Make-Do Mondays: Spontaneity and Flexibility at the State Fair

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At Make-Do Mondays, we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via Mr. Linky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on Mr. Linky and then clicking on people’s names.Here’s a mini-tutorial on Mr. Linky:

Click on the icon and a separate page will pop up. Type in your blog name and paste in the url of your new Make-Do Mondays post. Click enter and it should be live. If it doesn’t work, just include the link in the comments.

To visit people’s posts or check that yours worked, click on Mr. Linky and when the page comes up, click on a name. You should be taken right to the page provided.

Make-Do Mondays Participants

1. Homesteaders’ Heart (Make-Do Yarn Holder)
2. Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter (Make-Do Baby Blanket)

Make-Do Mondays with AnnLast week I wrote on NotSoFastBook.com about flexibility and spontaneity in our schedules.Maybe I’m stretching my concept of making-do, but I think spontaneity and flexibility free us to make the most of opportunities that arise. I hope that fits into Make-Do Mondays conceptually, because that’s what I’ve written about.We decided to head to the Indiana State Fair this weekend. Already that was a spontaneous decision.Upon arrival, we formulated a rough plan of what we wanted to see, do and eat.While there, however, we learned that the Department of Natural Resources offered free fishing lessons, which three of the kids were eager to try. Fishing lessons were not part of the original plan, but they turned out to be unexpectedly delightful–one of the highlights of the day because the man-made pond was well stocked with voracious fish and each kid caught three in a row.Then we ran into some friends–one was recording artist Carmen D’Arcy.We met the real Carmen, but I thought I’d let you see her big banner.As it turns out, Carmen was scheduled to play at a nearby pavilion about an hour later, so we stayed flexible and watched them perform.Here’s Carmen warming up.Here’s Carmen performing.After the concert, I chatted with Carmen’s husband, Bill, who is the voice of Indiana Youth Institute’s informative “Kids Count … on You!” radio spots. We talked about kids using (or not using) cell phones, Facebook, texting and “sexting.” I’ve never been good at small talk.After the concert, we enjoyed several fair foods, which I shall do my best to chronicle on Friday for Food on Fridays.Then we found ourselves at a good spot to enjoy a parade with several floats, bagpipers, a calliope, a clown band, and a long line of vintage tractors.At the end of the evening, we were heading to the parking lot and realized the evening music was about to begin: Heart was opening for Journey, so the Belgian Wonder let the kids climb on top of the minivan to listen and watch. The parking lot offered a partial view of the stage, but the lights could be seen turning and changing for the show.We wouldn’t have bought tickets to see Journey, but thanks to some flexibility and spontaneity, the kids enjoyed a fun make-do concert.How do you make-do?

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