On Sunday Rory and I made a drive out to Pomona to make it for the last day of the LA County fair.  It's one of those things that comes every year and you never do.  As an LA native I feel it's my duty to have gone at least once.  When I told people this is my first time they were shocked, but I guess it's kind of like those New Yorkers who have lived in NY their whole lives and have never been to the Statue of Liberty.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_632" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="LA County Fair madness"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=632" rel="attachment wp-att-632"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-632" title="DSC_0003" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0003-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

Anyway I digress.  So after about an hour drive we finally arrived.  We get there and we went straight for the fried food!  It's okay, we skipped breakfast.  I always hear about the fair food... but it was always kind of like a myth.  But there it was, everything fried land!  - that's what they should call it... not a "fair."  There were fried caramel apples, Klondke bars, Kool-Aid, Twinkies and much much more.  Rory and I went for something a little more familiar to start our day, the fried zucchini, chicken &amp; onion rings.  It was fried madness!!  I wish I got the Twinkie...

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_634" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Totally Fried!"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=634" rel="attachment wp-att-634"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-634" title="DSC_0011" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0011-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

Then we headed over to the Tapestry Exhibit.  There were so many things to look at, next time I will spend a couple of days looking at all the great things.  Two of my favorite pieces that were knit up both got 2nd place.

&nbsp;

The first one is a lace stole knit by Kristina Lawton from Palmdale.  I am not sure what the pattern is but I think the yarn might be Wollmeise.... not sure which color or base though.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_636" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Hand-knit Stole/Wrap"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=636" rel="attachment wp-att-636"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-636" title="DSC_0033" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0033-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

Then another 2nd place winner was Gale Rugnetta from Rancho Palos Verdes.  She knit Girasole by Jared Flood.  The yarn looks like Handmaiden Seasilk in the Orchid colorway.  I love playing name that yarn, so much fun.  It would have been more fun if everything wasn't behind glass and I really got to cop a feel.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_637" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Girasole"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=637" rel="attachment wp-att-637"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-637" title="DSC_0034" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0034-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

I also came across Best in Show for spinning by  Ken Klaus from Glendora.  I'm not sure what the fiber content of the yarn is but it looked like some sort of coarse wool.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_651" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Best in Show"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=651" rel="attachment wp-att-651"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-651" title="DSC_0036" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0036-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

Finally after isles and isles of knitting, crochet, spinning projects I finally got to the "Knitting Lounge."  Of course this is the time I decide to leave my knitting in the car, but no worries.  I cast on with some pink yarn and knit, knit, knit away.  I sat there with Edda - she runs the lounge.  We got to talking... turns out she organizes a fiber retreat to Peru every year.  I think I might go next spring, sounds like fun.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_638" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Knitting Lounge"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=638" rel="attachment wp-att-638"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-638" title="DSC_0059" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0059-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_639" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Knitting Pink"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=639" rel="attachment wp-att-639"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-639" title="DSC_0068" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0068-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

We were just about to head out and then I came across one last awesome knitting project.  The Dude Sweater, hand knit by Karen Mc Carthy of Los Angeles.  Looked like Cascade Eco Wool.... can't be sure though.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_640" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Dude Sweater"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=640" rel="attachment wp-att-640"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-640" title="DSC_0075" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0075-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

We headed off to check out the rest of the fair.  We got a bit thirsty and stopped for a peach "Margarita."  Why the quotation marks you ask?  The bartender said there was tequila.... I tasted no prof of this.  Oh well, next time I'll go for a beer.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_641" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Mallrats t-shirt, gotta love it!"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=641" rel="attachment wp-att-641"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-641" title="DSC_0079" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0079-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

After a long walk we stumbled upon Heritage Square where there was the Craft Barn.  In the craft barn I met the very friendly ladies of <a href="http://thefiberranch.com/index.html">The Fiber Ranch</a> where they held a spinning demonstration.  They had a lovely selection of wool and angora roving that were all named after their sheep.  And all the sheep were named after Harry Potter characters.  How cute!!!

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_642" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="The Fiber Ranch gang"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=642" rel="attachment wp-att-642"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-642" title="DSC_0086" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0086-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

Other crafts that were being demonstrated include: Wool Carding, Rug Making, and Balloon Making.

[caption id="attachment_643" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Fiber for CardingRug Making demoThe Brrom Guy (sideways)"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=643" rel="attachment wp-att-643"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-643" title="DSC_0087" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0087-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

</dd></dl></div>
</dd></dl></div>
&nbsp;

Then we headed over to one of the halls to go shopping.  Yes, I had a very specific vendor in mind.  When I was at VK Live I met Mary of Maendeleo African Imports.  She asked me to come visit here at the fair, so of course I did.  Here is Mary with my new knitting basket.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_647" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="My new knitting basket!!!!!!!"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=647" rel="attachment wp-att-647"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-647" title="DSC_0096" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0096-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

After all of this excitement Rory and I were feeling in the mood for something fried.  Hmmm.... what should we have?  The curly fry brick!  Ha!  This thing was huge and smothered in chili and cheese.  We could not finish it - this is definitely a dish for 3-4 people.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_648" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Real Fair Food, mmmmmmmmmm...."]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=648" rel="attachment wp-att-648"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-648" title="DSC_0098" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0098-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

After the deep fried brick we headed over to Fairview Farms where we witnessed a goat milking demo.  Yeehaw!  That was fun.  Then we went to "Lily's Sheep Emporium"  - it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be.  I was expecting a slew of breeds to show off their fleece.  Nope.  This was a lecture on wool... As knitters I think we don't realize how much more we know about wool than the average person, it's pretty cool.  Here are the sheepies!

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_650" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Baaah!"]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=650" rel="attachment wp-att-650"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-650" title="DSC_0116" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DSC_0116-250x250.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

All in all it was a pretty good Sunday.  But also very exhausting.  We planned on staying for the night concert by Earth, Wind &amp; Fire but we were too sleepy.  Ne