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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The Renaissance Faire!!

Have you ever been to a Renaissance Fair? Especially a small town's version of a Renaissance Fair?

No?

Good!

Because I am going to take you to one today!



Let's follow this fair maiden and child, shall we?

Follow them with me:







Do you hear bagpipe music?

I can!

And look, a darling group of lads and lassies are dancing to the bagpipes:





Aye, look at this lassie's rosy cheeks as she dances!:




Wait a minute.

I think I would MUCH rather look at this LAD:




I think I will follow him around for a while.


You know....


Just for educational purposes.






Here is one of the many booths with goodes for sale:





I loved these walking sticks!:




One of my favorite things: BAGPIPES!
I know this bagpiper.
He is actually a lawyer.
Actually he loves playing the bagpipes for everyone!
His last name is McGregor.
What else would it be?




Here is one serious Maiden. I loved her focus. But I loved her neck flask even more.
I wonder what she was thinking?




I probably should have bought one of these masks by then. After all, I was stalking people and taking pictures of them! (I figured, if they dressed up in costume, they must have wanted me to, right?)



Here is another great costume!
Who could resist a man in tights?:




Just in case this all has gotten you in the mood to dress for the occassion:



All of a sudden, I have an urge to read
Puss and Boots.
I wonder why?:


There were palm readers there, but I didn't have time to get mine read (darn!)
But I did have time to look for mystical things.
I loved this one:





But I forged ahead:
Get it?
Forged ahead???? (Yeah, I crack thee up).



I want to invite these two to my next dinner party! I loved them. They were into it!:

If you want to be prepared for battle, I have just the equipment for you.
Anyone for a steel jock strap?:




Or, are you more of a swordsman?




The silverwork on this sword handle is so pretty, maybe you could hang one from your belt?
(Wear it to work tomorrow, and act normal. I bet you get first in line at the water cooler!):




This little boy was getting ready to perform a dance in his kilt.
Look how serious he was thinking of what he will be doing soon.
I loved him!:




You could get thee some coins or antique wares to spend on a wench or bartender:



And,
IF ALL ELSE FAILS,
You can get some dinosaur teeth!:
How cool are THEY????

Get thee busy now....you have wasted enough time on me blog just playin' around at the Faire!!

34 comments:

Sara said...

I had so much fun looking at the pictures of the Faire! I never have been to one, it looked like so much fun!

Joanie said...

We have a Renaissance Faire here in PA, on the grounds of a winery. I'm hoping John and I can go next year.

Those folks don't mind their pictures taken.. many of them are actors after all!

The Retired One said...

Sara: I am so glad you enjoyed them.
We go every year. But this year, we only spent about 45 minutes there because we were expecting company and had to rush home. I enjoy them and looking at all the costumes.

Insanitykim said...

Haha love the Renn Fair! We go in Alaska all the time (when we're there) and the kids have a blast! Looks like you had a great time, are you sure these are ALLL the pictures you managed to take? I am guessing there are more stalking photos, somewhere...;)

Brian Miller said...

great pics! have been to one locally. when i was college we had a scottish festival every year. considering our school color was tartan (plaid) it fit. sword fighting, log tossing...and the food...loved it. thanks for the trip down memory lane.

blushing rose said...

There is a huge Renaissance Fair in Maryland every year ... our son used to go. TTFN ~Marydon

Stella Jones said...

What a super set of pictures. I really enjoyed walking round with you. Some of the outfits were worth a giggle, but it's all done in the best possible taste, isn't it.
Blessings, Star

DJan said...

You got all those pictures in 45 minutes?? Did you have a chance to have any OTHER fun? I loved this faire. Years ago I went to one and I don't even remember where I was living at the time. It didn't have any Irish dancing! Or chain mail! How lame was that? This was a truly outstanding journey. Thanks for inviting me along!

Maniacal Mommy said...

Very cool!

Sandi McBride said...

Wonderful! Reminds me of Grandfather Mountain Highland Games...the Douglas' were pretty fair pipers, too! The last of the clan pipers piped at my mother's funeral...we hope he lives to be 200+...thanks for the lovely trip!
Sandi

Alan Burnett said...

Great day out. I had never even heard of a Renaissance Fair before, but they look like fun.

The Retired One said...

Joanie: Oooooo...at a winery? That would be such fun! I hope you and him and go too!

Insanity: I had a few more, but I posted FAR too many already! I usually keep my photos to about 10 per post, and I did a lot more on this one so that folks who have never been to one would get the flavor of one!

Brian: You are welcome, me lord.! ha

Blushing Rose: You should go with your son...they really are fun!

Star: Some weren't in good taste, but I didn't take pictures of them. ha

DJan: You are welcome. I was surprised to hear that some folks have never seen or been to one. That made me extra happy that I posted photos of one for them to see.

Maniacal: Thanks! It really is a lot of fun to go and watch the jousting and costumes.

Sandi: With the last name of McBride, that is a compliment that you liked the photos. ha

Alan: If you ever hear of one advertised close to where you live, go to one! They really are very interesting and fun. You don't have to wear a costume to go.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

I just came across your blog (in Merisi's comments) and thought I'd pop over and congratulate you on your retirement! I retired as of January 2007 and can tell you it only keeps getting better. Great for blogging too...

This was an interesting post about the local Renaissance Faire...thanks for sharing it with us!

Sara

L. D. said...

Mighty fine job. The lady with the jar necklace and the wee kilted boy would have made wonderful photos for a day. Great job with great photos. I am impressed.

grannyann said...

There is a town not far that has one every year but I have never been. Thanks for the tour, I loved it. I am a Bagpipe lover also!!!!

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

WHAT.FUN!!!!! I loved these pics. We like to go to an annual festival with bagpipes and all...but nothing as BIG as this one. Thanks so much for sharing.

Barb said...

What a Faire - I had more fun seeing your pictures and reading your comments than if I'd actually gone myself! Those costumes, those expressions, those weapons - lovely and hilarious captures!

J.J. in L.A. said...

That was one serious maiden! lol! It looks like she's giving someone the 'evil eye'.

And I loved the close-up of the crystal...soooo pretty!

Bernie said...

Joan are you sure your last name isn't Rivers...this post was so funny and looked like so much fun. I feel I have actually been to a Renaissance Faire.....again I am so thankful to be a part of your wonderful posts....it makes my day every time my reader shows me you have posted.....thank you my friend for the best five minutes of my day.....:-) Hugs

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

How fun! I've never been to one before.
I love bagpipes too, there is someone that practices somewhere around here outside. I've never seen them, just heard the bagpipes.

SquirrelQueen said...

Very nice faire, sort of Renaissance meet Highland Games. You did cover a lot of territory in only 45 minutes I would have had to stop and look at too many things.

Great photos, thanks for the tour. Any more photos of the lad? LOL

Have a great day,
Judy

Rick (Ratty) said...

Looks like fun. I have always wondered if men really did dress in tights back in medieval times though.

Merisi said...

You certainly captured the spirit of this beautiful festival!

Have you ever heard of the Maryland Renaissance Festival near Annapolis?
It is huge and from all I heard a lot of fun too:
http://www.rennfest.com/

Loree said...

We do get Renaissance fairs here. Or rather, re-enactments with people wandering around in period costume. No kilts though. Not enough Scotsmen on the island.

Jientje said...

Mmmmm, that puss in boots looks ummm ... sexy! What a lovely fair, I would have loved being there!

Unknown said...

Used to love to attend the Renaissance Faire in Atlanta when living there, but it was one of my daughters who took it seriously a she and two of her BFF would dress to the hilt every year! One of them still collects swords.

The Retired One said...

Sara: Thanks so much for jumping over from Merisi's blog! I hope you joined on as a Follower, that would be great! Thanks also for the retirement good wishes--I have loved every minute so far, how about you???

L.D.: Coming from another photographer, that is a great compliment! Thanks so much.

Grannyann: That is it! You must go when they have their next one. If you liked my pictures, then you will surely like the festival near you.

Boomer: Thanks! It really wasn't very big, but the local folks have fun with getting into the spirit of it all.

Barb: Thanks! I had so much fun taking the pictures and assembling them for you on the blog. I wish I would have had more time to take more photos, actually..but we had company coming and I only had less than an hour to walk around and take the photos.

JJ: Thanks! You are absolutely right about the crabby lady photo. I swear she was watching another vendor who had a lot of cleavage in her outfit and was giving her the evil eye. ha

Bernie: You are like a ray of sunshine when you give comments...you made my day!!!

Catherine: I would go and follow that bagpipe music until I found the bagpiper and make them play some more for you! I could listen to bagpipes all day.

SquirrelQueen: Nope, no more lad pictures...not that I wasn't tempted. ha

Ratty: Yes, me too. The original pantyhose idea couldn't have come from men...they are too uncomfortable. ha

Merisi: I know there are several HUGE Ren Fairs all over the country and abroad and that some folks literally follow the entire circuit. I don't know how they have jobs and get into it as much as they do, but there are some folks that do that.

Loree: I hope you take the time to go to the fairs you have locally--they really are a lot of fun to see.

Jientje: You would have loved it! And you would have taken some spectacular pictures there too....I know you have the artist eyes!

Gaston Studio: Wow..you should share some pictures of her in costume and her friend's too...I think they look terrific and admire anyone who takes all that effort to dress in costume for the fairs!

lotusleaf said...

I wish I could get one of those barrels, full or empty! I could hear the bagpipes- our Police Band has some great bagpipe players, who wear the MacIntosh colours.

Kearsie said...

I love Renaissance Fairs! The sounds, the food, the costumes...I think I could've lived back then. But as I really like modern conveniences like deoderant and toothpaste and Frizz-Ease, perhaps I'm better suited for times such as now. Alas.

Anonymous said...

Thee arst so funny. Thee tickle thy funny bone. Oh, there could be all kinds of captions for some of those shots! Looks like a lot of fun! Bagpipes always bring tears to my eyes, or at the very least a lump to my throat!!

A Brit in Tennessee said...

A delightful day out, thank you faire maiden ...
We have a wonderful Renaissance Faire here in Tennessee. It is a month long event, held on the grounds of a REAL castle, the Castle Gwynn. The owner has replicated a Welsh castle right here in Triune, TN, a work in progress, it is truly amazing.
I so enjoy the times I have visited the fair, you have captured some fabulous pictures, I feel as if I have visited there today.
Thanks for a wonderful post, and sharing !
Farewell maiden.

Shelley said...

Thank you for taking me to the Renaissance fair! I had a great time! You take such marvelous photos and I love your humor! Now where can I get me some bagpipes???

Wanda..... said...

That was fun...you made me laugh several times Joan with your witty captions...how long did you follow the young cute guy?

Wanda

The Retired One said...

LotusLeaf: I'll share some of what is in the barrel with ye' !! haha

Kearsie: Yes, lets just visit the fairs and fantasize and then go home to our air-conditioned, comfy bedrooms and laptops. ha

Cathy: I am the same way..bagpipes make the hair on my arms go up. What is up with that?

Brit: At an actual castle??? Count me in! I would LOVE to visit a Ren Fair at a castle. Do you go to it?

Shelley: Forget the bagpipes..where can ye get thee that lad??? haha

Wanda: Not long, I had my hubby with me. He was saying: "um, honey, you aren't going to keep taking people's pictures are you? Are you allowed to do that?" And I said: "Hey, if they didn't want to be seen, they wouldn't dress up in costumes". He just laughed. That's why I love him so much. ha

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I retired in June 2008 and started my blog in November 2008. I worked at several jobs as a Registered Nurse prior to retirement. I LOVE being retired! Blogging has offered me a whole new venue to start writing again and to share new hobbies such as gardening, birdwatching and sharing my nature photography. If you like my blog, PLEASE click on "follow this blog". Having a lot of followers reading my blog gives me incentive to continue to do photography and to continue to write. I also LOVE comments, so I encourage you to leave me a comment after you read my posts. Thanks everyone, for taking the time to read me!!

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