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VABA Book Fair Wrap-up and Annoucement of Fall Fair

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The VABA Book Fair was held last weekend in St Albans and it was once again a success for all. Understand a shop may not have sold much but we consider the show a success because we are all together in one room and with our books. It’s good looking out into the room and see all the sellers. And of course, all of the books. I believe this was the first show I sold more than I bought. And of course, I had to buy.

What makes this show so unique in the combined sellers of VABA members, selling antiquarian books and local authors and their newly release books. So many books! So many authors! And poets as well. The room was buzzing with such literary talents.

The St Albans show was organized by Donna Howard, of The Eloquent Page: New, Used, & Rare Books. Howard’s store is located in St. Albans and she served as the hostess for the event. She welcomed all who entered the St Albans City Hall and assisted exhibitors as needed. She was calm and steady throughout the day. A friend of the books!

The next VABA Book Fair will be held Sunday, September 20 at the Pierce Hall Community Center in Rochester, VT. This will be a first for us to be in this location and I am so looking forward to it. Sandy Lincoln of The Bookery is just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Hall. Actually, right across the street from The Bookery. The Hall and the bookshop are both located on Route 100. We are all so excited about this new location and date. Watch for more information to be available soon.

Mark your calendars! This will prove to be a fun show – Sunday, September 20, 2026. Pierce Hall Community Center, Rochester VT 10am-4pm And yes, Free admission.

Addison County Fair & Field Days

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This week is our Field Days. I have so many special memories that go back to when Weybridge hosted it. Where we would ride our bikes to the fields and then we could walk right in without needing to pay. But, of course, we, the neighborhood kids, felt we had to contribute something, so we helped out parking cars. Not sure it was appreciated but yet, I remember there was an old man who told us what to do. How to make use of the land to get the most cars in with space to get around. It wasn’t as large as it is now. Everything was under a tent. And when it rained, it got very muddy!

We’d walk around and around. In and out of the tents. Always testing out the taste of a new feed that was laid out as a display. Not so much for kids to eat. But we’d manage to sneak a quick taste and compare and come up with our favorite of the summer. And always a stop at the Monument Farms exhibit to enjoy a tiny cup of Coffee Milk. Only available at Field Days.

I entered in various contests with a Table Display being my first. I found the VT state flower, red clover, and twisted it onto a candle. And placed the candle onto a piece of slate. Held in place with melted candle wax. As part of my entry, I wrote a bit about the state flower and also slate in Vermont. I was awarded a Red Ribbon and cash prize (when they use to award money with a ribbon) with the comment that it was unusual to find red clover in August. There were lots in the field across from my house! A friend and I also decided to enter the Cake Contest. We poured over my mother’s cookbooks, and each found the perfect cake to produce. I think I made a spice cake. Laurie came in first and I came in second, receiving our ribbons and cash prize. Let’s just say, the older ladies were not happy with us beating them out. I think we were 13 and 12 years old.

Throughout my years I’ve entered various foods and crafts. Worked in the 4-H Food Booth, the ticket booth for rides, and many years later in the Lions Booth with creemies my specialty.

Field Days are a very special time and event for Addison County. Hope you got to go and have fun Addison County style.