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![]() Jul. 9, 2018 Source: editorial by The Delmarva Farmer newspaper 'Twas the night before fair And all through the farm The family was hurrying On the verge of alarm Entry tags scattered Across the kitchen table As the kids picked one-by-one Of their projects to label The next day they will go To the fairgrounds loaded With all the trinkets and items Properly set, distinctly coded Though they were far from that now And the hour was getting late Nothing would stop them From making the date They worked far too hard To not complete the mission Besides, staying up late Had become a tradition The youngest of the bunch, Age ten and three-quarters Was charged with taping Photos to matte borders "This one better place," She said with complete confidence Of a shot of her horse, Darling Behind a split-rail fence To her right was the oldest, Her last year in 4-H Sewing the hem on a dress Trimmed out in lace Her last record book written Her last Fashion Revue In a few months it's college And everything's new On the floor near the door Sat what the kids made at camp: A birdhouse, a glass mosaic, A decoupaged lamp Laundry and dishes Each piled high Put on hold until After the fair has gone by The stovetop was glowing Each burner ablaze Steadily blanching vegetables For jars they will save The oven was filled With cakes from each child Soon to come out And get decoratively styled The two middle children Twin boys age thirteen Were back from the barn Keeping the animals clean Two steers, three hogs and a lamb They will be taking tomorrow Tack and gear all loaded For the seasons' first show Show pants washed and ironed And shirts just the same All part of the process To reach livestock ring fame The Dad stayed outside Beneath a towering oak Fixing lights on the trailer He just remembered were broke Then there's the Mother Rock of the crew Directing the traffic Of what's next to do "Time for bed," she says "Tomorrow we'll finish" They may be worn out But their spirit won't diminish Up to their rooms they trudge Destined for slumber Stepping over woodworking projects That started as lumber The next morning after breakfast To the garden they'll go, Rounding up more entries From each weeded row With the van fully packed They all make the haul Exhausted, but ready Knowing they'll have a ball! Tweet |
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