August. Adios. Auf Wiedersehen.

It came and went real fast, the month of August. And we lazed through those sunny days, waking up late, planning our days as the clock ticked. The weeks of no schedules, no agendas, no must-do lists.

But September rolls around tomorrow, which means we have only a few more timetableless days before returning to school next Tuesday, and routine sets in. It'll be good, though. For a few days, anyways.

Last Thursday, we made the annual pilgrimage to the Pacific National Exhibition, locally known as our very own PNE, and this year celebrating 100 years. After the initial shock of outrageous parking and entrance fees, we did have a fantabulous time, and covered a lot of ground in the few hours that we had to spend there. Lumberjacks, Superdogs, Street Stars and the parades are always high on the priority list of things to see. And we weren't disappointed. We, of course, paid a short visit to Gospel Booth.. sponsored by the local assemblies in the lower mainland.. where scores of free gospel literature is handed out to the masses of passersby, and we viewed firsthand the detailed and insightful display of Noah's Ark. VERY impressive.

We meandered away from the hustle and bustle of the Midway to view the Sand Sculptures, and were fascinated by the creativity and talent of the fifteen international contestants. Although he didn't place as a final winner, my favorite by far was a chap by name of Niall Magee, hailing from, yup, you guessed it, Ireland. From County Wexford, to be precise. "Coontee Wexferd", as he pronounced it, with his freckles and red hair, to boot. But it wasn't so much his heritage that appealed to me as his sense of humour. His sculpture was, interestingly enough, a grenade. Now we Irish folk know how to have a blast!

The girlies enjoyed the Kidz Discovery Farm tour yet again this year, where they planted seeds, pulled carrots, gathered eggs, milked cows, sheared sheep and earned a free chocolate milk for all their hard work.

Never a dull moment at the PNE. Lots to see and do. Plenty of places to spend your money too, if you have any. And what's a day at the fair without a bag of cotton candy.

PURPLE cotton candy, this time, if you can believe it. Purple fingers, purple tongue, purple teeth.. but she's still purple pretty, don't you think??!!