about busy Saturday numero uno

Remember when I said we didn't have a free Saturday until the end of May? Well, it's still true. This past Saturday commenced the insanity.

We did get to enjoy a leisurely morning with a late breakfast.

I made pancakes from scratch for the first time (ran out of Bisquick), and I liked them way better. It's not even that much more difficult to make them from scratch anyway. No more Bisquick here, please.

After breakfast, we got ready to attend a wedding of a friend that Aaron has known since he was in college and that I have since gotten to know.

We drove to Pleasant Garden, NC and the wedding was at an adorable bed and breakfast.

So pretty (but hot!)

Any wedding that offers Cheerwine at the reception is a friend of ours indeed. 

We clean up pretty good.

We had to leave the reception early to head back to Raleigh for a dinner appointment. We also had to be back in time to visit our beloved Caribou Coffee on its last day at the location nearest to us.

Oh how to express my husband's sadness at the closing of his favorite coffee shop/sometimes office/meeting place/make his day better escape? He even admitted to some tears in his eyes.

Heartbroken.

We will miss you, Caribou. We will come visit your other non-convenient locations whenever possible.

Anyway.

We ended our night hanging out in beautiful downtown Raleigh with new friends. Thanks to my brother and his girlfriend for watching Penny during our ten hour absence!

It may be small, but we still love it so.

in pictures

I love living in Raleigh.

about the NC State Fair

If you don't live in North Carolina, this may not seem like a big deal at all. But let me just tell you:  the NC State Fair is in town. 

You better believe it.

Now, I don't know if state fairs are popular in all states, but here in North Carolina, the fair is a big. deal.

Yes, I'm not sure exactly why. Is it the rides thrown together with rusty screws? Is it the greasy (but oh so tasty) food? The fact that you can get just about anything you ever wanted fried on a stick? The smells? The sounds?

I just know that for the 10 days the fair is in town, it is a hot topic of news and conversation, a cause for very long traffic jams, and you just better go if you don't want to be scoffed at.

So, go we did.

Friday night after I got home from work, we changed into proper fair attire. Well, not really...we just wore normal clothes. We hopped in the car with our pre-bought tickets (they're $3 cheaper you know?) and cash for parking and food. We slowly made our way there in the awful traffic. We found a parking lot, finally, for a $10 spot. We made it to the gate. We realized we had grabbed one ticket and one receipt from the glove compartment. We walked all the way back to the car. We made sure to have 2 tickets this time. We made it back to the gate. And in we went.

Oh, NC State Fair. How do you stay the same year after year and still attract us so?

We made our way through the crowds for a hand-dipped corn dog. Check.

We found our favorite place, The Tater Hut, for some fresh ribbon fries. Check.

We went to the NC Agriculture tent for our annual bottle of Cheerwine. They didn't have any this year. Fail.

We were momentarily saddened until Aaron spotted Cheerwine at a nearby pizza stand. Check.

I was determined to try the NC State Ice Cream that always has a freakishly long line. We got it. I didn't really see the big deal. Check.

We went to the Village of Yesteryear (my favorite) to see the crafty things and bought a couple of super cute stuffed animals for kids we don't yet have. Check.

For the first time ever, we walked through the gardens. That was fun. Check.

We went to the Exhibition Center to see the prize winning vegetables and pumpkins, and the adorable baby animals. Can I just have a baby cow for one day? We bought a $1 carton of milk from the NC State Dairy. Check.

Then we were about all faired-out for one night.

The NC Fair is pretty fun. If nothing else, the people watching is totally worth going!

We will actually be back again this coming Friday night with our crew from Journey18:25. So I better not eat too much else this week I guess!

Do you have a favorite food, ride, or attraction at the State Fair?

about the Farmer's Market

On Wednesday, I took the boys downtown to hang with my mom for the day like we do every week. After some morning setbacks, we got down there an hour later than usual.

Instead of going to Pullen Park as planned, my mom said they were having a special Farmer's Market thing with bees and honey and things.

I don't like bees and made sure they weren't going to be flying out and about.

She said no.

So we went.

And it was pretty cool.

We've walked to the Farmer's Market a couple other times this summer but hadn't ever been able to spend too much time. We didn't spend too much time this day either, but we did get to make our own honey butter!

They put heavy cream in a jar and we shook it until it hardened. Then they added honey and we shook it more. And then we got to take it home.

Bensen and Keyen got a couple giveaways too.

And we saw lots of bees safe and sound in their hives, just where I like them to be.

So yeah, Raleigh is fun.