Fillmore County Fair!

The fair starts today! Well, there was some non-livestock judging yesterday, but today is the real kick-off. The fair runs from today through Saturday and is held in Preston.

Tuesday, July 20--Entry Day
8:00a.m. 4-H Horse Training
1:00p.m. 4-H Horse Pleasure Show
3:00p.m. 4-H Poultry Show
6:30p.m. Church night in the big tent (That's where I'm headed once guests are checked in!
7:00p.m. Dairy and General Livestock Judging Contest
7:00p.m. Bull Riding in the Grandstand!

Wednesday, July 21--Family Day
7:30a.m. 4-H Horse Training
7:30a.m. 4-H Swine Show
8:00a.m. Horse Trail and Game Show
9:00a.m. Open Class Judging
12:00p.m. Sheep Show
1:00-5:00p.m. Armband Hours!
4:30p.m. Brother Music, Sister Rhythm in the Big Tent
4:30-6:30p.m. Free Tetanus Shots in the Commercial Building
5:00p.m. Cup Stacking
7:00p.m. Triple B Rodeo!

That's just a taste of what you'll find at the fair this year...I'm excited to explore it myself as this will be my first year in Fillmore County. I'm not sure what to expect, since I grew up in Owatonna, MN--home of the Steele County Fair which is the largest County Fair in the state! I fear I have been spoiled... All the same, I'm looking forward to the church service, the excitement of having all different kinds of animals around, the food, the talent show and other local skills, and the Subway eating contest (though that sounds like an oxymoron). There will also be a tractor pull, a hypnotist, a dance, and a Guitar Hero contest, so come on out to the fair this week! Coffee Street Inn has a few openings left for the remaining weeknights of the fair, and other lodging has availability for the weekend.

Recipe!

This is one of my favorites-- I tried it a few weeks ago and got great results! You can remove the green pepper if you would like (Matt said he wasn't fond of it) but I would definitely not limit yourself on black pepper. Feel free to use this as a side dish rather than breakfast as well!

Ingredients:

One packet of frozen hash browns (shredded potatoes) 26 oz
1 medium onion chopped
1/2green pepper chopped
1 can mushroom soup
1 cup of milk
1 cup of grated cheese
1 Tablespoon of oil
Dash of hot sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste


Saute onion and green pepper in oil. Add frozen shredded hash brown potatoes. Add can of condensed mushroom soup. Add milk and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste and hot sauce. Cook for 4 minutes or so until everything is blended and put in a greased casserole dish (you can put it in the fridge at this point to bake later if so desired). Bake at 350 degrees for one hour (should be slightly brown on top)

You can prepare this the night before and cook it the next morning for brunch and you will be amazed at the compliments you get.

Hash Brown Casserole presented by Haley Farm Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center
http://www.bbonline.com/recipe/haleyfarm_md_recipe2.html

Weekend events...

So... It's definitely July here in the lodging business, and I got a bit behind on this blog. A couple fun things have happened already--Charlie Warner Live Entertainment at Riverside on the Root last night from 5-9, and Potiche Pottery hosted a 21+ event of designing a wine goblet and bottle stopper!

A few things going on already today as well:
Antique tractors are in town! They are out at the ball fiend here in Lanesboro until dark tonight. The 170 tractors stopped here on the Northern Iowa Tractor Ride.

Sidewalk sales are also taking place from 4-8p.m. today! Shops all over downtown Lanesboro will be setting out their wares for sales and summer fun.

Dance at Riverside on the Root tonight! From 9-11:30p.m. the Kozy "Lil" Duo will be playing a wide range of music from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's! The 'dance variety' music will be performed by Jim Kozan and Bob Stephen and will feature the guitar, piano, drums, bass, and vocal harmonies.

Tomorrow, enjoy a beaded jewelry demonstration by Karen Killian and Rhea Lowell at the Lanesboro Arts Center. There is no charge for the 1-4p.m. event.

John Black will also perform at Riverside on the Root from 9-11:30p.m. He is Lanesboro's local musician and will play a variety of folk, rock, and blues.

On Sunday July 18th, enjoy an eclectic mix of acoustic rock, folk, blues, country at the Riverside on the Root; Steve Fessler will be performing from 5-9p.m.

Another 19th Century Day camp will take place on Monday the 19th in Historic Forestville. The cost is only $50 and the event will keep the kids entertained from 10a.m. to 4p.m.!

"We All Scream For Ice Cream!" Paint a set of sundae bowls in the pottery studio of Potiche Pottery! On July 20 from 1-3p.m. those over age 4 are invited to join in the fun. On the 21st, come ready to support the Twins as you create a baseball box along with a stadium sign. Enjoy a tailgate party complete with hotdogs! GO TWINS!

Tuesday the 20th is Community International Night: Join the Lanesboro community as the welcome special guests "Sounds of Hope." Sounds of Hope is a 6-week performing arts camp is Saint Paul, MN for kids age 10 and older. Area churches and the Sons of Norway Lodge will provide a potluck, after which Sounds of Hope will perform in the gazebo. They will also lead families in cultural games and activities for a night of free family fun! Sounds of Hope will also be featured by "Over the Back Fence" on Wednesday, July 21 at 7:30p.m.

A very interesting Art Workshop will be held next Thursday, the 22nd at Sylvan Park. The Lanesboro Arts Center and artist Karl Unnasch invite the public to create an iron sculpture! The iron pour will be held Saturday July 24th and pieces will be ready to pick up the following day. Iron pour artists will be meeting in an open forum Thursday night at the St. Mane Theatre to meet the public and teach about the process of iron pouring.

This week at the Commonweal...
"Enchanted April" will be performed July 16 and 19 at 7:30p.m. and July 17 at 1:30p.m.
"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" will be performed July 15, 17, and 27 at 7:30p.m. and July 18 at 1:30p.m.

Whew..that was a keyboard full! Time to head out and water the flowers-- the weather here has been perfect for any water activities as humidity is 90% and temperature is 90 degrees, so you should visit soon!

Strange news of the area...

I was reading through the newspaper, the Fillmore County Journal, this afternoon, and thought a few articles very interesting...

First, this article headline is definitely not something you read everyday: "Runaway horse and buggy results in accident."
An Amish buggy is a fairly normal occurrence in Harmony, but this was no normal ride. The buggy was being pulled by two horses-- one was being trained, and according to witnesses "it just went wild!" The buggy crashed into a fire hydrant and came apart. No one was injured, though the two Amish boys driving the buggy were shaken.

Next, Historic Forestville will be hosting their annual Pickling Program on August 21. "Pickle It Day" will allow participants to assist gardeners in picking the most ripe garden vegetables including peppers, cucumbers, beets, onions, cabbage, and more. The vegetables will then be cleaned and processed using 19th century pickling methods for food preservation. Sounds like something my dad would enjoy!

And, from the Bluff Country Reader, a new soda pop flavor has been announced by the Spring Grove Soda Company. In a combined effort with Lanesboro Local, a rhubarb-flavored soda pop was created! Th new flavor is called "Rhub-Berry," and it was created by combining rhubarb flavoring to the already existing strawberry. Next year's Rhubarb Festival go-ers will have something new to try!

Coming Events...

Many interesting events coming up this weekend! Some, one time only...

Ghost Hunting: Close Encounters of the Third Kind will be held at Mrs B's Inn on Saturday, July 10, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM with Dr Nancy Horvath-Zum, the ghost hunter of Rochester. Cost is $60.00 per person. Limited seating still available. Call 507 261-3588 or Mrs B's inn at 507 467-2154.

Also Saturday, the Lanesboro Arts Center will be featuring Laura Stamper. "Wearable Sculpture: The Feminine Form" features Laura's jewelry at the 'Cornocopia Artist Spotlight' reception.

Margaritas and Markdowns: All day long, downtown Lanesboro will be treating guests to a day of promotions and refreshments!

Eagle Bluff Night Camp! Students entering grade 6-8 are invited to Eagle Bluff to take night hikes, star gaze, observe critters, and more from July 11-14. Rest assured, campers will have 8 hours of sleep each day-- this is a camp for the true night owl! Call 467-2467 for details.

Jaggedease Live: A mix of rock and blues music, plus some originals, will be performed at Riverside on the Root July 11.

A Meighen Homestead 19th Century day camp will take place in Forestville on July 12 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Children will measure fabric and medicines in the general store and create a storekeeper's secret code. They will also tend the garden, fields and chickens, saw and carry wood, bake cookies, and join in 1899 children's games.

Stone Mill Suites and Riverside on the Root have been open for 10 years! There will be free Inn tours, local talent entertainment, appetizers and drinks, and dessert at Riverside on the Root will be free with the purchase of a meal! All this will begin at 5:30p.m. on Tuesday July 13.

On the 14th, Joe Price will be performing blues music at Riverside on the Root. He received the 2009 Independent Music Award for best CD!

This week at the Commonweal...
"Enchanted April" will be showing July 9 and 12 at 7:30p.m. and July 10 and 1:30p.m. "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" will be showing July 8, 10, and 15 at 7:30p.m. and July 11 at 1:30p.m. Don't forget "Over the Back Fence on Sunday at 7:30!

The Weekly

Alright...July 4th weekend-- what's going on in the area? Lots of events, kicking off tonight!

The Commonweal Theatre has a busy weekend ahead: "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" is being performed tonight at 7:30, as well as July 3 and 8 at the same time. A matinee performance will take place on July 4 at 1:30. "Enchanted April" is also showing this weekend! There will be 7:30 performances on July 2 and 5, and a 1:30 performance on July 3. A note I don't believe I have previously mentioned-- patrons at all evening performances are invited to 'Encore!' where wine, beer, and snacks will be offered before and after the performance, as well as at intermission.

The Whalan Men's Fast Pitch Softball Tournament will be held at the Whalan softball fields from Saturday through Monday. If you have questions or are interested in joining a team, call 507-467-3389!

Also Saturday night, Lanesboro will be having a barn dance! There will be live music by Bob Bovee and Gail Heil and calling by Paul Tyler from Chicago. Dancers do not need to come with prior experience, or even a partner! The cost is $7, the time is 8:00 p.m., and the place is the Sons of Norway Lodge in Lanesboro. Who knows...maybe I might make it to this one! It's been awhile since the last one I attended in college..as you can see from the picture above :)

An 1899-style Independence Day celebration will take place on July 4 in Historic Forestville State Park. there will be a grand ceremony, a Glee Club performance, political speeches, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1:00 p.m. An "Old Time" 1860's baseball game will be at 1:30, followed by watermelon-eating contests, sack and 3-legged races, concessions, and more!

From Decorah, Iowa, folk-singer, song writer, and guitarist Michelle Lynn will be performing live at Riverside on the Root from 5-9 p.m. on July 4.

After a great concert and snack from Riverside on the Root, your timing should be perfect for firework in Harmony! They will begin at dark in the North Park.

Also at Riverside on the Root, the Beef Slough Boys will be "playing a rich gumbo of pan-fried blues, river-bottom rags, organic originals, and heirloom classics" on July 7 from 5-9 p.m.

And finally, Over the Back Fence will be bringing back fan-favorite Mike McAbee in live concert on the Commonweal Stage July 7! Mike combines folksy blues and stand-up comedy for a winning performance...one night only! Don't miss him next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.!