2022, Art, Family, Mysteries, State Fair, Uncategorized

Mysteries of Life

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When I was visiting my mom mid-August, we talked about the State Fair – more than once.  She wanted to know about all the things that I like to do, which is funny since Nonny would hate the State Fair.  In fact, it would be a toss-up as to which of my parents would hate the State Fair the most.  Probably my dad.  I’m not sure where my genetic pre-disposition to loving the fair came from… certainly not from either Nonny or JB.

The food, the things for sale, the animal barns and the pet pavilion are easy to explain.  Crop art was harder to explain and when I got around to the Butterheads, I was really at a loss.  I’m not sure it ever made sense to Nonny.  Truly when you think about it, how could it make sense to anyone who hasn’t seen it.

Dairy Princess and her court having their heads carved into huge chunks of butter over the course of the fair?  Sounds clear enough, typed out like this, but it wasn’t that easy to explain to my mother.  I did send her the above photo a few days ago but she hasn’t responded yet.  She’s probably still shaking her head over how I “turned out” after she so carefully raised me!

What’s the latest mystery you’ve read?

60 thoughts on “Mysteries of Life”

  2. The most recent mystery I am trying to solve is where did Kryill put his favorite chew. I found water buffalo tails at the store, and he loves them so much he hides them whenever I give him one. Then, of course, he wants another one.

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  4. Rise and Shine, Baboons,

    Lately I have been charmed by Susan Wittig Albert’s “Darling Dahlias” mystery series about Darling, Alabama in the Depression era 1930s. There is a woman pilot, the danger of sexual activity without many birth control options, Prohibition and the murder of a teen-aged moon-shiner by a federal officer, and a sheriff who dies of snake bite, and best of all, a garden club. She has other series, as well. I have not yet sampled the Beatrix Potter series. This author is prolific.

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    1. Jacque, do you think Nonny would like this series? It sounds like she might. I’m still sending her the occasional book until she can drive and pick up the stuff at the library. Looking to expand the stuff I’m sending her.

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    1. This reminds me of a joke about a chainsaw. A guy complains it’s not cutting very well. The salesman fires it up and the guy says “what’s that noise??”

      Have you tried starting it? 😉

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      1. I’m not a newcomer to engines. Nor are the three workshops I have taken it to, including the one with the Stihl trained mechanic. None of us have fixed it.
        Meanwhile, I’ve bought an Echo, as I need a running saw.

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    1. i saw the princess at the fair this year and she says she’ll eat all the butter they cot off for the next bunch of months then have to decide what to do with the head
      you can’t keep it in the fridge forever

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      1. I just learned this tidbit this year as well, that they get not only the head but all of the scraps that happen during the sculpture. That’s a lot of butter.

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  7. The latest mystery I’m reading is which defense will 45 select out of the current half dozen or more he has floated to excuse possession of government documents.

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  9. I think the last one read was a Louise Penny – All the Devils Are Here. Man, she comes up with some of the scariest scenarios.

    Unless you count Alexander McCall Smith’s Ladies #1 Detective Agency series, which I don’t really – more charming cultural exploration than true mystery.

    At first glance I read the question as “What’s the latest mystery you’ve encountered?” That would be how to fit everything into a 7-day week. September is always really “thick.”

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    1. I’ve been aware that Louise Penny was out there for years but didn’t read the first Three Pines book until about a month ago. Now I’m going to the library today to pick up #5. I’m not sorry I didn’t read them sooner, because now their a gift I can keep opening 13 more times.
      I went to Google to see how old Louise Penny is (64), so I could tell if she’d be writing for a while more. A side search from that, disclosed that there is a movie of the first Three Pines book (only available on Acorn), AND an Amazon Prime series of 8 1-hour episodes in the works. I hope they’re doing a good job. One review of the 2013 movie begins like this: “Still Life, A Three Pines Mystery is but a shadow of Louise Penny books’ beautiful characters, scenery and literary writing. In fact, it’s nothing but a bad Hallmark movie. Ruth Zardo is portrayed like Granny on the old Waltons TV show, a shame given that in the books she’s a complex, acid-tongued genius poet and a pure joy to read.”

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      2. I think that one of the very, very few films which I’ve seen, that actually follows the book, and the characters, to some extent, is “The Remains of the Day”. A very, very good book, about a subject which is alien to me, a butler, and a very good film, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Not a mystery though.
        Just saying, no wonder authors get so upset on film sets. Mostly, the book goes out of the window.

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        1. From a review on Amazon: “I have followed the Gamache books avidly since discovering them two years ago, and I have gobbled them up despite the frequently poor writing and abysmal grammar. But the previous books pale in comparison to the egregious treatment of the English language found here, in Kingdom of the Blind, where you will struggle to find a complete sentence amongst pages and pages of fragments. Short phrases. Two or three words. Never knowing. What’s coming next. Or why you’re reading. When actually. You feel. Seasick. Plot is nearly forgotten. Because. You can’t actually get. To what’s coming. Next.”

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        1. Perhaps a bad moment to state my position. But here it is.
          The British royal family is founded on robbery and murder. They are no better than the rest of us, as they continue to demonstrate, and their only purpose is to provide extremely expensive pomp and ceremony for those who get a thrill from such things.

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    2. I’m wondering whether he will use Charles as his Royal name. The first two Charles in English history aren’t that well thought of but he’s been Charles for decades so I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

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      2. I wonder what William, the presumed king after Charles, will choose for a name. “King Billy”, or WIlliam of Orange (William III) was not well thought of by the Irish (see the Battle of the Boyne), so another King Billy on the throne might be a rather unpopular choice.

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    3. I had heard this morning that she was having health issues that concerned her doctors, and the family was gathering. I didn’t really think it would be that quick, though. Thought it might be something like Francisco Franco… lingering for a time. I suppose it is just as well that it didn’t drag out. I have trouble thinking of the reign of Charles as a very long one, or significant. It seems he will be a sort of transitional monarch.

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      1. If he lives as long as his mother, his reign will be 23 years. We’ll see if he got both of his parents long-life genes

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  13. Well, anyway, OT: I think I’ve managed to get hooked up to watch Steve’s memorial, and it was an effort to get the hang of it, but I’ve learned from it. I have to watch on my phone, and would have loved to have been able to speak to you all. And was ready for full disclosure, if it came to you seeing me! But I don’t see either of those things happening. I have to decide now what to drink as a toast to Steve, I cannot and will not, drink whiskey. I can’t buy cherry brandy now, and it’s kind of late to be making my own. But I’m working on it, see you there, I hope. I’ll be seeing how many of you I can pick out, from the few photos I have from Steve.

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  14. Barb asked me about Sandy. I assume a few others of you might want to know. I will give a brief report. An employee of the assisted living place tested positive and four days later Sandy did too, although I told them all four days she had it. She is the only one who did. Because she is 82 and has 6 major illnesses they wanted to give her the infusion. But she would have to go to the hospital for that but the hospital said she should not come near the place as it is overrun with covid patients. So they decided to give her the oral med lagevrio. It took three more days for all the protocols to be met. She was not in peril but was miserable, especially in pain. I was allowed to see her but had to mask, goggle, and gown up. The drug finally came too late at night for her to take a capsule. The 18-year old aide mixed the contents of the capsules with pudding and gave it to her at 8:30 at night. All against the rules we were sure. She is a special young lady. She almost runs the place. 12 hours later Sandy was still in pain but was almost herself. It took three days for the pain to subside. It was wonderful. In the end she was in quarantine for 14 days. I was there every day, most mornings and every afternoon, in my own little sweat box. She still sleeps a great deal. It probably has had a permanent effect on her, on her decline.
    My nine year old grandson who has so many issues saw a neurologist specialist, pediatric and CP specialist. Confirmed he has Sensory Processing Disorder, no doubt he says inherited from me. And separately not related to SPD he says he is sure he has a mild case of cerebral palsy, which I have thought for about 5 years. He will have an MRI to see, now that his mother has calmed down about it all. A diagnosis is good if he has it. He will get lots of help.
    In the middle of all this I had a MRI of my brain to see if I have a tumor. That was almost a month ago. I still have not received a real report on it. Dealing with other health issues of mine.
    I am exhausted, tired of dealing with difficult people. Strung tight. I avoid commenting on here as a result.
    BTW Sandra has been in care for one year as of today.

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    3. sorry your medical challenges have been so front and center this last couple of years
      it must be exhausting
      hope sandy rally’s in tear two (hard to believe it’s been a year already)
      my grandson denver the 21 month old is a very happy but subdued kid
      it came out at the fair this year he has sensory issues and can’t stand loud noises
      my wife knew immediately about the minneapolis based group that helps the sensory issue people find a place of comfort in the storm
      i’ll pass it on when i see her again ( i’m still in ely) and maybe your grandson can get some help there
      your brain scan will come back and hopefully shed some light on the troubles you are having i hope
      in the meantime here’s hoping everything turns out ok
      and that you find some resolution to the shit storm

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  15. OT.
    About Steve’s memory gathering. I have received the basic zoom address for Saturday afternoon. Is there a password? All my recent zoom meetings required a password.

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