Kudos to two friends who most likely saved my life. If it hadn't been for them I'm sure I would have ended up in the hospital - or maybe worse. Dave allowed me to borrow his "Pettibone" - a giant forklift type machine that delivered two men and a cupola to the top of the barn roof in one fell swoop. Another friend, George, operated it safely. Thanks guys - you REALLY made my day! ! (I had planned on posting a picture or two of the Pettibone in action but the computer didn't cooperate tonight - sorry.) I'm very thankful that this job is done and done safely! !
Another thing I like about going to the Oley Fair is that it brings back a lot of good memories of my grandfather taking me to the same fair when I was a little shaver. What little boy is not entranced by sparkling clean cattle, hogs, sheep and TRACTORS?!! But the fair memories have their origin in something that took place before we arrived at the fair. Now my grandfather was not a smoker but he did enjoy a good cigar twice a year. (I still have his leather cigar pouch - and it still holds a few of his old cigars.) One of those occasions was on the way to the Oley Fair. After getting in the backseat of the old Buick (no car seats or seatbelts in those days) we would turn left out of the driveway and head up the hill. After we crested the hill, with the farm at our back, he would begin to fiddle for his cigar pouch. Before we got to the first stop sign the tangy smell of cigar smoke filled the back of the car even though he had the window open. I guess that's why today, even though I don't smoke cigars I do like the smell of them. Another good memory is climbing aboard all the new tractors that I could while Pappy chewed the fat with the equipment dealers.
I suppose, in that sense, it really is as the little boy says, a HOLY FAIR.
. . . "and a child shall lead them".
Thanks again for stopping by! !
Todd