No safety line. No parachute. Incredible!

Fearless.

See more about Jane Wicker here.

We gave in and went to the air show on Sunday after watching a half-show over our house on Saturday. (Have I mentioned before that we live very close to this small airport?) We gave in to the noise and decided to join the mob of people that also thought it was a good idea for a Sunday afternoon. I also thought it was a good place to practice some of my recently learned photography skills. (My camera hasn’t been on any auto modes for weeks!)

The show was enjoyed by young and old. I could not resist this little cutie’s face!

Too bad the day was not as nice as the day before. We only got a quick glimpse at a blue sky through all the low cloud cover.

I thought this photo was a funny juxtaposition with the commercial airliner on his descent in to Newark airpot in the background. Biplane to jet in one fell swoop!

More to come in the next couple of days! I sure hope you like aircraft and aerobatics!

We went to the New Jersey State Fair & Horse Show in Sussex County on Sunday. I’m not sure why they get to have the title “State Fair” because it isn’t. Not really. The big state fair has already taken place (in July I think) at the Meadowlands. This is more of a county fair.

I understand that the county of Sussex is all about horses (and agriculture) as you can tell by just driving through it, so it’s no wonder that the fair started as a horse show and grew from there.

It was cute and cozy and just the right size. Rick won me a little plush duck and we rode the ferris wheel.

We walked around all the livestock barns (which I already posted a few pics of in yesterday’s post) and watched a group of kids take their alpacas through a course much like a dog drafting test or temperament test.

We ate some fair food.

We looked through the photos entered in the photo contest, all the exhibits and entries in wine, beer, baked goods, crafts, and the vegetables.

Winners in the Great New Jersey Zucchini Contest resting on their laurels. (or would that be resting on their hay bale?)

Lots of garlic to judge!

These were exhibits in the creative flower arranging. This “cake” won first place. Pretty darned creative, I’d say! Would you like the whole cake?

Or just one slice?

I also loved this one but it didn’t win a ribbon.

There were a few attractions that we skipped. Like this one:

All in all, a good day at the fair!

At night. Water temp: 85. Outside temp: 90 or so.

Ear to the water doing the side stroke I hear:

My breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

The water slapping against my body.

I feel:

The silken feel of the water.

My body slicing through the water. Whether or not it’s fast and furious or slow and languorously. I did both tonight. Twenty laps of semi-fast and furious to another four or five that were slow and languorous. (Love that word, don’t you?)

I see:

A jet passing over, lights flashing. Bats fly over, sans lights.

I am sated. It’s been a good day. Cleansing in a way most of you cannot fathom.

I have no clue what I ever did without a pool. We weren’t looking for one. But it found us.

What a strange 4th of July! Coming mid-week without a weekend attached was very strange. Almost like a non-holiday. Rick managed to take the day before off so he had two days off in a row. But that just managed to make it feel like a weekend, and now it feels like Monday!

The weather cooperated quite nicely with sunny skies and not-too-hot temperatures with not-too-cloying humidity. We were hoping for the predicted thunderstorms but they never materialized. Too bad. We could really use the rain!

We took a drive in Mia to the town of Newton. I had been here for the first time back in January when I was Oscar Dress shopping and fell in love with the quaint little downtown area.

I love the architecture!

Too bad you can never get away from utility lines in New Jersey! I guess it adds to the charm.

Betty Boop posing in a restaurant window.

We were back by noon and the rest of the day was spent in or around the pool. Our little backyard oasis!

I had to finish this book! It was driving me crazy!

Such a lazy afternoon. But who could resist the perfect pool temperature of 83 degrees!? It did get hotter and more humid as the day wore on but once in a while a nice breeze would kick in so it wasn’t quite as stuffy.

For dinner we grilled fajitas and ate on the deck. All in all, a nice way to spend a mid-week holiday! Now we can look forward to the “real” weekend—my sister arrives!