Why is everybody up so early? You're disturbing my repose............

We're all gussied up to meet the girls in Albuquerque to attend an annual New Mexico event.................

The New Mexico State Fair! Here we are on Main Street................

In the Arts Building we find that those talented Santa Fe Varoz girls have won first prize again.......

Then we're off to explore the other wonders of the fair...............

What has gotten Pattie so fascinated and riled up?..........................

Why it's dogs having a Dog Olympics jumping into a huge tank of water....Get ready............

Get set.................

SPLASH!! This was really quite fun--we watched for a long time......................

Next was my favorite--the Flower Show!.........................

Some arrangements featured some pretty interesting floral material........

The fresh appearance of these blossoms obviously helped it win a blue ribbon. There are several Flower shows over the two weeks of the fair. Fortunately I think we came on a day when all the flowers were still fresh..................

I wish I had written down the topics for the different divisions, but this one seemed to be in a section where a portion of the arrangement had to be below the water line................

This one featured pencils in the design and more below the water line in the crushed glass............

For these "underwater" flowers to look so good, I think this must be the first day of this particular Flower show....................

Shadowboxes and other interesting materials...............

A design featuring two containers........................

This line arrangement seems to be in a section featuring silk flowers..................

A vertical line arrangement--blue ribbon!....................

My favorite section--ye olde mixed bouquet!.....................

In the horticulture section, some gorgeous dahlias on display................

Some spectacular specimens!...................................

Speaking of specimens.............in the Food Building, we saw this DARLING cake for a baby shower..........................

The State fair has a little something for everybody and every age..................

And all that delicious food that Heart Doctors warn you about! Kelly is loving her corn dog............

And Dwight is sneaking into my Kettle Corn....................

My bestest cousins are sharing a fabulous fun day with us........................

Peeling him yet another grape......................

It might not be Rio, but it is a CARNIVAL!.......................

On to the Race Track for some exciting racing.....................

THE HANDICAPPERS (this beautiful modern picture may someday be as famous as the one of the dogs playing poker................)

It doesn't take much handicapping to know that this is a real winner! Mine That Bird--the New Mexico horse that won the Kentucky Derby--gave the New Mexico fans a thrill when his jockey put him through his paces in an appreciation demonstration.................

And then brought his around so that his fans could get a good view..................

Thanks, girls, for all the fabulous fun!! AND A FABULOUS TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!!