Summer is the perfect time of year to read a classic story called "County Fair."
Title: County Fair
Author: Delos Lovelace
Genre: general fiction
Time to read: 30 minutes.
Found in: Collected Stories of Maud Hart Lovelace and Delos Lovelace, volume 2. I don't know how it is in the rest of the world, but generations of Minnesotan girls (myself included) grew up reading Maud Hart Lovelace's series of Betsy-Tacy books. However, this was the first time that I had the chance to read something by her husband. Delos Lovelace was also a famous author in his time, but he is less known these days.
Storyline: Ben, the main character in this story, has rather an unusual experience at his local fair. Instead of viewing the livestock exhibits and gorging himself in the food hall, he deals with a stowaway, a fist fight, and a medical emergency...and amid all this chaos, he unexpectedly gets a chance at romance! I think that this exciting story has something for everyone.
Illustrations: This story originally appeared in the May 1926 issue of a magazine called The Country Gentleman. A reproduction of the magazine cover accompanies the story in this book, as do the original illustrations by Frank Street.
Notes: When I was growing up, I loved going to my local fair and gobbling up fresh baked goods from the food hall with icy cold milk from the dairy barn. In an attempt to replicate this experience at home, I enjoyed this story with glazed strawberry cake and a glass of milk.
Title: County Fair
Author: Delos Lovelace
Genre: general fiction
Time to read: 30 minutes.
Found in: Collected Stories of Maud Hart Lovelace and Delos Lovelace, volume 2. I don't know how it is in the rest of the world, but generations of Minnesotan girls (myself included) grew up reading Maud Hart Lovelace's series of Betsy-Tacy books. However, this was the first time that I had the chance to read something by her husband. Delos Lovelace was also a famous author in his time, but he is less known these days.
Storyline: Ben, the main character in this story, has rather an unusual experience at his local fair. Instead of viewing the livestock exhibits and gorging himself in the food hall, he deals with a stowaway, a fist fight, and a medical emergency...and amid all this chaos, he unexpectedly gets a chance at romance! I think that this exciting story has something for everyone.
Illustrations: This story originally appeared in the May 1926 issue of a magazine called The Country Gentleman. A reproduction of the magazine cover accompanies the story in this book, as do the original illustrations by Frank Street.
Notes: When I was growing up, I loved going to my local fair and gobbling up fresh baked goods from the food hall with icy cold milk from the dairy barn. In an attempt to replicate this experience at home, I enjoyed this story with glazed strawberry cake and a glass of milk.
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| I'm joining Elizabeth and Bleubeard for their weekly tea party. |
The storyline sound interesting and quite different from what you may think when reading the title 😀. Your glazed strawberry cake and glass of milk looks delicious and such a nice way to recreate those happy childhood memories! Happy T Day! J 😊
ReplyDeleteI always loved the county fair too-and where we moved to when we retired-is lacking in a good county fair-if we wanted to travel to a larger city that fair is pretty big--always loved the animal and the home ec area. your cake looks delicious.
ReplyDeletethe bison fiber-the softer fiber is what the bison rubs off in the spring-their extra layer to help keep warm in the winter-and then they rub it off on bushes-etc-and is hand collected-so can be quite pricey per ounce-I was able to find a good place in bozeman that she has been selling on sale for a couple months now-it is really fine-I just tried hand spinning it on my drop spindle-couldn't wait to see what it looked like-loving it lol
Thank you so much for all that info on bison! It's fascinating to me.
DeleteI haven't heard of Betsy-Tacy books. But I think your strawberry cake looks awful yummy. and when I go book picking I am going to keep my eyes open for Betsy-Tcy to see what I have missed. Happy T day. Erika
ReplyDeleteHappy book hunting! _Betsy and the Great World_ and _Betsy's Wedding_ are the two books in the Betsy-Tracy series that are written for adults. The rest are for children and teens. (You can sort of grow up with the series.)
DeleteI would have been here sooner, but the electricity went out on my block for about five hours. Not good in this heat, but I'm finally cooling down a bit.
ReplyDeleteSad as it is to admit, we don't have a county fair, even though we are the largest city in the state. Where I used to live is where our State Fair is. Like you, I enjoyed the fair, but always avoided the food halls. They were so expensive and there were always long lines. a quick snack on the midway was much more enjoyable for me.
Your latest book sounds great. Yes, lots and lots to interest most people. The storyline sounds great and the photo of the vintage image is wonderful.
Because it's been years since I've been to a county fair (ever since I moved to Wichita), I will join you with a glass of milk and that delicious looking glazed strawberry cake. We will talk books and fairs while enjoying T this Tuesday.
I forgot to mention. Last week was NOT a blogoversary, but our 4th annual T Stands For Tuesday anniversary. That's why we exchanged ATCs.
ReplyDeleteOops! In that case, Happy T-iversary. :) Thanks for hosting this weekly T party.
DeleteI love the idea of a good read with strawberry cake and cold milk, so yummy on a hot afternoon. Glad you enjoyed the book. I have some Victorian magazines here, perhaps one day I will get around to reading their stories. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeletei would gladly join you with this delicious looking strawberry cake! and i would take coffee, if that doesn´t bother you;) actually i remember we drank a lot of pure milk in my childhood days, but i think i couldn´t these days...
ReplyDeletehappy t-day!!
You are most welcome to coffee! I like it, too. :)
DeleteSounds like a good read and loved illustration from Country Gentleman. I bet it went well with the strawberry treat.
ReplyDeleteHave a very happy T Day
Love Chrissie xx
It sounds an interesting book, not an author I have come across and a quick read.
ReplyDeleteYour strawberry cake looks delicious, I'm sure you enjoyed it as you read the book.
Happy T day
Yvonne xx
thanks for sharing about the book. I never heard of the series. There is an old fair that still goes on in the ton next to us but I haven't gone in years. Your strawberry cake looks very refreshing. happy T day!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter loved all the Betsy-Tacy books and still has them on her shelf. This sounds like an interesting addition. I had no idea her husband was an author. The annual fall fair is something I always enjoy, even now that I'm old with no kids to take with me. Happy T Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a fun read, Denise. I have lots of fond memories of county fairs though I don't remember a food hall. Guess I only wanted to play games for prizes and go on the rides - lol.
ReplyDeleteHappy T-Day! Eileen
The games and rides are pretty fun, too. I'm a big fan of the Ferris wheel. :)
DeleteI loved the county fair too... Where i grew up.. NorthEast we always seem to have them in the Fall... Here (Arkansas) they tend to have them while its still so hot so i don't go anymore.. I have never heard of your authors but it does sound interesting... and your strawberry confection looks absolutely delish!! Happy happy T day! Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteI bet the language was good and old fashioned in your story - I was at a workshop the other week using a book entitled 'The Brontes go to Woolworths' and there wren some really funny quirky saying in it! Your strawberry tart looks delicious! Chrisx
ReplyDeleteI just checked, and my library has a copy of The Brontës Went to Woolworth's. I put it on my "to be read" list. Thanks for the recommendation. It sounds interesting.
DeleteThis story sounds fun! and a quick read is always nice. I remember our county fair as a 'pretty big deal' when I was in 4-H, but our family really couldn't afford to all go together. Now it sure seems like the local fairs are way more about selling stuff and the livestock and exhibits are getting rather sparse. Thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteI was in 4-H, too. Lots of fun memories.
Delete