In the US, summer is state-fair season, which means it is a time of sugar- and fried-fat-based comfort snacks that hardly ever appear anywhere except at state fairs. Recently reported examples include: caviar-covered Twinkie (Minnesota), mac-and-cheese cupcake (Minnesota), deep-fried Oreo burger (Florida), deep-fried gummy bears (Ohio), deep-fried beer (Texas) and old favourites such as chicken-fried bacon (Texas), spaghetti ice cream (Indiana), Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich (California), and nacho balls (Iowa; right).
As reported News of the Weird, Yahoo Food and Grub Street.

In The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon she gives various lists of things, which are often long and detailsed. So as part of thinking up subjects for “Ten Things” I’ve taken Sei Shōnagon’s subjects and reused them — so some will appear here from time to time. This is the first.
Ten Things that Fall from the Sky

1. Rain
2. Meteors
3. Aeroplanes
4. Sunshine
5. Morsels of roast pork (at least in the world view of our cat)
6. Surprises
7. Frogs (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_of_animals)
8. Autumn leaves
9. Snow
10. Bird shit

We’ve not had a selection of the strange and curious from our local auction house for quite some while. This is mainly because their recent sales haven’t thrown up a lot which has been of really special interest. However here are the highlights of the three most recent sales. They are the usual collection of the strange things people sell, weird combinations to make up a lot and the snigger-worthy. I also love the way they just add “etc.” at the end of a lot when they get bored with itemising old toot!
A large cardboard lid with interesting contents including a lead seated dog, an old three-faced doll with straw body, a bronze bell, glove stretchers, an African hardwood carving of multiple figures, a mounted old electric cable, coronation crown money box, etc.
A pair of Edwardian silver footed nut bowls, pierced and with ram mask mounts, Chester 1906, an urn sugar castor, and a pair of salts with spoons in fitted case
A late Victorian silver-mounted pony hoof inkwell … complete with glass liner, and a metal-mounted hoof inkwell
A suitcase of tourist dolls
A fine 19th century miquelet flintlock musket, probably North African, with bone-inlaid stock, the barrel bound in engraved white metal, gold-damascened trigger guard, with ramrod
A large carved wood basin with pointed ends, probably tribal African
A bronze figure of a naked lady dancing with a garland of flowers, on marble base
A vintage German Torpedo typewriter
A mixed lot of items to include mahogany cased playing cards, cottage ware, preserve jar and cover, child’s microscope, cased domino sets, old tins, a bottle of Grants Scotch whisky, pewter tankard, flatware, Churchill nodding dog, figurines, part dinner services, Salter’s kitchen scales, Rolls Royce advertising mirror, Midwinter part dinner service, bamboo walking stick and two autograph books
A quantity of interesting items to include Christmas decorations and sundry items, a quantity of garden gnomes, a collection of seashells, a large brass shell case, brass and copper kettle, brass planters, metal two-handled candlesticks, trinket boxes, figurines, duck brushes, a small quantity of glassware such as nut dishes and candleholders, an Art Deco shade decorated with dragons, etc.
A spare lot
A wooden cylindrical box of Butlins memorabilia including a mirror and a number of old Butlins resort badges
A sectional ivory carving of a man and a boy with tools and a basket of grapes
An interesting collection of articles including an old Osram bulb box, Yeast-Vite tin, orange marmalade jar, Coleman’s Mustard, and cigarette packets, all found under floorboards, along with an Omega steel wristwatch, a liquor bottle, decimal coins, other watches, etc.
A silver Chippendale waiter, Sheffield 1993
An unusual early 20th century personal shrine, to ‘My Dear Wife’, with photograph and 22ct gold wedding ring on a gilt-tasselled cushion, all in a well-made oak cabinet with brass hinges
A collection of 12 modern Beswick Ware pig musicians, nos. PP1-12
A cased Kodak A120 folding camera and two other cameras, Frank Aldis and Pentax Asahi, a large black carrying case, an empty mahogany cutlery case, a large brass shell, a Jos Lucas Ltd, Birmingham brass ship’s light, a glass cruet mounted on a carriage, a silver plated cannon, shepherd’s crook
A quantity of old advertising tins including Mackintosh, Elastoplast, Wills Golden Bar, etc., also three vintage puzzles, an old chess set, an Accurist Solina wristwatch, a small quantity of hatpins, an old jelly, plus an Avon Timeless perfume.
A quantity of records including His Master’s Voice gramophone records, and later such as James Last and Philips Let’s Have Another Party, plus five brass column candlesticks, an old leather case, three glass and pierced silver plate lidded boxes and covers, a set of cast iron scales, two tankards, a silver plated pheasant, tapestry suitcase, silver plated bowl with swing handle, etc.
A quantity of pictures and prints to include tapestry and ceramic, a large quantity of CDs and CD racks, a wrought iron boot cleaner, pine stool, wicker basket, and a quantity of soft toys
A Sony Handicam, a Ricoh KR10 camera and lens, and a 1980’s Page 3 calendar
An abstract of figures standing before a house bearing signature Victor Brauner and inscribed 238, oil on canvas …
‘Women grinding at the mills in the bazaar’ by E Bowlby, signed, oils …

An Iron Cross brooch, two old badges, and a pipe reamer
A pair of Danish table candlesticks in silver plate, 5 silver filigree items including two dishes, and a model of a bear catching a fish on a geological specimen
A small mazer bowl by AE Jones in wood and silver … a set of five small implements, an 800 teaspoon, and three silver implements
Two A3 Pirelli Calendars from 1993 and 1994, Hornby Dublo Electric Train Set including two coaches, one tender with coal, one train, a controller box and a large amount of track etc.
A His Master’s Voice record player with spare needles … and a Hornby Railways Advanced Passenger train set
A 19th century cart wheel with solid tyre and steel spokes
Two silver plated trays, a silver plated bowl and jug, a large triangular serving plate decorated with cherubs around a central bust, an old urn, an old bell, etc.
A large patinated spelter figure of a Roman centurion, his lance fitted as a light
An interesting lot comprising a Victorian small bore single-barrel shotgun with open stock, a Red Ensign, two Union flags, a pair of skewers in box, a vestigial Nazi German helmet, a gas mask No. 4 III, a brass shell case, a Pratts petrol can, crumb pan and brush, bayonet and four knives
Two old metal deed boxes, a red metal cash tin, a cream kaftan, black Top Shop jacket, and four hiking rucksacks on metal frames
A ceramic hanging parrot
Two shelves of cut and moulded glass including wine glasses, a decanter, vases, a small number in coloured glass, and a model spitfire etc.
An old scythe with steel blade on shaped handle
Two large African carved wall masks and a doll’s pram with soft toy
An old brass box decorated with scenes, a box of old cameras … and various accessories, a stick telephone, two dolls, a child’s violin in case, two German accordions, one by Bandmaster, a ukulele, a small banjo in case, a standard lamp, a bayonet and old umbrellas, etc.