Can it be that time already? I guess so…it is no longer bright daylight at 6 in the morning. I’ve put an extra blanket on the bed. I love fall but it’s hard not to think about where it’s going. The best things about autumn, though, are the many County Fairs in Southern Ontario, each showcasing the hard work of so many growers, makers, canners, picklers, farmers and other creative people.
Sunday was bright and cool, a perfect day for a trip to our very own Picton Fair. As transplanted Torontonians, Carl and I were thrilled (and a little smug) about not having to deal with the parking hassles, expense and long line-ups we face at the Canadian National Exposition, our version of a State or National Fair. No line-up for those tasty little Tom Thumb doughnuts!
The craft exhibition was quaint, if a little thin. There were some charming little knitted items like this knitted tea set. Who thinks of 
these things? Why these gorgeous felted mittens didn’t win first prize is a mystery to me…they were my favorite of the knitted items. There were just a few samples of hand-spinning, but each was beautiful.
We saw some quilts, none of which were hand-sewn which was a big surprise to me. The best of the hand crafts in my opinion were the hooked rugs. I’m not talking about the 1970’s latch-hook yarn rugs but the real, old-fashioned wool rugs which are hooked through burlap using strips of woven wool. I’ve not been treated to the sight of this type of work for a very long time. It is not a craft that I’ve learned to do and I was truly fascinated by their subtle shades and the soft evenness of their surfaces.
Hands down favorite? Fruit and vegetables! I suppose, because of my brown thumb, I am awestruck by people who have the ability to make things grow. It blows my mind!
