6 April, 2007

The night before Scarborough Faire opens and we’re doing the gear-up dance. It’s closing on bed-time and there’s still a photo to be taken. The day had completely got away from me with errands and chores and packing, so this stack of faire-appropriate bowls to the rescue. As re-enactors, it’s very important to always look the part, even when doing something totally mundane, such as eating; so we are always on the lookout for cool wooden or ceramic bowls that fit that bill. This is a small stack of them that we keep at this festival. We have similar stacks at other faires.
Cheers.

~KR (6 April, 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 1 sec (1)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 14 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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5 April, 2007

The day started early…very early. I had a 6:45 am flight from DFW to EWR for a meeting with a potential vendor. As I do, I took numerous photos inside the beautiful D Terminal at DFW, but none of them made the cut this time, because on the transit from EWR to JFK to take a flight out that evening (yeah, it was a day-trip *shudder*) we took the I248 over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. What a glorious, if badly in need of some paint and loving, structure. Lou, who was driving the car lives in the area and was full of knowledge as were Greg and Rich, who both grew up in the area. I’d never been across this bridge before; and I can’t imagine a better way to travel across it than with these three very knowledgeable gentlemen. This photo is of the Manhattan side support as viewed from Dyker Beach Park in Brooklyn. Named for Italian explorer Giovanni de Verrazano, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1964 and remained so until 1981. It is now the 7th longest suspension bridge in the world but remains the longest in the US.
The bridge connects Staten Island to Brooklyn and is widely considered to be the entry point to Manhattan. It is the starting point for the world-renknowned New York City Marathon and marks the entrance to New York Harbor. These are just a few of the fascinating bits of information imparted to me during that 2.5 hour drive from Newark Airport to JFK Airport. Thanks, guys.
Cheers.

~KR (5 April, 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 19.5 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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4 April, 2007

On April 3rd, a massive storm came through the southern part of the metropolitan area in which we live. The system dumped huge amounts of rain, hail & the occasional tornado on our area. The next morning the sky was still dimpled and speckled as if promising more of the same. This photo is an attempt at capturing that. Unfortunately, due to the whole having-to-drive-to-work thing, I didn’t have much time to compose the image. I did successfully capture the still violent wind gusts that were ripping through the area, and you can see, somewhat, the dimpled, ready-to-drop-a-tornado clouds that blanketed our sky and kept all planes grounded for a while. Crazy~ But, that’s spring-time in Texas for you.
Cheers

~KR (4 April, 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 11.4 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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3 April, 2007

This photo falls squarely into the “hrmmm?” category. As in “what the hrmmm was I thinking when I took it?” I cannot tell you why i have a hazy photograph of a green light in my collection of photographic endeavours; but I did sort of like the effect. Serendipitous. I’m guessing a better camera with better capability in low-light situations would have helped this to a better existence, but it is what it is…and I still don’t know why.
Cheers.

~KR (3 April, 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 58 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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2 April, 2007

It’s spring time alright. You can tell by the length of the grass in all of our neighbours yards. Then there’s this. This wonderful iron arch that decorates these folks front yard. For about two weeks just prior to spring, this arch is just stunning as it drips with wisteria (?). What I’ve pictured here is the immediate aftermath of all that purple, drippy goodness; it has resorted to a tangled mass of amazing green. I love driving by this arch all year long as it goes through its various cycles.
Cheers

~KR (2 April, 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 11.6 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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9 April 2007

This may very well be the most boring photograph ever.  But, it’s the only photo I took today.  It sort of qualifies as a “what is it?” except that I feel I have to justify its existence by explaining it.  This is the bottom of a very well-used Rubbermaid tub.  This one’s been permanently retired from active duty.    Rubbermaid tubs are often referred to as “Rennie luggage” for good reason.  I have completely lost track of how many of these things I own.  A couple dozen hold fabric in my workshop; a few more live in the attic controlling holiday decorations, etc.  Half a dozen or so stay at each of the three booths, keeping safe items like dishes, bedding, pillows, and the like.   I travel with two or three dozen, using them to hold everything from product to laundry; leather to lace . . . the list is endless.  The most common size in my possession is this 18 gallon size—any bigger and I can’t lift them when they’re loaded!  They are virtually crush-proof when loaded, and protect what’s inside from dirt, bugs, and most importantly water. (Rubbermaid even has customer witness to fire protection of items stored in these tubs–the plastic melted a bit, but the stuff inside was safe from both fire and firefighters!)  And they come with a lifetime warranty.  Hence the reason for the photo.  I have had most of mine for long enough that proof of purchase and/or labels do not still exist.  I’m hoping I can send the wonderful folks at Rubbermaid a photo of this sad, broken tub, and have them give me my credit toward a new one.  I figure it’s worth a try.  What the hey.  At any rate, it can no longer be used for product—it proved that in the last big rainstorm!  For now, it’s been relegated to holding recycling.  Since the real recycling tubs have holes in the bottom for drainage, this might just work!

Today was a day of paperwork and phone calls, cleaning and filing—I feel I accomplished much, and yet very little.  Earlier today I was planning to use this space to rant and rave about the frustration of dealing with a credit card company that can’t seem to get its act together.  I was angry to the point of tears and a monster headache while on the phone with these people, and I was all set to put all my thoughts about it in writing.  But, having been distracted by one thing or another, the moment is gone, and all I can say now is I’m tired of it and I don’t even want to think about it any more.  The short story is:  Bank of America is still evil.  Avoid them at all costs.  Of course, Chase is not too much better, but they haven’t pissed me off in the last few months!  I do rather like Wells Fargo, but even they have ocassionally exhibited a trait or employed a policy that is completely and totally ludicrous and designed to take money out of my pocket at any available opportunity.  Grrr.  But, Bank of America is the big bad.  Beware!

~MB

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8 April 2007

Happy Easter!  A cold Easter Sunday in Waxahachie, Texas—although not as cold as yesterday!  Today it didn’t snow!

Easter Sunday is never very well-attended at the faire, and this year was no exception.  There were a few more regulars out—those who had chosen to skip the once-in-a-lifetime experience of attending “Snowborough Faire,” but still the gate count must have been very low.  We had a v-e-r-y slow day at Pendragon, but since the day before had been totally nuts, it was almost a nice relief.

We tried not to complain about the cold, because even though we were pretty miserable, we realized how much warmer we were than the day before.  I did get to attend the Easter Morning “church” service that the cast performs—a great little display of Tudor history.  There were lots of bunny ears visible throughout the day, and lots of Easter goodies were exchanged.  The big bunny in my photo is my gift from Wendy—the newest addition to my collection of plush lop-eared bunnies.  I’m not really sure how that began—I’m pretty sure it was a thrift store adoption.  I just can’t stand to see adorable plush critters in thrift stores looking unloved and unwanted.  And there’s just something about bunnies that begs me to “rescue” them.  To the left of the bunnies in the photo, you can see part of a wooden, folding Easter basket from my childhood.  I can remember this little basket living in my top dresser drawer, in the sixties, when I had to stand on a chair to even be able to peer into that drawer.  Now, I get it out almost every Easter and put somewhere where I can enjoy looking at it. 

We bowed out of group dinner plans and went straight home from faire and ate some leftovers.  I enjoyed a hot (very hot!) shower, and by the time I sat down to work on Daily Krumb entries, I couldn’t even keep my eyes open.  So, now I’m finishing up, and it’s Monday afternoon.

One more hectic week, and then things will relax a little bit.  Glory be.

~MB

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7 April 2007

Opening Day of Scarborough Renaissance Festival, better known as Scarborough Faire.

And yes, that white stuff is snow.

I started hearing it in the weather forecast on Wednesday night.  “Possible chance of snow flurries on Saturday.”  Of course, I laughed.  It’s April and we’re in Texas.  We haven’t been in a freeze zone since the fifteenth of March.  The trees are all in full leaf, and the spring flowers are in bloom–including the bluebonnets.  But, that little nugget of possibility stayed in the forecast, and on Saturday morning, bright and early, we looked up from our booth preparations to see actual snow falling from the Texas sky.

Bizarre.

This photo is looking out from Pendragon Costumes across toward East Wind Games.  First snowfall ever during the run of Scarborough, and certainly the first on a festival day.

Bizarre.  Bizarre to be this cold.  Bizarre to have snow in Texas for the fourth time this winter.  Oh, wait!  It’s not still winter!  Bizarre to have snow in April!  The merchant newsletter christened it, “Snowborough 2007!” 

~MB

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6 April 2007

On Friday, we got to the faire site just about the time the light was gone from the sky.  Hours later than I’d hoped for, but earlier than we’ve sometimes arrived!  Thanks to Donny and Mary, much of the unpacking was already done, and we were all able to go out to eat a decent dinner and try to get a good night’s sleep.    Unfortunately, the weather had other plans for us.  As the sun went down on Friday night, the temperature did, too!  By the time we were home from dinner and crawling into this bed in the photo, it was barely forty degrees outside!  We had plenty of blankets and even a little space heater, but it was still awfully cold in a glorified plywood box with no insulation!

Incidentally, I was so bothered by the way this little room looks in photos, that I vowed to do some more serious decorating before too much time goes by!  If I’m true to that, I’ll be sure to take and post a photo of the results!

 Oh—and the leak . . . right over the pillows, in the center of the bed!  Hopefully, that roofing issue will be taken care of before the next rain (or snow!)

~MB

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No photo, yet.  Maybe I won’t even get to see Ginger today, with all we both have to do.  But, since I know she reads this craziness, I wanted to be the first to say Happy Birthday!  It’s actually Friday, the sixth of April here in Texas.  I’ve recently noticed that the WordPress time stamp is an hour off.  I’m not sure if I simply didn’t notice it at the beginning of this project, and they’re on a different time zone, or if perhaps (and I think this is the case) they haven’t caught up with the whole Daylight Saving Time switch.  Is that possible?  Anyway–it’s Ginger’s birthday!   Love you, sweetie!!!

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