12:45 PM there were only 4 people in line at the scone booth by the Blue gate, so I bought one for lunch!

I just came from watching the Country Cloggers perform, on the education stage in the Pavilion building. A group of ladies, who danced to toe tapping music with a caller like a square dance. They were terrific and obviously having a great time. What a fun way to get some exercise! There are free shows all over the grounds and I really enjoy watching them.

What does the Fair smell like to you? I remember when it smelled like wet sawdust and onions. Well the sawdust is gone and the rain isn’t here yet but the onions are here and the smell brings back a lot of memories.

Ill talk to you later. Roberta Marshall

I really have admiration for the people that become entertainers for the fair. I don't know that I would, or could, make myself put on an overly big rainbow top hat and display my talents in front of a crowd.

That is, though, what the entertainers do. They are placed in strategic locations (I would assume so they would gain the largest audiences) and do anything from magic tricks to use garbage cans and pots to make music.

The shows are, generally, free and open to anyone willing to watch.

-By Matt Anderson

Walking in you see a curtain. What's under the curtain is still unknown. Then the museum "curator" walks over and lifts the ominous velvet rope to let you in.

"The World's Smallest Traveling Museum" (as the "curator" called it) houses what the museum claims to be a dead "Chupacabra", a head shrunken by native African tribes and an amputated finger. On the wall just to the left of museum's display, it claims that DNA tests have concluded that the creature in their possession is indeed a "Chupacabra."

The museum is located just past the Blue Gate, admission is $1.

- By Matt Anderson

Wow. I'm back again. I didn't get very far...there's so much to see and do. First off, I went by the 100.7 Radio stand (left of the First Aide Building) and learned Emerson Drive is playing tonight and sitting in the grandstands is FREE! This only happens some nights. Tonight's event starts at 7:30 with $15 tickets in reserved seating. But hey, why pay? Sit in the grandstand for free!

So then I got hungry and went seeking tacos. I found a stand just up from the First Aide building. The taco salad was good but I noticed water is $3! Ok, so I'm between jobs. But families might want to pack their own if they plan to get thirsty. By the way, I was talking with one young woman about my blogging and I'm a social worker, etc. etc. And I got a job invite! So you never know what you'll find at the fair, I say.

And while I was eating two lovely ladies in sparkly hats walked by. Because I had earlier said I was going to focus on some of the things seniors like about the fair-I asked. "We loved the School Art done by junior high students-they're such good artists." In addition, these ladies said they're going to see "The Konzelman Family". They're playing at several different times today. One of the lady's shared, "One of the Konzelman's daughters was Ms. California last year." Interesting.

Hey,I'm not hard to please. At 1pm The Red Hatter's parade occurred spontaneously down the main drag. I snapped a photo and hope to attach it here. But if I don't, you can see your own Red Hatter just by doing the Puyallup. Note: Apparently the Red Hatter's main function as a group is-to have fun! What a concept! I also snapped a photo of two gentlemen cowboys. They ride some fancy steeds and call themselves "The Fables of the West."

My quest to find what seniors like didn't end there. One happy fairgoer told me "I like the Extreme Scream. It makes me feel good." I figure if she can do so can I. Not! And one more thing that makes the fair senior-friendly (or just if you don't want to walk) is the People Mover. This tram, pulled by a bright red tractor, picks up folk along the way for a free ride. It runs Mon-Thur 10am-7pm crowds permitting.

Then I sat down near a family while I was having my latte (available all over). The grandfather told me his 2 yr. old granddaughter milked a cow today, "The cow is not real but you can milk it just like the real thing. And since I grew up on a farm I know how important milking a cow is." He recommended I see the 3-day-old baby pigs. I can't say exactly where they're located but here's a secret: The News Tribune has an information booth located just to the left when you go in the Blue Gates. So go there and pick up an Official Program! They'll tell you all the is happening on the day you're here. Bye. Off for more fun.

By Kristen Butler, MSW

The woman who did my Henna was very nice. She was very calming, and the Henna she did was gorgeous. The booth is near the Red Gate in an open area and soft music playing.

Henna starts at $10 and goes up from there. You can choose a pattern or image or have them go to work on their own. I allowed her to pick and set a limit. She free-hands it from there in the specified area to the set amount of money that you are willing to spend. It's beautiful.

The hypnotist. What an amazing show! It was the most entertaining thing of the day. Travis was hilarious. We're defiantly going to see it again at 7:00. He's been here entertaining for 14 years, since I was 3. That is such a long time, but you can tell he loves what he does.

He also sells CDs on different topics and problems that you want to solve or try to get help on. I'm interested to see if they work, but I can only assume that they do judging by the amazing performance. It's really something people should check out!

- By Rayna Mumbower

(Posted by TNT fair blogger Marcia Lee)

I started the day over by the Gold gate and the Fountain Plaza stage. There are several
stages all around the fair and the acts are all top drawer.

I saw Karen Quest, She does cowgirl comedy and rope tricks. Her act is really funny. Beware audience participation required!

Then I was off to see the draft horse exhibition. On the way there I stopped at the
Showplace stage. You get there by turning left at the Blue gate. 'Billie and the Hillbillies' were on stage.

They play bluegrass and country music as you might expect from the name. When I arrived there was a gent playing his electric mandolin at what had to be warp speed.

It was awesome! When the two fiddlers, the banjo and keyboarder joined in the crowd started to hoot and holler. They were great! . . . I beat it over to the CD
table and bought one before the line could form.

- By Marcia Lee

Well, this is not a free service for the public, but pictured above is a professional cowboy taking part in the rodeo this weekend receiving massage from Jeanine Hurst, a massage therapist from Bremerton.

"They are pretty well-tuned athletes," Hurst said of the rodeo cowboys. "But they don't have time to rest."

Many of these professional cowboys travel from a rodeo event to another, falling from the barebacks and enduring cross-country traveling.

"I think it's more of the traveling than the rodeo (that hurts the cowboys) with all these back pains they've got," said Lisa Bertolacci, Hurst's colleague (pictured below).

So, which parts of their bodies do these tough guys get injured the most? -- Shoulders and knees, according to the two massage therapists.

The rodeo runs until Sunday.

This morning, hundreds of people lined up along South Meridian Street -- Puyallup's main drag -- to cheer for cowboys, marching bands and others to celebrate the opening of the 17-day Puyallup Fair.

If you missed it, below are some pictures from the cattle drive and parade.

Here are steers waiting in a trailer on Meridian just south of the railroad tracks to lead the parade with a cattle drive.

Wranglers wait in the parking lot of the Community Resource Center -- with a mural in the background -- before the release of the steers.

Now, the steers are released!

Young and old from the sidewalk chant at the cowboys and horses.

Some Puyallup downtown merchants were trying to cash in on the event. Pictured here is Pioneer Bakery.

The festivity seekers followed the trail-end of the parade to the fairgrounds. Here is a group of new mothers and their first babies strolling down Meridian to the Gold Gate. The fair is officially open!

Fair workers are getting the grandstand ready for the rodeo. By Eijiro Kawada

This year's Puyallup Fair Rodeo is one of four playoffs in the PRCA 's (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, and will bring the nation's top 22 cowboys to Puyallup.

Workers are getting the grandstand ready for the rodeo by bringing tons of dirt in and laying it on top of the asphalt (The dirt will be cleaned up overnight after the final day of the rodeo, which is Sunday, to get the grandstand ready for concerts and other events).

From a Puyallup Fair press release

If cowboys are tough enough to wear pink, you can too! The Puyallup Rodeo contestants in the Ariat Playoffs of the Wrangler Tour will be donning pink shirts at the Saturday Sept. 8, 1 p.m. rodeo for the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign to help support breast cancer awareness.

The 2007 Puyallup Pro Rodeo, as well as hundreds of professional rodeos around the country support the courage, strength and determination of those with breast cancer. Many rodeo families have experienced breast cancer and will never forget it. Cowboys and cowgirls competing in Saturday’s 1 p.m. rodeo will show their support by wearing pink.