Sat. May 28th 2011, Mennonite Relief Sale

Join us as we travel North America in our

Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August 2006

First of all, Happy Birthday to my son Ken, 41 today !

       This morning is overcast and very foggy.

Foggy Morning

       We are up early and at the New hamburg Arena for 6:45 this morning, the parking lot is filling up already, a lot of people camped for the weekend.

parking

      The Quilt Auction begins at 8:30am.

Arena Entrance

       The people were already lining up for T-balls (cake donuts), yeast donuts, the Pancake and sausage breakfast before 7:00 am. The whole fairgrounds is set up with vendors in huge tents with various foods available, so much variety, they are making yeast donuts, t-balls, bbq'd back bacon on a bun, lamb on a bun, herring on a bun, apple fritters, pancakes and sausage, home made ice cream, BBQ'd chicken legs, french fries, creme filled donuts, whole pies or by the slice, hot dogs, hamburgs, groups of people hand making egg rolls and spring rolls, apple juice, apple butter, fresh preserves, honey but the big food attraction is the fresh made strawberry pies. 1/4 of the arena stands has people there cleaning strawberries, assembling boxes for them and making the pies. The line up for pies was the length of the arena from 7:00am until the pies sold out shortly after 9:30am.

       Suzie and her mom were selling reserved seats for the quilt auction (fri night and Sat) that started at 8:00am and runs most of the day with 200 donated quilts to sell. Most selling for hundreds of dollars. Quilt number 4 sold for $750.00 and I heard that the highest price was $9,100.00 by the time they had left there at 2:pm.

       I wandered about and checked vendors out, including crafts and displays, entertainment for children and facepainting, I had a hand made eggroll for breakfast, then a back bacon on a bun for desert. Then was surprized to find my mother with so many people there, checking out all the stuff that was going on. Suzie's father was involved with planning and setup of the operation and nephew Greg was again involved with the auction as an entertaining auctioneer and helper working the crowds.

       By this time it was after 9:00am and I had to leave the ladies to have fun while I had fun going to my oldest grandsons baseball game about 45 minutes away, stopping first at the farm to get the battery charger for my camera (forgot to charge it earlier). Watching young grandchildren playing baseball or any sport for that matter is so rewarding and great way to see the family being so active. Two more ball games next week as well, can't wait.

       Shortly after noon I called Suzie to see if she needed a ride back, but her brother and sister in-law were there so I just returned home, to rest my back, it is feeling much better. Need to pace myself as Kevin and Ruth says.

       When they got home Sandy had brought some plants, so her and Suzie set to work putting some in the gardens and a couple of hanging planters. I supervised and took a few pictures,

Suzie hanging the planter

Passion Flower

the gardens

Contessa what are these?

       Then I set to work making supper for us tonight. Barbie Q'd garlic farmers sausage, sauerkraut, scalloped potatoes, cooked carrots and a tossed salad.

a tasty meal

       Then afterwards we all got to sit on the porch for while watching the sun set. The perfect oend to a busy day.

Lots more Pictures I took Today

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