Non-BJD-- Renaissance Faire Photos: Some Costumes, Horses, Critters, Knights, Etc.
Here are a few of the photos I took without the dolls in them!

Knights Jousting--



The weather was unusually pleasant (versus the typical scorching hot!). It was still a tad dusty (as always). The crowd wasn't large... much smaller than I've seen in the past... the economy and gas prices can't be helping, I think!

I actually arrived before it opened, at 10am... and the lines of cars just wasn't in existence, which was pretty disconcerting... but then, I never arrive early, so maybe that was just it? 'Met up with people at the gate.

Took some quick shots of guys sitting around--


I keep intending to use photos for art refs, but I have to say that I don't think I've turned any into a painting ever!

One of our group does belly dancing, but not tribal. Her teacher was going to be performing tribal on one of the stages, so she quickly ran up a costume, which was very nice, love the colors and the real coins, and she's actually wearing green glasses that matched--


I dragged out my old stuff that I'd collected literally decades ago... I'm sure the bodice is about 25 years old, bought when the fair was still among the oaks of Agoura. The green skirt was from the old Dye Spot which was a fixture for years, selling very basic wench gear that was authentic enough to pass. The blue top and blue underskirt are newer and have *gasp!* elastic in them. Hat is ancient... with old garland on top. But since I wear everything only once a year, at most, they are in great condition... (bodice is loosely tied, though... too into comfort to actually wear it as I should!)--


Guys with critters at an enclosure of guys with critters--






We wandered over to the Jousting Arena and I took some quick shots of the knights--




They came out after the show to talk with the (sparse! I swear, it's usually packed with people...) audience and let the horses roll in the dirt--




Over by the Jousting Arena there was an enclosure with a number of Gypsy Cobs...




All the kids who came by were fascinated, of course--




The owners/riders were around to chat with--




There was one HUGE percheron (well, in comparison to the gypsies, anyway)--










We all loved seeing the horses... 'made me want to go riding... (although, not on the percheron: that looks painful!)--


While resting at a show of bawdy singers, snapped a mini-pirate--


And mini-pirate's brother and dad, what a nicely-dressed family!--


Bawdy singers with audience participant/victim--


Guy in costume--


One of group said she recognized him from seeing him in Hollywood (where costumed guys can hang out when not at Faire)--






Just some guys--


Of course, a Jack Sparrow and friends, but there were fewer pirates than last year--


We did the turtle races... I picked #3, Richard the Third (I am SO a Ricardian, I even love Shakespeare's villainous version), and won! Got 30 points and spent them at the prize booth on tiny little flowers that we all shared (not much 30 points will get you these days). At the start I thought we'd be watching turtles sleep all day, but after a few minutes and some dousing with water and poking by the handlers, mine, at least, took off with a vengeance--


Part of the Queen's procession--


After a nice lunch at a table in the shade (I couldn't find any quail, so had fish and chips, others had the artichoke and toad in the hole and gyros...), we went off to watch the belly-dancing, drummer guy reminds me of the guys I saw playing out by the sand dunes in Morocco, though they had the large, shallow types of drums, mostly--






The music was good--


The one on the left was the Teacher of the person in our group--


Other students were also in the audience--




At the end, they all got up on the stage to dance together with their teacher--


And then we wandered back looking longingly at all the great clothes shops. When I bought my outfits way back when, they didn't have a fraction of the clothes they do now--and definitely not the colors! or non-period fabrics and styles... heheh!

We found ourselves back at the arena looking at the gypsies--




They were only doing a bit of basic things, like standing on the block...




There's that huge draft horse...


And some great, but anachronistic costumes--






It's hard trying to look bad-ass with kids around!!!


After that, we all split up to either head out or in my case, do some shopping! I "needed" to pick up some fairy wings and a leather mask to wear at the Labyrinth of Jareth in the summer... I really am SO not a costumer, but I have so much costume crap around, I really should put it to some use and wear it out (or feel horribly guilty!). I can't believe how much stuff I have that I never wear... *sigh*

Of course, doesn't seem to stop me from buying it! The Dolls, though, have made me switch emphasis away for a bit. I do need to have a big ebay sale someday, though. There are things that I know I'll never wear that I need to get rid of.

Anyway, I had a great time. The sparse crowds were good for us, shopping and viewing shows, but kind of sad... I can remember when the Faire was miles long and so labyrinthine it was impossible to find your way about or walk quickly through all the people... I'd hate to see the Faire shrink down further, but oh, well...

Food and crafts were wonderful as always. Seemed like they had some new vendors, too, which is good, since it used to be the same guys for decades on end.

I'm tempted to run over to it next weekend if the weather keeps mild, but I know I'd only spend too much money, so I probably won't... Not to mention the fact that I should be working on stuff and I haven't been... *sigh*