The Budweiser Clydesdales at The Fairfield County Fair

Linda and I spent a wonderful Wednesday afternoon at the Fairfield County Fair and had a great visit with the Budweiser Clydesdales.

TRANSPORT
”Ten horses, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon and other essential equipment are
transported in three 50-foot tractor-trailers. Cameras in the trailers (with monitors in the cabs)
enable the drivers to keep a watchful eye on their precious cargo during transport. The team stops
each night at local stables so the “gentle giants” can rest. Air-cushion suspension and thick rubber
flooring in the trailers ease the rigors of traveling.” VIDEO: Budweiser Clydesdales: Handling Travel Stress.

THE CLYDESDALE BREED
”Farmers living in the 19th century along the banks of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland,
bred the Great Flemish Horse, the forerunner of the Clydesdale. These first draft horses pulled
loads of more than 1 ton at a walking speed of five miles per hour. Soon their reputation spread
beyond the Scottish borders.
In the mid-1800s, Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to the United
States where the draft horses resumed their existence on farms. Today, the Clydesdales are used primarily for breeding and show.”

“ THE BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES They were formally introduced to August A. Busch Sr. and Anheuser-Busch on April 7, 1933, to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. August A. Busch Jr. wanted to commemorate the special day. To his father’s delight, the hitch thundered down Pestalozzi Street carrying the first case of post-Prohibition beer from the St. Louis brewery.”

DRIVERS:
“Driving the 12 tons of wagon and horses requires quite a bit of strength and skill. The 40 pounds of
reins the driver holds, plus the tension of the reins, equals 75 pounds. All hitch drivers are put
through a rigorous training period before they are given the reins.”

 

HARNESS:
”Each harness and collar weighs approximately 130 pounds. The harness is handcrafted from brass
and leather. Pure linen thread is used for the stitching. The harness is made to fit any horse, but the collars come in different sizes and must be individually fitted like a suit of clothes.”

FEED:
”Each hitch horse will consume as much as 20 to 25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and
vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.”

WAGON:
”Turn-of-the-century beer wagons have been meticulously restored and are kept in excellent
repair. The wagons are equipped with two braking systems: a hydraulic pedal device that
slows the vehicle for turns and descents down hills, and a hand brake that locks the rear
wheels when the wagon is at a halt.”

"It's quite an accomplishment for Fairfield County," fair manager David Benson said. "They don't appear at many county fairs — it's a lot of state fairs. They do a lot of national (events). READ MORE

DALMATIANS:
”Dalmatians have traveled with the Clydesdale hitch since the 1950s. The Dalmatian breed
long has been associated with horses and valued for their speed, endurance and dependable
nature. Dalmatians were known as coach dogs, because they ran between the wheels of
coaches or carriages and were companions to the horses. Today, the Dalmatians are perched
atop the wagon, seated next to the driver.”

“Many of the Clydesdales owned by Anheuser-Busch are raised at Grant's Farm near St. Louis. The Budweiser Clydesdale Stables at Grant's Farm house approximately 35 mares, stallions and foals, with an average of 15 foals produced each year. Anheuser-Busch owns a total of about 250 Clydesdales, kept at various locations throughout the United States, one of the largest herds of Clydesdale horses in the world.” READ MORE

Quality time Clydesdale facts provided courtesy of (Anheuser-Busch Co.)

Then it was time for lunch…So::  “Best Double-Cheeseburger” Chef Carrie is one of the last of a dying breed...a short order chef who genuinely cares about her food  Her daughter Rachel (shown in the above photo) is also a good friend of ours.

Linda and I are glad you stopped by and we hope you enjoyed the post. One last thought::: What happened to Lady Godiva's horse when he saw she had no clothes on? It made him shy!

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I’m Just Saying..Just Sayin’

Seems like I have been hearing this phrase very frequently as of late, and have taken to using it myself. I’m not sure that is a good thing… so I’m Just Saying…..

SERIOUSLY NOW:::: “Defending Against ‘I’m Just Saying’ and Other Verbal Annoyances”

Empowering comebacks to: “I’m just saying:”

• “I know – and I’m ‘just responding’ to what feels like an insult.”
• “I know – but the fact that you are ‘just saying’ something offensive doesn’t make it less offensive.”
• “I know – and what you’re ‘just saying’ is offensive Hey, I’m just saying.”
• “I know – and I’m not sure you recognize that what you’re ‘just saying’ comes across as critical, hurts my feelings, is insulting, etc.”
• “I’ve thought this through and I’m comfortable with what I’m doing. I’m not seeking input on this.”
• “Thanks for your input, I’ll take it under advisement.”
• “Thanks for your input. I’ll let you know if I need any additional opinions on this.”

READ MORE

Have a great day.. and Thanks for stopping by….

 I’m Just Saying

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It’s October.. Celebrate

 Have a “QUALITY TIME” October…

First: Happy Birthday Dad.. Joseph B.  Fraker (1916 - 1998).. Born on October 3, 1916

Second: Janis Joplin’s Mercedes Benz.. Oct. 1, 1970 at the Sunset Sound recording studio in Los Angeles. Janis Joplin asks producer Paul Rothchild to roll tape. She has a song she’d like to sing. Read More

 

When I sing, I feel like when you're first in love. It's more than sex. It's that point two people can get to they call love, when you really touch someone for the first time, but it's gigantic, multiplied by the whole audience. I feel chills. Janis Joplin…….

Robert Service my favorite poet.

Third:: This year's National Poetry Day Thursday 2 October.  National Poetry Day is a British campaign to promote poetry, including public performances.  National Poetry Day was founded in 1994 by William Sieghart. It takes place annually in the UK and Ireland on the first Thursday of October. Since its inception, it has engaged millions of people across the country with live events, classroom activities and broadcasts. Read More ( Thank You U.K. )

The Men that Don't Fit In
by: Robert W. Service

There's A race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don't know how to rest.
If they just went straight they might go far,
They are strong and brave and true;
But they're always tired of the things that are,
And they want the strange and new.
They say: "Could I find my proper groove,
What a deep mark I would make!"
So they chop and change, and each fresh move
Is only a fresh mistake.
And each forgets, as he strips and runs
With a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones
Who win in the lifelong race.
And each forgets that his youth has fled,
Forgets that his prime is past,
Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead,
In the glare of the truth at last.
He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance;
He has just done things by half.
Life's been a jolly good joke on him,
And now is the time to laugh.
Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost;
He was never meant to win;
He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone;
He's a man who won't fit in.  READ MORE

AND::: I will leave you with this thought from a much younger Joe Todd…

Thanks for stopping by… I guess I’m still “out there” a wandering……

 Have a “QUALITY TIME” October…

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How do you fix a jack-o-lantern?
With a pumpkin patch.

TRUISMS..Thoughts on Love,Violence,and Power

  I almost didn’t do this post but I am really glad I did. In doing  research for the post I had a chance to learn a little more about Jenny Holzer and her art… Interesting and thought provoking are the words I would use in regards to Jenny Holzer .. Thank You Jenny….

A  QUALITY TIME visit to the Kennedy Museum of Art at the Ohio University.

Let’s go inside::::

and head up stairs to check out “Truisms”

“Jenny Holzer was born July 29, 1950, in Gallipolis, Ohio.  She completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio University in Athens after attending Duke University and the University of Chicago.” READ MORE 

Inflammatory Essays // Jenny Holzer.. CHECK THIS OUT… REALLY SOMETHING CLICK ( I wish I had photos of these essays)

Another interesting exhibit is; Kim Abeles “frugalworld”  Say Hi to Paper Person….

“The Ridges, formerly called the Athens Lunatic Asylum, was a mental hospital operated in Athens, Ohio from 1874 until 1993. During its operation, the hospital provided services to a variety of patients including Civil War veterans, children, and violent criminals suffering from various mental disabilities. Today, the Ridges are a part of Ohio University and house the Kennedy Museum of Art, an auditorium and many offices, classrooms, and storage facilities.” You might enjoy:: Haunting Skies at the “Ridges” in Athens,Ohio ( Note.. The old haunted TB hospital has been demolished)

Don’t miss this post:: SKIES OVER THE ASYLUM.. “Asylum”: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals Photography exhibition by Chris Payne ( These are my photos of his photos) August 27, 2010 – December 30, 2010  and yes this is Haunting.. A previous visit to the “Ridges”

 Thanks for stopping by, Linda and I hope you have a great day.. Wonder where this guy came from? Check out::  GETTING aHEAD AT THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ART

You also might enjoy::

1. Columbus Museum Of Art for “Museum Monday”

2. Motts Military Museum & America’s Military Heritage

Technorati Tags: KENNEDY MUSEUM OF ART ATHENS,RIDGES,Jenny Holzer,TRUISMS,OHIO,MUSEUMS

The One Minute Prayer Primer..at My Quality Time

 A Quality Time Inspirational story about “learning to pray.” A big thanks to Tom K. for the email… I had these photos of chairs in a tree and had been wanting to use them in a post. Hope you enjoy the story and if you do.. feel free to share.

 A man's daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

"I guess you were expecting me," he said. "No, who are you?" "I'm the new associate at your local church," the pastor replied."When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up." "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?"

Puzzled, the pastor shut the door. "I've never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head.."

"I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, 'Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with God. Here's what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see God on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I'll be with you always.' Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now." "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon. "Did he seem to die in peace?" he asked. "Yes, when I left the house around two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange, In fact, beyond strange-kind of weird.

Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed." -Author Unknown

There is also the “TIME OUT” CHAIR

 and sometimes that is where I have to put Linda LOL..Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

 A Quality Time Inspirational story about “learning to pray.”

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You might enjoy::: Sunday Sermon at My Quality Time