Gramma came and spent the day with our little girls on Sunday so that we could go to the Fair solo – just the two of us. Our 9th wedding anniversary was last week, and we had hoped to make an overnight trip to Acadia National Park, but we just had too much life happen, and were happy to even get out for the day together and enjoy the sunshine and the animals, the food and the plants.

This was our fourth time as fair-goers. Our first experience was filled with awe and wonder at being surrounded by like-minded people, at actually attending this fair I’d read and dreamed so much about. I totally geeked out. The second year, we knew a little more what to expect, but had the children with us and couldn’t dig into anything, really. Last year, we had just spent the first summer in our new home with our own land, and decided to make the most of the talks and lectures. We took it all in sans children, and were so excited to think big and make plans.

And this year? It was still wonderful, in so many ways. But I think we’re in a weird space this fall. We’ve taken so many baby steps toward the life we’re pursuing that we’re not wide-eyed beginners. We’re not experts – we really only know enough to be dangerous – but we’re not in a position to push forward yet with any major plans. So while we listened and absorbed, we didn’t dive quite as far in as perhaps we would have liked.

Still. You can’t beat a day outside with good food and in good company. It was a good day at the fair.