I have a town function coming up the first week of July in which I usually provide as many baked goods as I can possibly complete through the week for the town carnival which is the major fundraiser for our local STILL all volunteer fire department. This became important in our family even before I was born as my dad joined before he even married. Being a master electrician in his real job he was called upon for all that work, then 5 years he was acting fire chief. (bet there aren't many other kids who had to watch their dad's fire training films, have fire drills, and learn fire safety this way). He was in his mid to late 30s at the time. My dad turns 79 later this year, that tells how long its been. While he's no longer active (they don't encourage those with 5-way bypasses to fight fires any more, its a young man's game) we still do what we can to support the company. I believe our town is the only one left in the country able to survive a completely volunteer team. I think that says something for the residents of the community. As a young teenager I desperately wanted to be the girl in the dunk tank but my dad always said a firm and resounding "NO"! I don't think he wanted men ogling me in a bikini or swimsuit. That never occurred to me, I just wanted to be dunked in the cold water on a hot summer's night. I have no idea how many goldfish we probably won and eventually killed over the years. Most would live a few months, if we were lucky. Many things have changed. Now there are tip jars, bingo games, bake sale tables and various other things, no dunk tanks. But some things never change. Teenage girls still flirt with "carnies", rides are still the same (which I can't do any longer), I still get cotton candy and caramel apples. Sadly, as I have to eat gluten free I can't have funnel cakes anymore. The carnival always rolls in on Sunday mornings. Church is right beside the fire department and carnival grounds and vehicles drive right by church, during services. Years ago, in the 60s, church was not fitted with AC so windows are opened and everyone used fans, paper ones on sticks naturally supplied with local funeral homes, no matter WHAT church or where in the country. (remember those) We kids would sit, bored to tears, (thankfully being Lutheran no self-respecting Lutheran minister would DARE go longer than 15 minutes) and if parents were in a good mood you'd would have been allowed to sit with a friend in church (parents could be such a bore back then) (concocting a plan for that afternoon to get together like roller skating or EVEN an afternoon of making cupcakes or potato candy) (my mom usually said yes with the following stipulation, as long as you clean up your mess.) seeing rides and trailers rolling in. It was all you could do to sit there without jumping up and running out to watch everything. THEN..you STILL had to wait till the next evening. During this decade the carnival was a BIG deal. For many before the 60s it was the ONLY "fun" they ever had in life. That and the Sunday School picnic were THE highlights of my mother's and her siblings childhood summers. No Hersheypark (like today), King's Dominion and definitely not Disney existed. Other than county fairs, (which my mom's school actually closed for the week of The Great Frederick Fair so many participated, area schools still close one day that week now) this was the highlight of the year. The world has changed SO much. So here it is 40+ years later and I now bake to support the fire department. They DEFINITELY would not want me in the dunk tank even if they had one here in the 21st century. The main reason I began this comment was to ask about freezing the pie pops. CAN they be frozen, I'm assuming they can. However...should they be frozen prior to baking or is it best after baking? I'm thinking perhaps I can work ahead and have things ready to go in case my fibromyalgia flares badly the prior weekend. What would you suggest doing with these?

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