Cornish Fair 2005 three years old

The other day my friend, Meg, was telling a story about the tom turkey and the two hen turkeys in her front yard. Her son, Benjy, did a very impressive imitation of the tom turkey, and both Benjy and Sam were curious why the hens weren’t interested in the tom. We suggested maybe the grubs were more interesting, or a better Tom had already come and gone. Whatever the explanation, their imaginations were fired up. They took the blanket that I had put on the bottom of the tent and dragged it over to the corner, yelling “we’re making eggs!” They dragged grass over to make a nest and sat on the blanket for a bit, to help the eggs hatch. Every few days, I hear from Sam, I’m making eggs! But then she turns to me and tells me she needs a boy to make eggs. Oh dear. It was such an innocent story!

Today Sam turned to her friend Oliver and told him, “I have a Grammy and Grandpa. They love me very much.” She is a sweetie. I couldn’t give our neighbors a picture from her easel because Sam told me I had to ask Grandpa if it was okay to give away the paper they gave us for the easel. I assured her it was okay, but she wasn’t convinced and would not let me take the paper off the easel. Thank goodness they called tonight so I could explain things to Grandpa so he could tell her it was okay. Sam enjoyed her visit to NH, especially Grandpa’s garden. She was thrilled to eat some of the tomatoes today. She yelled to Oliver, “These are from Grandpa’s garden!” Oliver, it turns out, is less than thrilled with tomatoes no matter whose garden they come from.

Samantha loved the fair. She hugged and petted every animal there, horses, cows, sheep. Matt said she had an extended discussion with one sheep, baaing back and forth at each other. She even hugged a goat. The animals were all well used to being handled by their 4-H owners and took it all in stride. Sam loved the bungee cord ride the best. They put her in a harness attached to bungee cords and she bounced about 15 feet in the air. That wasn’t high enough for her, but it was high enough for me. I heard a lot from her about going on the bouncy thing again. It even trumped riding Lady, Pat’s sweet, beautiful draft pony. Sam rode her around the field, and Sam even got to walk her for a bit, just like she walks Ella. Sam kissed Lady and stroked her. Lady just leaned in and soaked it up. Lady wasn’t as tired of people as the horses at the crowded fairgrounds. Sam has a very steady seat, I thought.

Sam loved the Goddard Mansion, the Bed and Breakfast where we stayed. Debbie put a Pooh pillowcase on her bed and a Pooh rug on the floor right next to her bed. Sam was thrilled. Debbie did everything to make Sam welcome, and it worked.