Yesterday, our daughter Faith and I attended the Great New England Fair, a.k.a. The Big-E. It’s an annual agricultural fair. I think the photos in the galley show that I attend this fair for the cultural and agricultural offerings.

While Faith and I were at the Big-E, the blogger we know as Willowdot21 was holding a tea party. Her guest? Me!. Willow interviewed me about the books in the Dreamer’s Alliance series. She has read the first two books, and invited me to tea, much the same way I like to invite authors to the bar. I’ve never been on the other side, and I have to say, it was a thrill. So, my one-liner today is an easy one:

“Thank you so much, Willow!”

After looking at the photos, I hope you will visit Willow’s blog and check out the tea party.

This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, or if you would like to join in on the fun, you can follow this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

72 responses to “Leisure and Graditude”

  1. Hi Dan, what a great event and day trip. I think the food looks amazing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Robbie. It’s one day a year (that we go) so I don’t think it’s a problem over eating and eating less than healthy food. I always enjoy spending a day with Faith.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Absolutely, good food and good company are the joys of life.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Wow… I can’t imagine the drinks that were being sold there. LOL I’d be under the table in a heartbeat! The Lobster roll wasn’t what I was expecting, however. Hmmm… and I should have had the Westover air base on our travel bucket list! Thanks!

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    1. The 32oz Rum Bucket seemed like a scary drink. We start with a small Bloody Mary – that’s enough. The lobster roll is my favorite stop at the fair. This particular stand offers a very simple roll, and a better than average price. I am hoping that next year, Westover will bring back “The Great American Air Show.” We have gone to that, many times. Our daughter began seeing that air show from a stroller.

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  3. Hi Dan – looks a wonderful day out … I’m surprised you could walk round the fair! Please tell me what are Palin fries ?… if necessary politely! Lobster roll – I still need to try one of those … the Clydesdales are one of the breeds that are being saved over here … the Queen was a great supporter and owner of some. What fun … now off to find Willow – cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary, I must apologize for the typo. That should be “plain” fires. They came in so many varieties, with an almost infinite list of toppings, but we just wanted plain old fries. I love seeing the Clydesdales. We were there one year when they were hitching them up for the parade. What an incredible amount of work that is. Thanks for visiting Willow.

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      1. oh dear … I wondered about the Palin reference … made me smile – but not think! The Clydesdales are superb horses … they’re used here for pulling the beer kegs around the cities … well some are! I’ve yet to visit Willow – she was still recovering from your visit and hadn’t appeared – I’ll be back anon. Cheers Hilary

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        1. I messed up the link to Willow’s place. It’s working now.

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          1. Ok – I’ll be over … just popping to town before it buckets for the next few days! Different from the hot sun and drought! Cheers H

            Liked by 1 person

  4. I can indeed see that you attend for the cultural offerings! French fries and ketchup would be high on my cultural list too! With trains, no less! I can’t help feeling sorry for that horse — does he have that braid dangling in his eye all the time? I will be stopping in at the tea party.

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    1. I think the horse’s name is Major, and he had just shook his head before I snapped that photo. HE shook it again to move the braid, but then there were people in front of me. It’s tough getting pictures at a crowded event. Cultures are best explored through their food – at least for one day a year.

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      1. I am glad to hear that about the horse. Obviously he was showing off for the camera. As to learning about cultures through food, totally logical!

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  5. Dan, it’s easy to see that you are just “eating up” all the cultural and agricultural aspects this fair has to offer. Lol! They probably brought over one of those magnificent Clydesdale to transport you back to your car!

    From your photos this fair looks well attended, and that’s nice to see.

    Any one of those Deep South Cocktails would have put me deep under a table and into a deep sleep!

    Glad you and Faith could attend. That father/daughter bond always warms my heart.

    Congratulations on your interview with Willow, and at a tea party no less. Hmmmm, me thinks nothing from any of those Deep South Cocktails made its way into Willow’s tea!

    Happy Monday. Hope it’s the start of an enjoyable week.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If I had tried the 32oz Rum Bucket, I would have needed the Clydesdales to haul me back to my car.

      Me at a tea party is a bit like a bull in a china shop, but those beef and horseradish sandwiches sound delightful, not to mention that spongecake. Willow was very kind to set that up. I think we’ll have to get her over to the bar at some point.

      The fair was crowded, especially for a Tuesday, but we managed to see everything we like. We have our path around the exhibits and vendors and we have our food and beverage stops along the way. We ended with a nice iced coffee from Dunkin’

      I hope you’re having a nice week.

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  6. Two of my favorites – good fair food and Clydesdales. Fun.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Those horses are magnificent. I love seeing them. The fair food favorites were all as good as expected.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. The link is not working right now, at least from my laptop. I found her though. Nice interview.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks! I think I messed up the link to Willow, when I added to pingback to Linda. That’s what I get for working before coffee.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Good food and beautiful animals – what could be better?!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And prefect weather. We’ve been there under a baking sun and in a freezing rain. This was a perfect day.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Happy to hear that!!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Fun bonding time with your daughter 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s the best part.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Hey Dan that fair looks amazing I am surprised you had any room left for our tea. Thank you for the shout.
    Fabulous photos and it’s always a delight to hear your out and about with your daughter 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m never one to pass up a beef and horseradish sandwich, Willow. Always room for that. The fair was a fun adventure. Thanks again for the interview and the tea :-)

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  11. It is good to give thanks. Those tater tots look like a good reason to go to the fair.

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    1. We were joking about those tater tots being the reason we park where we do. We go in that gate and start eating at that booth. Willow was so kind to feature me at her place, Frank. I have been helped by so many writers and bloggers, it’s a remarkable feeling.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Sounds like and looks like it was a great day. Carry on, Author Dan

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Ally. I’ll be sharing some doors tomorrow. It was a great day, and it’s always fun to spend time with Faith.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. You can’t beat a good fair. And that lobster roll? Perfection!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. More expensive than last year, but still a nice lobster roll. That booth is a permanent stop at the fair for me.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. If you don’t mind me asking, how much was it? A good roll up here is pushing $35.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. They were $20. Other stands were selling them for $30. Last year, they were $11.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Wow, $20 is cheap. Must have been frozen.
            😉

            Liked by 1 person

            1. There is a sign and a big banner that says “Fresh” – of course, it’s a fair, so…

              Liked by 1 person

  14. Looks like a lot to eat. I could almost smell those tots. Thjose 20 oz drinks sound terrific. Did they have a 20 oz martini?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I didn’t see a martini on the menu, John. Not that I was looking. But with Kenny Chesney’
      s 32 rumbucket, you got to keep the bucket ;-)

      Liked by 1 person

    1. If you’re like me, you saw that as soon as you pressed “Post Comment”

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Such a wonderful post, Dan. Your fair looks great–all that food!! I have never seen The Deep South Cocktails at any of our local events–must be a Northern thing. 😆

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    1. Virginia is south, Lois. Carolinas are deep south. Texas is a whole different kind of south. The food was great. Tomorrow, I’ll share some “Doors” and show yo what I didn’t eat.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Ah, I didn’t know where they were based. We agree on Texas being a whole different kind of south…
        haha! Looking forward to the ‘non-eats!’

        Liked by 1 person

  16. I’ve never had a loaded Tater-tot but those looked tempting. The horses would be a top stop for me.
    Congratulations on the interview!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Thanks?! We always make sure to see the horses. We got lucky one year and watched them hitching them up for the parade. Seeing them with people working around them makes you realize how big they are. We started getting the tater tots several years ago. The first year, we tried splitting an order. Pffft, we’ve never tried that again.

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  18. LOL, I admit that after a nonverbal “wow/yum” my first thought was about the indigestion I’d have. But that doesn’t change the fact of how good that fair food looks. Ah for the cast-iron stomach of my youth. :)
    This was a delight, Dan. Clicking over to join you and Willow for tea. Hugs on the wing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Teagan. I walk in that gate knowing that I am going to overeat and suffer a little indigestion, but it wasn’t bad and the pie was excellent :)

      Liked by 1 person

  19. They are such beautiful creatures. I have been blessed to have been up close to them in the past. What impressed me most was that they are so incredibly gentle. Intimidating to look at. So you went to the fair and there was absolutely no food available, how unfortunate. I’m sure you muscled through…

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    1. No food, unless you count the pie, lobster, tots and fries. The horses are magnificent.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I’ll look for Willow’s tea party.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. That Lobster Roll looks off the chain! And the fries…. Looks like a winning day, Dan. Okay heading to the tea party.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Cheryl. The food was very good. We’ve perfected our vendor selection over the years. Lots of people sell pie. Lots sell lobster rolls, but these are the best.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. It looks like you tried all the great fair good, Dan! What fun! Heading over to Willow’s!

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    1. I love fair food, Jan. It’s good this is only once a year. Thanks!

      Like

  23. The food looks delicious! Looks like you had a fun day :D

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We did have a great time, Damyanti, and the food was great.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Ah, I love food at the fair. I know it’s MILES from being healthy, but it sure is a guilty pleasure. And I’d enjoy checking out the horses in between lunch and dessert.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s how we do it, Paul. Eat a little, look around. Eat a little more, look around a little more. The horses are magnificent to look at.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. What fun! I’d love to try those fries and hang out with the Clydesdales. The tea looked lovely, too.

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    1. It’s always a good day.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. […] Roger Maris’ home run record. Even you had more interesting things than this happen this week, The Big-E, the Tea […]

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  27. Now I feel hungry looking at the photos. I only got to eat lobster twice in my life and the first one I ate was in Boston. It was good, but I still want more if I ever get to go to other cities in New England.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Most of our lobster comes from Maine. Portland ME is a great city for dining. It has a little bit of everything.

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  28. POUTINE!!! I’m obsessed with poutine! And don’t those claws make the lobster roll awfully crunchy? Thanks for the picture and information about Clydesdales — I do love them!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I haven’t tried Poutine (yet). The claw meat is a little more substantial, but its delicious. We never skip the Clydesdales. Magnificent beasts.

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  29. The Big-E is infamous. Love the clydesdale and the C-5.

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    1. The C-5 was a bonus 😊

      Liked by 1 person

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