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Sunday, November 7, 2010

National Peanut Festival

This Banana Tree came up next to a barn at the farm where some limbs, that were trimmed from Granny's Banana tree, were thrown away. They were o.k. not very sweet.


Yesterday I watched some of the Peanut Festival Parade on television. I called home and Momma said that Holland was riding in the parade on a tractor with his Daddy! Glad the tractor had a cab, it was really cool outside. Great parade day though. The National Peanut Festival has always been a bright spot for our family.
My first memory of the fair was when I was about 4 years old we lived on the Cottowood Highway and the fairgrounds were located on the grounds of the Houston County Farm Center. We could see the farris wheel from Momma's bedroom window. I remember lying on the bed with Momma waiting for Daddy to come home and take us to the fair. My favorite game was Pick up Ducks! I won a little sock monkey once! We all enjoyed the greasy pig and calf scramble as much as the midway. We also enjoyed the livestock tents and of course the crafts and cooking tent. When it was time to go home we always bought a corn dog and then a candy apple!


I found this clipping in Granny's recipe box from the Dothan Eagle featuring the Peanut Festival Cake winner, Mrs. Carolyn Coskrey. Mrs. Coskrey was one of Momma's good friends in later years.  Mrs. Coskrey was a great cook and a good friend to all. She passed away recently and is missed by everyone in the community. I'm not sure of the date of the clipping but LBJ was president.  There is a cartoon on the back.  The LBJ Tax Bill is standing in front of President Johnson saying "I bring you a message from Congress" ....on his back side is a big foot print!

The rides were operated by Johnny's United Shows. Granny's brother Eddie Sims worked for them. Every year he came to visit and sometimes he had a surprise for me! I  will post some pictures of Uncle Eddie.


Uncle Eddie on the right and his father, my Great Grandfather, Henry Sims on the left.

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