1 December 2009
This photo is specifically my kitchen counter, full of the bloody mary aftermath. That’s a lot of (dirty) pretty glass! And, it’s representative of what our whole house looks like, right now. Rubbermaid tubs, boxes, bags, laundry . . . and today my job is to unload the entire truck, so I can turn around and re-load it with Dickens stuff tomorrow! Oy!
~MB
30 November 2009
Both the month of November and the TRF season are officially over, now. With the wonderful help of some amazing people, we finished the pack-down in record time. I locked the trailer and started the truck at 5:28—just moments before sundown. As I pulled out of the stockade fence around the site, I stopped and grabbed this photo of what was left of the pretty sunset.
I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to personally thank some people, especially in light of the holiday theme of the weekend. My TRF staff this season, although a little haphazard at the beginning, was all wonderful. Garry and Raven returned, and Kat came all the way from Wisconsin to be here for us. I cannot imagine what I would have done without any of them. Part time help came from many people over the weeks, some paid, some not—Stefanee, Angie, Kyle, BeaJay, John, Laura, and half a dozen others I am probably forgetting. Folks who were able to come help on one weekend, or who just jump in when needed—a blessing, indeed. And on final weekend—a fact I haven’t gotten into my writing, yet—an awesome visit from Sean and Amber, both of whom helped make our Thanksgiving weekend great. And, of course, in the grand scheme of things, I thank also, TRF itself for being a beautiful, wonderful show, and Shelly Lee for being a fabulous craft coordinator. Above all, I thank Nicole for having this great little company called Pendragon Costumes, and allowing me to play a part in it.
Good Night, TRF—see you next October!
~MB
29 November 2009
Our last day of faire for 2009. And our last chance for a while, to share our Bloody Mary Sunday with our faire family of friends. I took this photo from the stairs that lead to our bedroom. I know it’s not totally in focus, and not even really well-framed. But, I love it, because it shows a few of our loved ones, having a good time. It shows the multiple glasses, the bottles, the snacks . . . it shows fun!
Faire is over, now. It was a painfully slow day, and we were ready for closing fireworks! Just before we locked the last door, I snapped this photo in the booth. Kyle left faire early so he could do the drive home, pick up the dogs, and get ready to be back at work tomorrow. We worked late, disassembling mannequins and doing a full inventory. We even packed a few things. Then we went for our last meal at The Yellow House, and went to bed knowing we’ve got a long, hard day of packing ahead of us in the morning!
~MB
28 November 2009
Only one day of faire to go. It’s almost over.
I love working faire. But, it’s hard work, and I spend much of my time away from home, and when I am home I’m all wrapped up in one deadline or another. I look forward to my winter break, when although I still must sew, I do not have the weekend, booth-related responsibilities.
I am finding, that as I get older, I am more and more ready each year, for that break. It seems, right now, that my faire season is about three weeks too long. I was ready to be done in early November. But of course, that was not to be.
One of the many things that makes the rennie lifestyle seem a little more sane and a lot more palatable is that we are surrounded by such wonderful and talented people. We are blessed with amazing friends, many of whom have become chosen family. And, we are often given incredible opportunities to enjoy the talents of actors, musicians, comedians and other entertainers. That’s what happened tonight. Word got around that a favourite group known at faire (but not at this one!) as the New Minstrel Revue, would be performing after hours at Nuevo Chile. So, we enjoyed delicious food at The Yellow House and then walked down the street to Rio’s—a popular rennie hang-out named Nuevo Chile. I snapped this photo during one of the very last songs . . . with my cell phone—a first for me! We didn’t get there early enough to hear the whole show, but what we did see and hear was fabulous. Fortification for one more day of this.
~MB
27 November 2009
Day three of me not having time to take a photo. Or not remembering to . . .
Friday at TRF. Have I mentioned how unhappy it makes me? My Thanksgiving Day sacrificed to the notion that there might be money to be made.
~MB
26 November 2009
Thanksgiving Day
Little can dissuade me from the notion of watching the annual televised presentation of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, It is a personal ritual that goes back so far I can easily close my eyes and see the black and white houndstooth sofa, wall of mirrors, and shelves of World Book Encyclopedias that were all a part of the “den” or family room of my New York youth. In those days, the excitement of the parade on the TV was matched by the sensory overload in the kitchen—turkey in the oven, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole (of course!) and usually pumpkin pie. After the parade ended, with Santa safely chaperoned down 34th Street, we kids changed out of our pajamas and into something fancy enough for dinner with company coming. We never really knew who it would be much ahead of time, but almost always there were enough folks to fill the table and require a card table for the kids. After dinner, football. More pie. Cold turker for supper. Good times for which I am so grateful.
Now, with the vocation I’ve chosen, Thanksgiving is a day of sewing and packing and travelling. In recent years, the Texas Renaissance Festival schedule changed, and instead of ending at least a week before Thanksgiving weekend, we are now open on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday immediately following the holiday. Black Friday greed has indeed infected the renfaire world.
But, I still make time to watch that sacred parade all the way to its festive, reindeer-drawn, red and white-suited, jingle-belled and bearded, jolly old end.
~MB
25 November 2009
It is with a bizarre sense of irony that I finally go to get all caught up on my writing and posting to The Daily KRuMB only to find out that apparently I forgot to take photographs on the first three days I am behind! And even stranger is that I spent much of this Wednesday feeling so good about all the work I accomplished this week, and even had time to make a few small gift items and complete some special order requests that weren’t promised, or even prepaid. So, it was a wonderful day for me, but I cannot share it in photo form.
Worse, is the fact that I made the same mistake three days in a row.
~MB
