A Tale of Food...and a Camel.

Anyone who knows us girls, knows that we're Fair people. County Fairs, State Fairs, Multi-State State Fair Expositions...you name it. So when our host family from Maine told us about the Big Eastern States Exposition in Massachusetts, we couldn't not not go.

Thus, Welcome to West Springfield.

A slight detour from our next stop, but definitely well worth the trip.

I have never quite held such an important ticket in my hands before.

This ticket meant entry into a land of cattle, butter sculptures, World Fair Exhibits, flavored milk, the best kinds of foods in the whole world, and lots and lots....and lots of butter.

It's kind of like holding an unlimited pass to happiness.

"I get out of bed every morning to show and work with cows."

Is it possible to visit all six New England states in only an hour?

Yes! But only at the Big E.

Down States Avenue we came to our first stop: Connecticut.

Maine: home of the famous baked potatoes.

Massachusetts had a live beehive on display!

New Hampshire: There's nothing like getting a pat on the shoulder....especially from a big black bear!

Rhode Island: home of the Newport Mansions.

"To get up and go fishing and hunting (bow &arrow)."

In one of the exhibit halls they had a display of memorandum from the World's Fair.

Out of all the amazing sights we saw, the best of them were the ones that disappeared.

Our favorite was the Apple Cider Doughnut from States Avenue.

Tangy apple cider was mixed into the dough before it was cooked and then tossed in a crystal sugar coating.

It was mystical.

This is Jeanette's baked potato face.

And she has every right to be excited.

It wasn't just a potato.

It was starchy goodness underneath a pile of barbecue meat, cheese, sour cream...and of course, butter.

We're fans of pasta.

We're also fans of bread bowls.

Therefore, we are fans of pasta in bread bowls.

But until our experience with this food stand's chicken alfredo in a bread bowl, we didn't realize how big of a fan that we really are.

The best part was eating down to the bottom of the bowl...

...down to the very last, buttery, sauce-soaked bread....

Bacon is a miracle worker of life.

It's great for breakfast.

It's phenomenal in making pasta, sandwiches, and salads delicious.

But bacon in maple ice cream beats all of that.

Imagine the cold, softness of the ice cream, the sweetness of the maple, and the savory bites of bacon bits.

Now imagine heaven.

Life-long 4-H members ourselves, we are always eager to aid the 4-H stands at fairs...especially when they involve food. Somewhat akin to what our State Fair's Dairy Bar is, the 4-H Milk Booth served up a milkshake that isn't your traditional milkshake. 

Two chocolate...and you can guess who got the strawberry...

...of a frothy, refreshing end to our food-scapades...

'Shaken, not stirred'.

The very first camel you've ever seen is always the best camel you'll ever see. 

And it's even better when you're lucky enough to feed it!

Although it is just like a giant, rough tongue across your skin.

Don't forget to wash your hands.

...and put on a couple layers of hand sanitizer...

"Because I have to!"

"I get out of bed to play music!"

"I get out of bed in the morning to breathe & to love as much as I can. <3"

Thank you to our great Eastern Massachusetts family for helping us map out our plans and for such great laughs over food and America's Got Talent.

"I get out of bed to build my business. I find it a challenge and my employees count on me."

"I get out of bed so that I can earn enough savings to retire and travel the world."

If we die from too much butter, let it be known that it was a very, very happy end.

Lots of love and butter,

The Crew

*Notice*

No big black bears were harmed during the making of this blog post.

Monuments and Minty Lou's

Our first day in Massachusetts we had a delicious lunch from the local Dalton Diner!

"I get out of bed for my coffee."

Thank you to our fabulous Dalton, Massachusetts family! It was so amazing to spend time and make music with them! They also helped us discover Dalton's little known, but definitely important, Crane Paper Co.

"I get up because my dog Tedy tells me I have to, because I need coffee, because I can't feel my arms, and because I have 172568943 things to do before work..."

"I get up cause I have to go to the bathroom And  then I want my coffee and know a new day has dawned!"

"I get up in the morning because I haven't won the lottery...no other reason..."

Crane is the sole producer of the United States currency paper, as well as creating many other beautiful paper items such as stationary and note cards.

"I get out of bed everyday looking forward to what nice things will happen. It's a great life and I am enjoying it!"

"I get out of bed each morning, looking forward to making paper."

We walked in just in time for their presentation on the security measures encoded into the new U.S. one hundred dollar bill and a demonstration on homemade paper making.

The museum was filled with grand historical artifacts, informational tidbits, and even interactive features!

There's no way to miss Mary Lou's Coffee. With it's signature bright pink decorations, Mary Lou's was sure to wake you up with their exciting color and keep you awake with their espresso!

"I get up in the morning to work!"

One of their signature drinks: MintyLou.

A wintry symphony of creamed chocolate, blended ice, sharp mint, and coffee.

Sipping on our drink, we headed out to Cape Cod.

Confession: we may have looped around the rotary three or four times trying to get a half decent photograph of this cute display of greenery marking the cape.

As featured in the film Monumental, bundled on the outskirts of Plymouth, Massachusetts is a great American symbol of liberty. 

Devoted to honoring the uncountable sacrifices of the souls who fought for our greatest liberties, the National Monument to the Founding Fathers is something that's appreciation is only magnified by this massive figure.

Over 80 feet high, this granite memorial stands as the country's third largest monument.

Being the true adventurous girls we are, we just had to climb it.

While we didn't go to the very top, or even sit in the envious laps of the beautiful sitting statues, we did make it all the way to the dedication plaque.

"National Monument to the Forefathers Erected by a Grateful People in Remembrance of their Labors, Sacrifices, and Sufferings for the Cause of Civil and Religious Liberty."

Dedicated in 1889, this monument was erected to depict the virtues in which the forefather's brought with them when they landed in Plymouth.

The most important value being Faith, which stands high in the middle, cradling a Bible, and pointing her right hand finger towards the heavens.

Surrounding Faith are the other supporting, seated values of Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty.

Struck by it's enormous size, it's sometimes easy to pass over such remarkable details as the bulging veins along this piece of the statue's arm. But the monument isn't lacking attention in any corner. 

"To live another day for God (Lord Jesus)."

"To live another day."

From the exquisite lines which outline this granite stonework, to such minutiae specifics as symbolism, so much thought and preparation went into this tribute's creation.

Uncommonly known is that within the eyes of the statue Morality, there are no pupils. Legend has it that the sculptors of Morality gave her lacking them because she is looking inward; because a man must first have internal liberty before a society can have liberty externally.

The monument was located just outside of the city area of Plymouth, so we decided to wander through and experience more of our founding history as proud Americans.

"I'm ready to get going on the day. :)

I hear the alarm.

Excited to see what is happening. :)"

Thanks to our lovely help from the visitor's center in Plymouth we were able to travel to a days-full of various places. Here are a few of the highlights...

Docked right onto the water was a life size replica of the Mayflower.

And right down the sidewalk from the docks were the columns which identified the resting place of the Plymouth Rock, allegedly the stone in which the passengers of the Mayflower used to step off of the boat and onto shore.

There are many historical places and many stories all within a small area in Plymouth. 

Not too far away was the First Church in Plymouth which was under restoration while we were there, but still even beautiful from the outside.

Next to the church is burial hill which is the oldest cemetery in New England and also the original place of the first fort in Plymouth.

"This Monument Marks the Site of the Fort Built in 1621."

As a good end to any great day, let's soak up some sunshine and take a nap!

In the words by Governor William Bradford, carved into the National Monument to the Forefathers,

"Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all 

things of nothing and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a 

thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole 

nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all praise."

Waiting to see where the road takes us next,

Love,

The Crew