The Northwoods Cottage in August Can Only Mean the Vilas County Fair

Friday

We hadn't been to the cottage since the 4th. I've had weekend wedding gigs and we've been elsewhere. It seemed we should head on up.

My dad said there were renters at the cottage until Friday. So on Friday we took our time getting up. We took a break halfway for lunch and playtime.

I tried my hand at fishing in the Flambeau river while Meadow and Brooke played.

After playing on all the playground equipment it was time to get back on the road.

When we arrived Brayden was ready to get the paddle boat out.

We had planned to go up this weekend with Scott's dad. When I asked my dad if anyone was planning on coming he said the fair was going on and Chelsea and Blake were coming.

Meadow and Nolan tagged along.

Grandpa found a frog and showed the kids. Brayden went searching for frogs the rest of the weekend.

We split up meals again for the weekend. We had dinner first and made split pea and kale soup with popovers.

It was supposed to have sausage in it, but the andouille was not even a bit nuanced. Seward Co-op you need to check your spice levels. Only I ate it.

Harvey liked it.

The plain old split pea soup that is.

After dinner I did some fruitless fishing.

Saturday

Chelsea made apple streusel coffee cake for breakfast.

This was so damn good. I nibbled on it all weekend long.

Right after breakfast Brayden was back at frog hunting.

My dad announced that this year he was finally going to put in a fireplace. He had planned to put one in when he built the place, but just never got around to it.

The paddle boat was indeed the thing to do this weekend.

Brayden insisted on going over by the weeds. By that he meant right into the middle of the weed patch.

Always up to no good.

Nope, no fish in here.

Meadow's favorite chair was also popular all weekend.

Brooke and Chelsea decided to decorate Harvey's hair with toy blocks.

Then everyone had fun decorating my hair with blocks.

It was only fair that you two suffered also.

Kayak, paddle boat, swim.

Rinse and repeat.

Then it was Vilas County Fair time.

We checked out the animals first. Meadow kept putting her fingers in the cages.

She must not realize that her fingers look like chicken food.

We were lucky enough to arrive just as the tractor pull was starting. 

I had never witnessed one of these. Tractor pulling something. It's as simple as that.

Next we made our way to the petting zoo.

The kids loved feeding the animals and the animals loved eating.

We made our way through the midway before choosing an adventure.

The kids wanted to go on rides. This was Meadow's first time on the kiddie rides. She was excited at first then during the whole ride she kept her head down not looking at anything. I guess she wanted to go on the other car ride.

Actually her shoes were bothering her.

We let her choose the next ride and she picked the dragons. Harvey and Nolan's birthday party this year is at Bay Beach, but we can't go. I guess there's always next year.

Then it was fair dinner time.

Everyone went for the standard burgers, hot dogs and cheese curds. I got a meatball sub.

Then Meadow got to ride the car ride she really wanted. 

She likes tiny things so I guess it makes sense why she wanted this ride.

Then everyone played some carnival games.

Meadow played a fishing game and picked out this penguin for her prize.

I always thought that winning was impossible. I guess there were honest carnies.

Mr. Mike and Brayden decided it was high time they tried out the ferris wheel.

This thing whipped around so fast.

Who needs fair rides when you have a stroller.

 Poop stuffed animals were extremely popular this year. Is this some kind of commentary on the presidential election?

Nope it's the emoji craze.

Then the kids went on their last ride of the night on the carousal. Meadow really liked this one too.

We walked or should I say danced around the 4H building.

About this time everyone else went back to cottage.

That's a lot of lakes, Vilas County.

After everyone else headed back we stuck around to hear the band and Meadow danced.

I requested that we make one last lap around the midway.

This was always my favorite fair ride.

There's something magical about the fair at night.

Sunday

The weather looked promising.

Brayden and I took the paddle boat for some fishing right away.

I decided to go out for a kayak ride. When I got to the edge of our lake I thought I heard a strong wind blowing in the breeze. Turns out it was a downpour coming. 

As quickly as it came the rain passed on.

The lake was like bath water after being in the rain.

Might was well take a dip then. Eh.

Before we packed up we got in a quick boat ride.

The kids and Chelsea took up the front. I used to always be up there.

See you in a couple weeks.

Indeed.