Our World: The San Benito County Fair

I never gave much thought to the definition of county fair. Nor did I ever wonder if the term was even in the dictionary. Until last night, that is.  In honor of the San Benito County Fair this weekend (October 3, 4, and 5), I thought I'd feature it every day this week, but, as usual, without a plan about what to post. And, when in a mire about what to write, I reach for the dictionary and if the dictionary inspires naught, the encyclopedia.

According to Merriam Webster, the term county fair is a noun.  It originated in 1856. It means "a fair usually held annually at a set location in a county especially to exhibit local agricultural products and livestock."   Oxford Dictionaries.com defines county fair one better: "A competitive exhibition of livestock, agricultural products, and household skills held annually by a town, county, or state and also featuring entertainment and educational displays."

 
The San Benito County Fair is held at Bolado Park, eight miles south of Hollister. According to the May 10, 1938 issue of the Free Lance,  in 1922, some folks asked Julia Bolado Davis if they could hold a county fair on part of her property. She said yes and the rest was history.

Today, I'm linking up with Our World Tuesday. I invite you to come check out posts by other bloggers around the world. Please click here. 

P.S. Here's the link to yesterday's post about the San Benito County Fair. By the way, I have no idea what I'll write about tomorrow.

Up Ahead: The 2014 San Benito County Fair

2011 San Benito County Fair

Yaay! It's county fair time in our part of the world. Over the next four days, children and adults are taking their entries down to Bolado Park for the San Benito County Fair. Then all through next weekend, we can stroll among the exhibits and check out all the wonderful entries—livestock, art, flower arrangements, photographs, paintings, crafts, cookies, pies, pickled vegetables, quilts, crafts, and so on.

2009 San Benito County Fair

The 91st annual San Benito County Fair runs from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5. For details about hours, admission, and schedule, click here to go to the fair's website. The San Benito County Express will be offering a free bus shuttle to the fair, which will make stops in Hollister and San Juan Bautista.  Click here for the shuttle schedule.

2012 San Benito County Fair

Today, I'm hanging out at Smiling Sally's Blue Monday. Come join me by clicking here. 

By the way, I'll be posting photos from the past six fairs this week. 

2013 San Benito County Fair

Heading Up to the Clouds

Yesterday was a gorgeous day to hike the Anza Trail, a mile or so south of the City of San Juan Bautista. The trail, formally known as the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, is 1,200 miles long, stretching from Nogales, Arizona to the Carquinez Straits in Contra Costa, California.

The local segment of the trail used to be the Old Stage Road, on which once upon a time stage coaches ran between San Juan Bautista and Salinas. The first mile of the 4.5 trail is a rather steep climb that I wonder how often passengers had to get off the coach and walk.

Today, I'm hanging out at The Weekend in Black and White. Click here to see other black and white photos by bloggers around the world.

One of the Three Sisters

Don't let this photo fool you. The peak is further away than it looks. I took this from the north end of Santa Ana Valley Road when I was bicycling around the valley a couple weeks ago.

BBQ, Bread, and Honey

Where can you buy some of the best locally-made BBQ, European-style breads, and honey from San Benito County bees?

"Ooo-ooo, I know, I know," she said, waving her arms in the air.

Head for that empty lot on the west side of Highway 25, just before you reach Bertuccio's, which is near the corner of Union Road. Every Friday afternoon,  that lot is occupied by Mansmith's BBQ,  Suncoast Organic Farm Bakery,  and Bray Apiaries. All of the foodstuffs are mighty delicious.

Hmmmm, what's for dinner?

Rain! Yaaaaaay, Rain!

The sound of rain in the streets, the drain pipes, the roof, and all over is a very welcoming sound and sight for us who are experiencing a severe drought. And, it's really splashing and dripping and splattering with happy gusto right now.

I thought it was just fog out there so when I finally looked out the window this morning, voila, wet sidewalk. I quickly went out the front door to get the newspaper and, of course, to take photos of the rain.

Thank you, Great Spirit of the Universe!

Can you see the rain drops?

Took Wing

One definition of to take wing is to become joyful.  Perhaps, these ocean birds flying over the Asilomar State Marine Reserve may not be able to smile, but I like to think their spirits wore joyful smiles. I know that's how I felt as the Husband and I took wing and wandered around Monterey yesterday.