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!!
at

34 comments:

  1. SaraAugust 4, 2009 at 4:47 PM

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

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  2. JoanieAugust 4, 2009 at 4:55 PM

    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!

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  3. The Retired OneAugust 4, 2009 at 5:01 PM

    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.

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  4. InsanitykimAugust 4, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    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...;)

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  5. Brian MillerAugust 4, 2009 at 5:07 PM

    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.

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  6. blushing roseAugust 4, 2009 at 5:20 PM

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

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  7. Stella JonesAugust 4, 2009 at 5:25 PM

    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

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  8. DJanAugust 4, 2009 at 5:32 PM

    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!

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  9. Maniacal MommyAugust 4, 2009 at 5:49 PM

    Very cool!

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  10. Sandi McBrideAugust 4, 2009 at 6:18 PM

    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

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  11. Alan BurnettAugust 4, 2009 at 6:52 PM

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

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  12. The Retired OneAugust 4, 2009 at 8:14 PM

    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.

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  13. Come Away With MeAugust 4, 2009 at 9:31 PM

    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

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  14. L. D. August 4, 2009 at 9:53 PM

    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.

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  15. grannyannAugust 4, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    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!!!!

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  16. ♥ Boomer ♥August 4, 2009 at 10:07 PM

    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.

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  17. BarbAugust 4, 2009 at 10:19 PM

    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!

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  18. J.J. in L.A.August 4, 2009 at 10:31 PM

    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!

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  19. BernieAugust 4, 2009 at 10:35 PM

    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

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  20. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressAugust 4, 2009 at 10:46 PM

    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.

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  21. SquirrelQueenAugust 4, 2009 at 11:41 PM

    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

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  22. Rick (Ratty)August 5, 2009 at 1:07 AM

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

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  23. MerisiAugust 5, 2009 at 3:21 AM

    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/

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  24. LoreeAugust 5, 2009 at 4:38 AM

    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.

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  25. JientjeAugust 5, 2009 at 5:05 AM

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

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  26. UnknownAugust 5, 2009 at 9:17 AM

    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.

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  27. The Retired OneAugust 5, 2009 at 9:41 AM

    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!

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  28. lotusleafAugust 5, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    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.

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  29. KearsieAugust 5, 2009 at 11:23 AM

    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.

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  30. AnonymousAugust 5, 2009 at 2:18 PM

    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!!

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  31. A Brit in TennesseeAugust 5, 2009 at 6:37 PM

    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.

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  32. ShelleyAugust 5, 2009 at 8:35 PM

    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???

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  33. Wanda.....August 5, 2009 at 8:43 PM

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

    Wanda

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  34. The Retired OneAugust 5, 2009 at 9:48 PM

    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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