Finally, I can take a moment to breathe! My fair entries were submitted yesterday afternoon, and the Hancock County Fair began today. My entries were judged today, as well.

On Monday night I baked for a couple of hours without any major problems. My chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars turned out lovely and tasted quite delicious, if I may say so myself.

Most of my problems, though, came from trying to cut cardboard with an X-Acto blade. The photos needed to be mounted on cardboard at least 1/8 inch think, and I, of course, had a difficult time cutting through the cardboard. And, of course, I ran out of proper-thickness cardboard, so I had to use other cardboard and layer it. I was doing this all while baking my cookies, so I was running back and forth between my cardboard and my oven, because I never set a timer for my desserts the entire night.

I managed to get most everything finished Monday night, with final preparations Tuesday morning and afternoon before delivering them to the fairgrounds, when I breathed my final sigh of relief.

Then today, I headed back to the fairgrounds to check on my baked goods, and sadly, neither won. The newsroom was disappointed, but they still love my baked goods, which is all that really matters.

Again this evening, I returned for the photo judging, and my categories already had winners. I wanted some input, but oh well. I check my flower first: no ribbon. Then my sunset and no ribbon. But then, I see my Venetian canals and there’s a red, second-place ribbon hanging on my photograph!

It was so exciting! And it was nice to know that all my work for this paid off for something, even if it is a $4 premium, which might just be the best thing imaginable.

And then I spent the evening watching marching bands, a scene I did not expect at the fair and do not associate with fairs, but I love marching bands, especially good ones, and there was one I may have to see again this football season. So all in all, definitely a good night at the fair.