exhibits you can participate in.  At this fair, they are all  included with the price of admission. 

Paige is milking, or trying to milk this life size Holstein cow.  These two teats must be dry, let's try the other side.........

Mission accomplished.

In the same area, you can also try to rope a steer from sitting atop a saddle, play dress up in gold rush attire and .......

discover gold!

Paige, Bryce, Cam and Leila are panning for gold.

Bryce found a nugget.  Which he can then take to the 'General Store' and buy a Tootsie roll or two.

After all the Tootsie rolls were bought and eaten, it was time for an ice cream break.  I think this booth is the busiest booth at the fair.  Clover serves up FREE vanilla ice cream cones every day from 1 - 4 p.m. 

We sat in on the Holstein show for a little while.  Our friend, Frankie is showing her Holstein.

Over at the rabbit and cavie barn, our friend Megan shows Paige how she shows her rabbit.  Look at how still this rabbit lays in Megan's hands.  Megan is an expert rabbit handler.

They also have the Cutest petting zoo you can visit for no extra cost as well!

Loved this little goat!

I think Paige wanted to curl up and take a nap with these girls.

Where else can you go and pet a deer? 

Crazy hairdo on this one.

And because the $7, 5 minute pony ride is better than the free horse ride Paige can get at home, her Godmother, Devi bought her a couple rides.  Thanks Devi!

While we were petting animals and riding ponies, Bryce was peddling a tractor pull competition.

And of course no fair is complete without the carnival portion of it.  We rode a few rides.

It was nice having Devi with us.....I made the poor thing go on all the rides with my kids.

(I don't think she minded though)

Paige almost hurled on the tea cup ride, although you can't tell from this photo.

And after a VERY LONG day, it always feels good to get your feet rubbed, or your entire body.

Bryce could have kept feeding the Jiggle Foot machine quarters ALL day. 

He was obsessed.

I can't say that I blame him!

Friday night is also the night the 22nd annual Ugliest Dog Contest was held at the fair.  We missed it but here's the winner:

Princess Abby ~ a 4 year old, recently rescued, Chihuahua mix.

Her curved back and ever-squinting left eye won her the title and $1,000 dollars!  I think she's a cutie :)

Abby taking her red carpet victory walk.....

Abby's photo by Associated Press

I hope you get a chance to visit your own local fair :)

Happy Saturday!