Last Saturday we took the kids to the Renaissance Faire, at the State Fairgrounds.

Our sweet and loving daughter liked the sword fight best, or, as she put it, “the one where they were bleeding”.  Our son was divided in loyalty between the girl who breathed fire and the jousting, in which we got to watch a guy get knocked off the backside of his horse.  Charming children, aren’t they?

I confess to have enjoyed the same peaceful pasttimes, but I also enjoyed perusing the stalls of craftsmen and artists.  If I ever get around to buying my own renaissance attire I’ll probably go to Renaissance Fashions.  Their stuff was both lovely and of high quality, to my semi-experienced eye.

I also met an artist, Merrily Strickland, that I’ll be keeping an eye on.  I purchased a good sized print of Purple Gown, but was sorely tempted to bring home the original.  The lovely lady in the painting has such a sense of mystery to her.  As if her story is locked away in some quiet place, for now, but will someday rock the world with its telling.

We also enjoyed the marvelous Scottish Egg, made bookmarks sealed and initialed in wax, and oggled the buxom ladies in chainmail couture.