Potatoes in disguise.

Hello dear readers, lovely to see you! How would you like a bit of something to bring a smile to your face, rather than a colour fix, today?

And what do you think of the potato dressed up as a baby?! With a diaper! Don't you think it's hilarious? If not hilarious, well, pretty amusing then...........

I think this baby was meant to have that circle of tinsel on its head, as a halo, not on its  face. Some wings would have been the finishing touch in my humble opinion.

Who would have thought that a square of kitchen towel could have looked exactly like a diaper, when wrapped 'just so' round a potato.

And what about the little chap above?  The simplicity of this one is just, quite simply, beautiful. It's some Ginger, cunningly disguised as either a Crab, or a Lobster, I can't quite decide.

Maybe I'll go with the Crab idea.

This potato, craftily disguised as a Dalek, caught my eye.

A Dalek Potato, how splendid!

Or is it just that, if anyone was to get hold of a potato, and decorate it to look like something other than a potato, it's funny? Potatoes, I've discovered, can be fun.

So why isn't there such a thing as potato decorating parties?

Maybe there is. I just don't know about them. They do exist? Oh! They're for children only? Oh! Adults can only join in if supervised? Oh.................. I see, I'm too old.

The above photo is more my age group is it? Well, I don't know, I prefer the children's category.

(And just as an aside, was the person displaying these vegetables having a joke?!!! AND he got first prize. Maybe the judge was having a joke).

I had to put this cat picture in for all you cat lovers...................... is soooo sweeeet.

I'd love to own a cat that looked exactly like the one painted above.

A good use of plastic bottle tops in the miniature garden above, don't you think? A bottle top as a tiny table, and a bottle top as a fish pond, with Goldfish in it, or should they be Sharks? Toothpicks create the structure for the swing, which is very nice, but not as nice as those chocolate hundreds-and-thousands, that are meant to look like earth. It must have been so tempting for all those little eyes at table height, to reach their little fingers over, and gobble a tiny bit of 'earth'. As for the grass/gravel stuff, what do you think it's made of? My guess, and I'm sticking with it, is grated Cheddar cheese.

The grated cheese on the above miniature garden had been cleverly dyed green. I detect the input of an adult in this one, the wit is quite sophistacted for a young child, don't you think?

I had to show you this one. Potato disguised as a baby bird. It might not be as witty, or as funny as the potato diguised as a baby, but it sure is CUTE.

I agree with the award of first prize for this egg. Isn't it beautiful! So simple, love it!

Aaaahhhhh, for the summer months of entertainment, when we went to the Agricultural shows where all these photos of potatoes in disguise were taken. Heaven, I love them. And I miss them in the winter months.

About March time, Hugo and I start to wonder about the shows out loud, and we get quite excited about their imminent arrival. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, talking about them now, especially as Christmas hasn't even gone by. I am quite simply, Not going to mention that word, Christmas. I'm wondering if maybe this year we need to get a real tree, rather than drag the fake one out of the attic, then I might start getting excited about putting up Christmas decorations. Or maybe I need to borrow a child, and be infected with some seasonal excitement. (I think I just heard lots of Mums shouting "you can borrow all my children for the weekend").

I bought our fake tree years ago, and it's still going strong. The reason I bought it, was that I hate to see dead, dried up Christmas trees abandoned infront of people's houses, after the Christmas season is over. It really does make me want to cry when I see the skeleton of a Christmas tree, lying in the street. I seriously, seriously find it distressing. BUT.................... I do love a real Christmas tree, there's nothing quite like it is there? the lovely smell. I know my in-laws always plant theirs outside when they've finished with it indoors, which I applaud. So I was DELIGHTED last Sunday, when I was watching Country File on the t.v. to see that a man has set up a company where you can hire a Christmas tree, one in a pot, that stays alive. You can even hire it year after year, have your family's name on it, and they look after it all year round, till the season of good will arrives. I'd have a real tree if there was a company near us doing the same thing. Untill then, I shall just have to carry on scrabbling around in the attic, and dragging our fake tree down a wobbly ladder.

This was meant to be a light-hearted post wasn't it?! Sorry, got a little side-tracked there, by my feelings for Christmas trees.

The Agricultural shows are often held in huge fields, set in spectacular landscape.

Like this dramatic setting. I tell you, I could bore you to tears with photos I've taken of the beautuful landscapes surrounding these events. But I won't.

And of course, there is always a 'refreshment' tent at these events, which is almost first place in the importance of things for us. The 'Industrial tent', where you see all the entries for the knitting, baking, flowers and veg and miniature gardens, and disguised potatoes, has to be first place in the importance of things, for me. The photo above shows the inside of one of the refreshment tents, I thought this was a particularly splendid one, because of the old-fashioned tables and chairs, which have obviously been brought out each year for a long time.

I took these last two photos whilst waiting for Hugo to get the tea and cakes. These refreshment tents are normally jam-packed, and it can be hard to find a seat, but we must have done that "let's go and get some tea and cake before seeing everything else" thing. In other words, lets get to the cake before everyone else does. So that's why the photos are looking empty of people.

One thing that scores loads of points, in my book, in these refreshment tents, is jam jars stuffed with flowers, sitting on each table.

Like these above. If this happens, I'm usually so happy and satisfied, the cake can be 'not very nice', and I won't mind. Flowers on tables at country fairs, make my day. The tables in these photos are looking a bit bare aren't they? Well, I forgave the tables for being bare at the time, because they were such nice tables, and I was sitting on a vintage chair. And I felt transported back to the 40's.

My system of scoring points for these events is very complicated, I know.

Would you like to see one more photo of potatoes in disguise? Yes? Oh gooody, this one is fab!

Did I say how much I love country shows?! Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em!

Now that's me done for today. Cheerio and cheers. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Ella]

I love that post! The potatoe baby in diapers is just adorable, and so are the mini gardens. Please do post more potatoes in disguise whenever you feel like it.

Ella

[mlle paradis]

Deeee-lightful post! Thanks Vanessa! I loved the little back garden with the goldfish pond AND the first prize egg! Somebodies have just been having WAY TOO MUCH FUN! The tents were to die for too. Thx again! Toodle-pip!

[Kimbles]

What a jolly post I love the golf course and the fishy egg!

[Hen]

That's hilarious! I agree, I love those shows too and particularly, the flowers in jam jars. The big fat ginger cat looks like Jacky Ginge! I always had a fake Christmas tree, as did my parents, as did Andy, but for some reason, when we got together and bought this house, it seemed only fitting to have a magnificent real tree, we have very high ceilings here. Each year, we seek out the most ludicrously massive one we can find and have a ridiculous time getting it home on the roof rack! We actually keep the trunk and burn it the following Christmas day. Don't think I could go back to a fake tree now although to be fair, I do have a little fake one in the dining room. I agree, they do look pretty miserable, all dried up and discarded on the side of the road, though.
I am feeling a bit more festive now. I'm going to be sending your parcel pretty early this month and hopefully that might get you a bit more in the mood!
Hen x

[Cath W]

Borrow my kids for the weekend? Heck, take them for the rest of the year! My son Josh decorated his egg for the school Easter competition just like the dalek potato. He called it a 'Dal-egg' and it was pointing it's laser thingy at some easter chicks with a speech bubble (attached to a pipe-cleaner) that said "Eggs-terminate!!"
Hilarious.
Still want to borrow them?

[Bertie Meadows]

Hello Vanessa that's just the ticket to cheer you up on a cold December evening. I have some rude potatoe pictures, taken from our crop in the summer. They always make me laugh, even though my family are not amused.
Bertie x

[Janice]

Potatoes are such a versatile vegetable. My daughter made 'Carack Obama' for the decorated egg comp at school last Easter. Ha ha!

[paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com]

Those were funny! I used to make minature gardens - another childhood pursuit!
I heard yesterday that you can rent a Christmas tree! They dig it back into the ground ready for next year. Not sure where, but google might help if you're interested.

[gill]

hi vanessa
loved the potato pictures - much more fun than bauble and tinsel pics which are everywhere if you get my meaning!
it's such a pity that the old fashioned agricultural shows are disappearing - at least in my part of the world. The local show we always went to as children is now full of fairground rides and ghastly tat (sorry i seem to have my grumpy old woman head on this morning!!) aaah the good old days!!
love gill xx

[Petit Filoux]

I like to buy a realy xmas tree that is still in its pot because that way it doesn't loose its needles as I keep giving it water (like you would any other plant). It's so nice to think it's alive rather than dead!! Havent' heard about those people who'll take it back from you until the next year, that is such a good idea! Do you remember what they're called?

[sue]

Loving the potatoes,also loving the dress,hope your niece loves it too.

Sue xxx

[penny]

How nice to have a summer flashback when all around is drowning under tisel and lights.. Those spuds are hiLARious! Penny xx

[The Curious Cat]

I love the creativity that has gone into that pototo competition! So much fun! I love it!!!! As for Christmas trees - why don't you just buy a potted tree anyway and then just plant it in the garden? That is what my mum usually does - though the rented idea sounds fab too! xxx

[Kay]

wow, such a wondeful post!
Really great pictures too!
Awesome blog, would you be up for a link exchange?

[Tracie]

Vanessa,

I just wanted to comment on your real/ artificial tree thing. Our city collects the trees at the end of the season and turns them into mulch to use at local parks. They also collect our yard wast and compost it! So at least we know our tree is going to get used at the end, after we've enjoyed it. My mom went to an artificial one about 6 years ago and I remember being horrified! Now I love her tree and I know it's easier for her to handle. I imagine not having to deal with needles all over the house would be lovely too!

[Siobhan]

When I was little we always always had a real tree and it WAS exciting. But ever since I've had my own home - years and years now, I have only had fake trees. They are not the same (and like you I too would love a real one), but they are pretty good and I still love them. I can't bear the thought though of chopping a tree down - killing it! just so I can have it in my living room for two weeks. I think about it every year but I can't do it! My daughter has never had a real tree; it's not a big issue as she knows and agrees why but still.... Children do add a certain something to Christmas - my daughter is pretty grown up now (ok she's an adult!) and we have to work a little bit harder at making the magic. We don't put decorations up until Christmas Eve and then suddenly along with the mince pies and the mulled wine it's here and we love it! You can have too much of a good thing - shops have all their stuff in September and I ignore that until I am good and ready. If you could re-plant a tree every year in the garden that might be an option for you. I do love Christmas trees though and could never be without one - even a fake one!

[Sharon Peters]

Hi Vanessa - lovely post of summer gone by. I saw the article about hiring the Xmas trees on Country File and thought it was a brilliant idea! Yummy thinking about mince pies and mulled wine made me feel Christmassy!! Take care. Sharon XX

[Mildawg]

Thank you for cheering me up with the vegetables. Love. :)

[buy cradle swing]

Oh ! Beautiful

[Pipany]

Hello vanessa. Those potato pictures are just priceless aren't they? Such lovely expressions on their faces. I saw that Countryfile episode too and thought it was a very clever idea. I do love Countryfile and consider it my sunday night treat (along with a glass of something lovely!) x

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