Dixie stepped out onto the porch of the farmhouse that was now her own. Surveying the scene, she was in awe of the effort the local Firemen had taken to preserve the aesthetics of the land, while turning the landscape into a veritable wonderland of Independence Day revelry. Red, White and Blue decorations abounded at every turn.
Along the front of the house, actually blocking the steps to the porch, she had placed a long table containing the door prizes she had hurriedly scrambled for in the past few days. Some came from businesses, but the majority came from the generous folks of the town.
The Firemen had placed a row of six over sized smoker grills on the left side of the lawn, and had tables laden with every picnic foo
d imaginable below the grilling area.Large orange coolers containing water, iced sweet tea and lemonade were at each end of the serving lines. Tables for guest to sit were scattered around the lawn, and even without counting, Dixie knew there had to be at least one hundred tables set up.
To the right of the house, there was a childrens play area set up, complete with a ball pit, a huge blow-up slide, and jungle gym. She could see a fireman filling water balloons and placing thme into barrels for later games. Further away, by a good two hundred yards, were the carnival rides.
It was considerate of them to have placed Port-a-potties along the edge of the lawn, so guests would not have to come into the house. That was a big concern for Dixie, as the contractor was coming on Monday, to discuss plans for "Dixie's Fantasy Farm".
An enormous banner proclaiming "Fourth of July Fireman's Picnic" was raised on two poles, marking the entrance to the game area. The firemen had planned on three legged races, a water balloon fight, pie eating contest and several other games, all with corresponding prizes, like a vintage Pez dispenser, gift certificates for local eateries, and toys galore.
Outside the game area was a "Kissing booth", which Dixie planned to man herself, with a little help from her friends,and a "Fortune Telling Booth", complete with a pink crystal ball. Each booth would cost $5.00, with the proceeds going to the Fireman's Widow Fund.
Seeing the first cars parking along the side of the long winding drive, Dixie proclaimed, "Here We Go, Boys, ..Let the Party Begin!"
by
donna f.
Member since:
March 6, 2006 Fireman's Picnic...Come One, Come All!
July 03, 2009 09:10 AM EDT
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Comments: 20
I like it - your character Dixie is great I have really enjoyed reading about her and her adventures!
Thanks, Kimber.
This post does not really move the story line along, but I've put a little hint in to where I am taking her...
Do the booth rentals cost $5 or the fee to use the services the booths are providing?? And is Dixie in charge of the kissing booth AND the fortune telling booth or is it just coincidence they are beside each other - that part could be a little more clear but still lvoe the story!
I can't wait to hear more about Dixie's Fantasy Farm!
The fee costs $5...you either can get your fortune told, by Launa, or a smoocheroo form Dixie, or whomever she can con into manning the booth...Tia?
Yeah, I think the Fantasy Farm B & B will be fun to write....stay tuned!
cool!!!!! I think the Fantasy Farm Bed and Breakfast, is just what Dixie needs!!
I liked this switch, so she can have some fun and who knows, if someone might show up for kisses??????
this has been sooo much fun Donna! I will stay tuned for MORE!!!!
barb,
Glad you are enjoying Dixie's tale. I plan on working on the next one this weekend....my car is dead, so I am a virtual prisoner of my little burg..lol
yay!!!!! you know, I just have nooooo patience... that is why I was so happy to read all at one time:)
Bummer about the car, sigh.... if it isn't one thing, it is another. Hope you can get it running soon:)
i loved reading this...good job!
thanx for sharing...would love for you to join my group...
http://www.shareasmile.gather.com
Very nice, Donna :) This sounds like so much fun that *I* want to go! I don't understand why you were DB1'd ... did you irritate someone? I hardly think this article could have made someone mad! LOL! Maybe they don't like firemen.
I have a few suggestions on capitalization ... do you want them here in comments or in a private email?
It's a fun story you have going, and I can't wait to see just what Dixie's Fantasy Farm is all about! (I have a possible ideas, but I'm sure you're going to surprise me).
EH, I think I pissed off St. John of the Cross Hairs this morning..lol
Knock yourself out on the caps.
and
Tee Hee Hee...
Okay, I'm cussing up a blue streak. I'd typed in a detailed list of things that should not have been capitalized (and why) and when I hit submit, Gather ATE it. Grumble. Scowl. Snark.
Whimper
I'm getting the biggest kick out of how we're picturing the same thing so differently. lol I'm glad I haven't written anything in great detail about the set up, but my mind is scribbling out images and replacing them with the new reality. Never pictured and abundance of red, white and blue. Doh! seems like a "why, of course!" Tables all around? (scribble scribble scribble lol) This is fun!
Bill, assuming you see the results, thanks for the poster. Looks good, and I'm with Barb - I want to go now. lol
Will have to explain to Ax, when he calls next, that "the family" can NOT "borrow" any of the prizes, nor can they go swimming in the water balloons. (And a certain large bear will have to avoid the bike, too.) Good thing young Stuffies think girls are yucky, (the older ones are married, so would never get permission) or Dixie would have quite a shock at the kissing booth. lol
Is Launa doing the fortune telling booth? "Honey" wouldn't be interested, but Michelle might - still not into touching though. Sorry. I wouldn't be surprised to find out Launa can do fortune telling, minus touching. Brings a different dimension to interaction. (hint, hint, Barb. ;) )
Also, if interested, I have a small idea for a storyline between Dixie and Tee. Don't look at me that way, Miss Donna. There are possibilities without THAT problem. ;) Was already thinking about doing it with Michelle, but I see advantages with Dixie.
Only problem I see is how to get both storylines working together, given the holiday weekend and collaborating twice with two different people. Add to that, I strongly suspect you two will be collaborating, too. Too confusing? I can say, no matter which way we go for tomorrow, we will be celebrating the Fourth, so not much time to collaborate. Then again with or without working car, I hope you both get to see local fireworks, and have some kind of celebration. (Probably without hunky firemen half dressed. lol) E-mail me, if interested, anyway.
Launa *can* look into other people's minds without touching, but she considers it unethical without permission and/or good reason. Touching, sometimes she can't help but see. She can't tell the future, though. She can tell what you're thinking, what happened in the past, and what's wrong with you, but no future-telling.
Lynn,
I think a Dixie/Tee story would be great fun....maybe next week. When Barb and I collaborated, we made a "private post" for just us two. We would each write a section, and fill in the dialog etc.. as we went along.
As for the 4th, not sure what we're doing, but it won't be much. We did watch some fireworks the other night. Can you believe this little burg I live in had them on Thursday?...WTF?
Today, we have to get Bill's truck moved out of our back parking lot, so the carnival workers can set up the rides for next weeks Fireman's Festival....Yep, really and truly...And yes, the fire station, with all those luscious firemen is right next door...
Barb,
I know...but I'll bet she can fake it like a pro...for charity.
Good idea on the private post. Gotta beat 20,000 e-mails back and forth, since it doesn't depend on what's going on in the other's life that moment. E-mail me when you're ready.
Oh, and for a minute there, thought Bill actually found Alice's looking-glass and popped over to Dixie's farm. Was going to ask for permission to visit the looking glass - just for a little while. lol
So, you get the noise of a carnival, for a week? whether you go or not? And fire trucks blasting their sirens in the middle of the night? Sounds like fun?! With the carnival, why am I picturing a bunch of drunks peeing on your home after the carnival closes down? Have I been living in the city, too long? lol
BTW, for research purposes (and simple curiousity), where do they plug in those rides?
Ok...I'll make the post. and send you a link.
Yes. The ferris wheel is going up in the back lot, as I type this..It's not too bad..The bands playing on the opera house lawn will midnight every night(7th-11th) is the biggest PIA...Actually the fire house is pretty quiet, they try to refrain from running sirens wil lthey have left downtown.
The good part is corn dogs and funnel cakes right out my back door...or maybe thats not such a good thing..lol
As for the power, the fire station supplies some of the power, and they have several trucks with Generators on them.
As for the drunks...its an ongoing noise issue, as there is a bar directly across the street from us. The peeing isn't a problem, as most of the clientele is local, and someone would tell their Mama...lol..Anyway, we live in a second floor loft, and only the tenants can get into the building.