A Few Clouds and 89° F

Yes, it’s fall. We’ll just have to ignore the perspiration dripping down our faces when we’re strolling around the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds with the thermometer hovering near 90 — in late October, no less.

Take heart, though. I understand a cold front will sweep through this weekend, bringing with it more seasonal temperatures. I’m going camping near Asheville, so that means it’ll snow.

If you haven’t been to the fair for lunch yet, try to get out there today before the weekend crowds descend. I went out Thursday and thoroughly enjoyed my Polish Sausage Dog loaded with fried peppers and onions and a giant ice-cold lemonade. It was so good my eyes rolled back in my head and my tongue nearly beat my brains out.

The dessert, however, was what made my trip to the county fair memorable. Well, that and the friendly people I met. Oh, yeah ... and the fantastic Orangeburg County 4-H booth — especially the self-portrait mugs the 4-Hers made. They are way cool!

Anyway, back to dessert. We stopped at Canaan Baptist Church’s booth and asked Steve Salley what their dessert offerings for the day were. Steve promptly presented a tempting array of homemade pies and cakes. I couldn’t resist a slice of three-layer chocolate cake with real chocolate icing like Mama used to make. My friend chose a luscious blueberry dessert that was so delicious she was struck speechless until she devoured the last crumb.

We were skeptical when Steve announced that he baked both of our desserts himself. But it soon became apparent that he wasn’t joking as he launched into an explanation of how his seven-layer chocolate cakes are usually moister than his three-layer ones.

The guy sounds like he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to baking. I was impressed and a little shame faced. I may be a Barker, but I’m definitely not a baker. Most of the time when I burn up cakes and cookies, I just blame it on my worn-out oven. The truth is, I just wasn’t born with the baking gene. Plus, my high school home economics teacher wasn’t a very patient person. When we got to the cooking part of the course, she loved to point to whatever I cooked as the example of “what not to do.” I must concede, my biscuits were prized only by the football players who used them in the weight room for developing their muscles.

Fairs, festivals and bazaars abound across the country this time of year. I was in Nelson County, Va., up around Montebello, for a family reunion, and then drove through Vesuvius and Staunton on the way to Verona to celebrate some friends’ 57th wedding anniversary. On our trip through the mountains Saturday, I noticed that many churches were holding their fall bazaars. Booths decorated with yellow, gold and green gourds and orange pumpkins were scattered along the roadside.

The changing colors of the leaves were not as dramatic as they have been in years past, but it was beautiful up there nonetheless.

We stopped at Silver Creek Orchard’s “Apple Butter Festival” near Massies Mill on the way up and purchased several bags of apples including Virginia Gold, York, Granny Smith, Stayman, Rome, Mystery, Fuji, Jonagold and Gala.

I had a few peaceful moments to myself Saturday afternoon up at Mt. Parian Baptist in Montebello to gaze out over the rolling hills below. When I was last there in April, we were surprised by a sudden snow shower. Saturday, the slight chill in the air reminded me that winter is on its way.

I hope it takes it’s time, though. I want to hold onto to autumn as long as I possibly can.

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