The Renaissance Faire!

We had the most wonderful time yesterday!

We met lots of interesting people.














Ceci played the ocarina for us.







We made beautiful necklaces.



Bella and Lala danced the maypole!






















At St. Cuthberts, Bella and Lala learned to grind spices with a mortar and pestle--they ground some nutmeg.
Ceci made a sachet with dried rose petals.






Bella LOVED watching the dipped candles being carved into beautiful designs.

We saw gorgeous fairy houses that we learned we could later make too!





Various booths had hidden gnomes--so we hunted for gnomes (getting a stamp on our special gnome map for each gnome found) and then got a certificate as official "Gnome-Hunters Extraordinaires!"







I bought some GORGEOUS beaded earrings from my friend Blooming. She had come from Mendecino for this weekend only so we were very lucky to see her. She has been doing the faire since the late 80's when I worked there a couple years! I ADORE her beadwork and LOVE my new earrings!


We went back to St. Cuthbert's and relaxed with this sweet lady while she knitted. It was a very hot day!

We had a delicious lunch--Shepherd's Pie, Steak on a steak, curly fries.


Bella and Lala made these wonderful fairy houses with our sweet friend, who we met at the Northern Faire in '07.  We are so glad she comes all the way from Oregon to do this fair! She made the above fairy houses and other unbelievable beautiful fairy paraphernalia!

Thank heavens Ceci fell asleep.  She was grumpy all day because she was so tired!!  Craig and the girls got to watch Moonie's show in peace while I wandered a little bit!

I was so lucky to run into our good family friend, Lisa, "Mistress Howard" who is royalty and part of the queens court!  She introduced me to many of her fun friends as her little sister and it was really neat to run around with her for a while and watch the Poxy Boggards with her! (their family-friendly show.) :) I can't wait to hang out with her again next year!

We then ran over to the Kids Kingdom where there was a Knighting Ceremony for the children.  Bella, Lala and Ceci were all made ladies.  It was really neat!  The queen talked to them about always being honest, and brave and they got a certificate. I was shocked when the queen told Lala that she remembered dancing the Maypole with her last year!!

The girls LOVED this jester and his parrot. And then this man played music through a YAM! He played "Twinkle twinkle little star" while Bella sang! There are so many entertaining characters to meet at the faire!





Right at closing, we had a WONDERFUL swing ride. We didn't want it to end!!

Then, sadly, it was time to go! We already can't wait until next year!