the syrup it's on the street

Elmira Maple Syrup Festival yesterday.  This is a couple of small towns north of where we live.  We had been warned that the crowds would be completely out of hand.  This year, it really wasn't too bad...unfortunately this was because temperatures were near freezing.  Still and all, many standards were checked off -- funnel cakes, craft show pr0n, quilt judging, livestock exhibit (including milking the simulated cow).  Didn't get any street meat but I DID have a large german-style potato pancake with sour cream and applesauce that was mighty tasty.  Also picked up a fetching pair of Black Watch pj bottoms ... which unfortunately I had to wear last night becase, again, COLD.

Another facet of people watching I got a kick out of:  there was a building for the "toy exhibit" which turned out to be 90% vendors of collectible tractor and farm equipment toys...which means there was a good sideshow of Very Intense Collector Types, trying to get a good price on this particular combine because it has THAT particular grain hopper attachment, drooling over THIS hand-cast replica numbered John Deere disc harrow.  Fun stuff.  Kids totally nonplussed of course.  We did  pick up a sack of locally made Lincoln-Log toys; we'll see if the kids like those or just spread them over the floor.  Sequel in particular really seems to like building toys, Legos, K'nex etc; this might be a hit.
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Watched the S01 pilot of Burn Notice last night.  Looks like good, mindless fun.  Fairly snappy dialog without being too obnoxious.  And hey, the Chin!

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My seven year old is turning into quite an emotional grenade...but I think I'll save that for another post.