When I was in school, history bored me, unless we were talking about the people of other countries. Social studies did catch at least some of my attention. Hearing how other people dressed and ate and lived differently from myself peaked my interest. I guess that's why, even today, I like folk festivals.
We used to go to the Polish Festival in Riverhead each year, whenever possible. The big draw for Mike was the food, but I liked it all. We're both 'people watchers', so the crowd itself offered a huge amount of entertainment, aside from the colorful costumes, the pagentry, the music, performances, native foods and craft booths. We attended the Southampton Greek Festival too.
Never did we leave without spinach pie!
We attended the Renaissance Fair in Sterling Forest, NY on a number of occasions. It was like going back to Olde Medieval England, to the days of knights on horseback, jousting, to gypsy women belly dancing, to the days when street vendors sold their huge pickles from barrels, while madrigals sang and pipers played. Bagpipers stroll, folk dancers enjoy the circles of gyrations. . The ladies in tall hats with veils trailing and velvets and cinched waisted dresses must be terribly uncomfortable! The serfs and the wenches style is much less fancy, but probably equally as warm. The men in suits of armor, chain mail, even tights and tunics must be no less uncomfortable.
The food is delectible: bread bowls filled with cheese and broccoli soup or stews, roasted turkey legs, and other such fare. Fragrances of oils and lotions permeate the breeze. Crafts people offering silver jewelry, tankards, blacksmithed wares, textiles, musical instruments, childrens costume items of the time, floral head wreaths. There are games to watch, and some to participate in and stage performances to see. We watched a wedding in front of the Queen's castle, and rode on a horse drawn wagon with the friendly monarch. I think of all the fairs and festivals I've attended, this may be my favorite, and I look forward to attending one in NC in November.
It is such fun to move into another realm, to become yourself in another place and time, just for the day. But then, when we are full of unusual food and our minds are full of exhaustion, it's time to go home. We do so, with appreciation, knowing the comfort of the familiar awaits.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Projects, Projects, Projects...
I can't help myself. I just have to keep my hands busy with projects, and let me tell you, I currently have a few dozen in the works.
In the throes of getting our house back together after our August flood, there's plenty to do. Let's face it, painting walls and trimwork, replacing furniture and hanging pictures can add only so much entertainment to your life. I am enjoying our 'new look', though, and the work is well worth it. There is a certain degree of 'creativity' involved in refurbishing after a calamity, but it gets old fast.
I'm one that has to create something that feels like fun, not work. So, my brain is as busy as my hands are. Since October is presenting me with many opportunities to create cards, I've been stealing my sleepless, pre-dawn hours while my husband snores, and I've been devoting that time to the birthday and 'thinking of you' cards I'll need to send. At the end of the month, I'll be hosting a church women's group, so I've been stamping colored leaves on fall colored paper for placemats and on small brown bags which will hold 'goodies' for the ladies to take home. Since the theme of the evening is the scripture verse, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you. Heb. 13:5', I've written the verse on each of the bags.
Christmas is rapidly approaching, and generally I'm nearly finished with shopping for gifts. Not this year. I do have a few, but my plans for making gifts were diverted by the rush of water through the house in Aug. By now I should have a good start on my handmade Christmas cards, and I haven't even begun. Well, there's always November.
The gardens look like patches of dying weeds. They look like that because that's what they are!
They need to be cleaned out and mulched for the winter. I fear that they may remain that way 'til Spring, when the new weeds show up and will be pulled. Well, weeds are pretty in their own right, I guess. Dead ones leave something to be desired, however.
I fully intend to honor my daughter's request to create a mermaid costume for her six year old. Ok. "I can do that" I answered, when she asked. It is my usual response. the trouble is, I have not yet received my request of an outline of Selah's body, and I've not yet worked out what the design will be and how to accomplish a tale. The fabric waits in the craft room, but that's as far as it's gotten.
The shed should be painted too, before it soaks up too much rain. That isn't so much my project as it is my husband's, but I will help him with it in order to get it done. (Sometimes my hardest part of a job is getting an electric cattle prod to get him moving. He does a great job once he gets past the procrastination!)
I have a billion other things I'd like to do and things that need to be put on the 'honey do' list, but I think I need to put the brakes to the churning wheels in my head, and get these things accomplished before starting any more.
On, now, to do some stamping on placemats.
In the throes of getting our house back together after our August flood, there's plenty to do. Let's face it, painting walls and trimwork, replacing furniture and hanging pictures can add only so much entertainment to your life. I am enjoying our 'new look', though, and the work is well worth it. There is a certain degree of 'creativity' involved in refurbishing after a calamity, but it gets old fast.
I'm one that has to create something that feels like fun, not work. So, my brain is as busy as my hands are. Since October is presenting me with many opportunities to create cards, I've been stealing my sleepless, pre-dawn hours while my husband snores, and I've been devoting that time to the birthday and 'thinking of you' cards I'll need to send. At the end of the month, I'll be hosting a church women's group, so I've been stamping colored leaves on fall colored paper for placemats and on small brown bags which will hold 'goodies' for the ladies to take home. Since the theme of the evening is the scripture verse, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you. Heb. 13:5', I've written the verse on each of the bags.
Christmas is rapidly approaching, and generally I'm nearly finished with shopping for gifts. Not this year. I do have a few, but my plans for making gifts were diverted by the rush of water through the house in Aug. By now I should have a good start on my handmade Christmas cards, and I haven't even begun. Well, there's always November.
The gardens look like patches of dying weeds. They look like that because that's what they are!
They need to be cleaned out and mulched for the winter. I fear that they may remain that way 'til Spring, when the new weeds show up and will be pulled. Well, weeds are pretty in their own right, I guess. Dead ones leave something to be desired, however.
I fully intend to honor my daughter's request to create a mermaid costume for her six year old. Ok. "I can do that" I answered, when she asked. It is my usual response. the trouble is, I have not yet received my request of an outline of Selah's body, and I've not yet worked out what the design will be and how to accomplish a tale. The fabric waits in the craft room, but that's as far as it's gotten.
The shed should be painted too, before it soaks up too much rain. That isn't so much my project as it is my husband's, but I will help him with it in order to get it done. (Sometimes my hardest part of a job is getting an electric cattle prod to get him moving. He does a great job once he gets past the procrastination!)
I have a billion other things I'd like to do and things that need to be put on the 'honey do' list, but I think I need to put the brakes to the churning wheels in my head, and get these things accomplished before starting any more.
On, now, to do some stamping on placemats.
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