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Atop my Hill 9/14/2014 3:31:30 PM
Fall is upon us
With fall comes the beginning of the new school term. This year I have 14 students, 6 are First Grade six year olds and 8 are 7 and 8 year old Second Graders .
It is interesting this combination class after so many years teaching a single First Grade group.
As always our little County Fair took place soon after the first day of school. I explained that I am the 'boss' of the photographs at this 3 day fair, and that as such I would be absent for 2 days prior to the fair opening.
I take in entries on the first day and judging, attaching of ribbons and hanging of the photos takes place the following day.
This year we were somewhat blindsided by the weather. A mini tornado ripped through the county seat adjacent to the little town of Dewey where the fair grounds are found. Although the folks who were hit by the wind, and suffered a good bit of damage might not really think the tornado so mini.
Ours is a tiny county, appearing as a skinny rectangle between two larger counties to the west and east and butting up against the Kansas border.
I was prepared for a light turn out amongst those who often brought photos for entry. The morning began pretty much as it always does on entry day, hellos all around between those of us chairmen of the various areas, some coming and going of those bringing entries ... a jar of jam, a large pumpkin, handwork, 4H items, crafts and photos.
By end of day there were 396 photos entered and ready for judging. I was gratified listening to the unflappable chuckles and behavior of those who came, often with photos gathered at the last minute, and the recounting of trees ripped from their yards, or branches torn away and deposited on the neighbors roof, and the roof of someone a block away deposited on their own.
One of the last to come was the man most of us had relied upon during the night when power was gone and we were all sitting by candle or lantern light with small battery powered weather radios and Charlie kept us informed where the downed power lines were, or debris was across roadways and the like.
I will say it was a rather exciting, if that is the right word for describing our night during the storm, and the dedication of simple folks for whom a little 3 day Free County Fair is an important event.
This was the 100th anniversary of the County Fair in our little county, an interesting display was prepared and drew a crowd each day. Displayed were fair premium books with the first dated 1916, one man brought his auntie's 4H sewing project to display, others, now grey haired, brought ribbons garnered from their showing of a lamb or pig or calf back during their own 4H days.
All is well Atop my hill and in the area surrounding, roofs are being replaced. Contractors and electrical trucks and tree trimming trucks and others were common in town for several days until all power poles were righted or replaced and lines were humming with power. We were without power for 15 hours, many were sitting by candlelight 2 and 3 days later.
The fair was a success, stuff can be replaced, no one was injured or died in the storm, and Washington County Fair was a success. My students and their homes an hours drive from my house felt the storm, but were safe and again had electricity by the time I returned to class following the judging, placing of ribbons and hanging of the photos.
