Tricia’s costumed quilting demo last week netted an invitation for a repeat performance Saturday at a celebration in the neighboring town of Strawn. Once again I went along for the ride, armed with a stack of my native plant brochures.

The day started off with a parade and then we settled in on the porch of an old farmhouse overlooking the festivities on the grounds. Right away I could tell this one was not going to work out nearly as well as the one we did last week. For one thing it was hot and for another the emphasis here was a lot more on kids and activities than the one last week, which had an historical theme.

It did not take me long to get bored and I left Tricia at her post and wandered off, first to the downtown shops which were filled with lingering parade-watchers and then on a walking tour of the sights of the town.

For a town that boasts a population only a little over 700 on their city limit sign, this one seems rather lively. There are three sit-down restaurants plus a taco stand in a converted filling station. I visited four…