I know it's been a while since I've been on anywhere. Life is finally starting to settle down again for me and heading in a good direction.This faire season I haven't made it out yet. I'm hoping to change that shortly and get at least one run out to PARF before the seasons end. I hope everyone has had a great season so far! I'll keep ya posted on when I might be venturing out!

The Fling was an absolute blast this year! Plans were up in the air until late Friday night and everything just fell into place. Thanks Caria!!! I'm glad thinks worked out and I got to see everyone!

As always the bands sounded awesome! I unfortunately didn't make it to see Empty Hats Friday night. *pout* But I did run into Victoria Saturday and had a lovely chat with her. I got to see Coyote Run again. This makes my second time hearing them and I totally love their sound. They've got two songs that I heard for the first time that I can't wait to get the cds with them on! One is "Wise Men" with this great gypsy sound to it and a wonderful message. The other, forgive me not remembering the name atm, is about the Celtic Fairies. Not your every day Tinker Bell. Tee hee More my kind of Fae! I SOOO want to learn the lyrics to that one! It may become the theme song for my Gypsy Fae character Fairyfly. {Yes, yes, she'll come out and play eventually. ;p } I don't remember seeing Celtic Spring before this year, but I have to say they leave quite the impression! Well done! Another band I got to see for the first time this year is Hunting McCloud. Great sound!!! Though if you're shy, stay away from the front row. Don't ask me why, go see them yourself and find out! 

Sadly, there was a tragedy Saturday night. There was a car accident involving some faire staff where one member was killed, others injured. Please keep the PRF family in your thoughts as they grieve and heal. This is a close knit faire  and I know they will pull through together. *HUGS* To all those I know, and those I haven't met yet.

To end on a lighter note, I got to see good friends again, and meet some R/F members I had yet to have the pleasure of seeing in person.  It always makes faire {or Fling} a happier time for me when I get to share it with my R/F Faire Family! What could be better then great music, good drinks, and awesome friends? 

I don't know if I'll make it to PRF this year. I shall try. But with plans to move in the works, I have no current clue what's going to happen. If I get to go again, I'll see you all there! If I don't get to go again this year, I'll see you next Fling!

 

Be Blessed, travel safe!

~LP/FF  

Ette Tu
Current mood: thankful

This year was a very special year. It was the second annual Ette event at TN Ren, and with the help of some great people it was twice what it was last year!  All the stress leading up to when I left to head down, just melted away when I got my first hug from Nickie. Then got to see Kirk again for lunch before flying Tiger to CO for "the summer".  It's not actually just for the summer. She's never stepping foot in this state to live again for as long as I breath! And as soon as I wrap things up here, neither am I. But that's a different blog. Lol

After my small trip to MS, I returned to Nickie's and destressed while finishing up plans for Ette Tu. And, tried to finish my sewing self torture project before Saturday. Which, didn't work! It's still not Finished. Although, it is riggable and does work. Lol I'm never sewing an entire skirt by hand again!

Thursday Athena showed up! I waited for her all day. It was great when she finally walked through the door and started unpacking! I had seriously missed that great smile and light about her that she has. We had time of catching up before I had to run over to Brenda and Chris' house for some quick garb help. I had bought a new bodice and it was in MAJOR need of boning. Brenda helped with that, then taught me how to make fairy wings for the little winged ones at heart! I burned my fingers a couple times, but I loved learning! What was even better was finding out that one of the pair I worked on sold quickly when put out at faire. It made me so happy to know a little one was running around smiling because of something Brenda and I did. It's the little things like that, that mean so much more to me.

Friday was last minute get things ready for the beginning of Ette Tu! And what a way to kick it off! I don't think I've ever been so happy to hear a door bell in my life! Every time it went off I got to meet and hug old and new friends! I loved seeing the smiles on every-one's faces! Blessing DB was great! The look on his face said he hadn't believed that I'd do it. Tee hee Rule One: Never underestimate me.

Scotsman sharing cigars and Dalmore Scotch while DB, Festmum, Sleepy, Caria and I all broke in my whip I had bought last faire season was memorable at least, funny as hell at moments and just plain a ton of fun! Getting Lady G's permission to pick on Scotsman was well worth it! I loved those two last year when I first met them, and even more now!

I can't really say who I enjoyed meeting for the first time, or second, or third, the most. Everyone is so special and unique in their own way, and I love everyone of you for it! From Nyte for her quiet, but genuine personality, laugh and smile. I wish we had gotten to talk more! All the way to Esc for just being herself no matter what and always living life to the fullest, yet always respecting the sanctity of others as well. I find myself somewhere in between these two, yet accepted for who I am by them equally. That will always surprise and amaze me and make me happy that people like everyone who came to Ette Tu exist! Although, I'm still not going to look up when I'm sitting on the floor surrounded by guys standing around me wearing kilts! *BLUSH*

Bluesboro was totally rocking! I got there late, no big surprise, I remembered last year and parked in the first parking spot I found. Regretted that move at the end of the night. But everyone had a blast and that made it all worth it! Even though for me it was a small mix of business and pleasure that night. Thank you everyone for making sure the business part went smoothly. Though the manager's timing for when payment was do, was a bit of a bummer for me. Right as I set up for initiations. Which made me miss what ever happened at first. Lol Darnit! Oh well.

Initiations went well. A decent mix of tame and not so tame I think. Not what almost everyone, but me, was thinking. Though I didn't get to see everything that happened, I'm very happy everyone kept to keeping our Married Initiates Married! Nothing got out of hand, although I think Sean needed a shower afterwards. Tee hee And I got a bit of a surprise from Esc! *blush* Thanks hun! There were times being single was a fun thing. Two people were a little upset, for different reasons. I understood both. Sometimes it's hard to find a balance for everyone and somethings are unavoidable. Nyte sweetie, I didn't have time to make your surprise what I had wanted it to be, but I'm glad you enjoyed it none the less. Leinad, no one is perfect, we do the best we can with what we know and as long as our intentions are good, that is the best we can do!

At the end of the night, after making sure everyone was alright, clearing the drinks and bottles from away from the ledge and making sure that nothing was left behind, I turned around to a smile I won't soon forget. Sir Ironhead was standing there making sure I was alright. And that seems to have set the theme for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday morning came early. After rigging my skirt and having a little help getting dressed, and coffee! I drove to faire and of course arrived after gate opening. Lol Nothing new for me, I'm not a morning person. Faire mornings are a bit better for me, I want to be awake, that just doesn't always happen very well. With still no idea what time the auction would be held, I had to field questions about it until I got ahold of my secret assistant and found what time worked best for him. What not a lot of people knew was that I've known Giacomo since I was 19. I worked a faire he was performing at and we became friends. After all these years, it's great to know faire friends are forever! He graciously accepted assisting me and told me what time worked best for him. I got word around to everyone BUT the one I really really needed to know ahead of time. Leinad... Lol Although that got worked out as well. Not smoothly, but well.

The Handfasting was beautiful! I had not read what was the pattern for this momentous occasion. But I'm very happy I got to be a part of the actual event! May the two of you always find blessings in each other! *HUGS*

The Auction went better then I had expected. It started off slowly, and built to a thunderous finale. I can't thank you all enough for everything you all did to make this such an event! And that you all wish to do it again next year just thrills my heart and proves yet again just how wonderful Rennies are! Giacomo did an awesome job and I believe he's being gracious enough to join us again next year. We raised $655 for RESCU Foundation, which assists Ren Faire performers and workers who don't have regular health insurance, to get health care when they need it. Unfortunately, some times the performers and workers we love get hurt. I'm proud to be a part of a group that gives back to those who make our faires worth returning to year after year. Thank you!!!

After faire it was off to Ette Central {motel 6... ugh} for a quick dip in the pool, shower and changing for POTC3. Leave it to me to forget my swim suit in another bag. Thank you Wenchie for offering...and guys for teasing me about it. :P And FestMum for coming to my rescue! As well as Sir Ironhead for being such a gentleman and letting me borrow his room for a little while. I know guys who'd have been less the man you were. Thank you.

POTC3 was a fun experience. My fears about popcorn being thrown were all for nil. lol The movie itself was a mixture of great, hilarious, sad, endearing and huh? The ending fell a little shorter then I thought it would for such a great epic. Oh well. It was well worth it, and with 30 some good friends, it was awesome! My only wish is that I had known the chair arms folded up! Ouch!

Sunday morning was another early one after a late night. But, with a duty to fulfill at Opening Gate, I got up, got ready, didn't wait for my escort and forgot my coffee. I thought the day was going to go down hill from there. Lol Great friends came through though and coffee found it's way to me, nice, light and crunchy! I love that description! Unfortunately it didn't make it through the gate with me. But I was there for the first time for Opening Gate! I just wasn't awake enough to pay attention. Sorry!!! Matching the auction volunteers and winners up was such a pleasure! Then, it was time for a little plotting between me and the Queen to come to fruit!

Sir Ironhead being Knighted, this year not by proxy, was a very happy moment! It was long awaited, and was a small way of saying "Thank You" to him and every other who serves or served in our Armed Forces. And what better weekend to do it then on Memorial Day weekend? I was very sorry to find out that Kirk had missed it after all he had done last year. What I had not gotten to do during the ceremony was give Sir Ironhead the card that Kirk made and had everyone who attended last years Ette Invasion sign. I kept the card, Kirks wrist bands from the 3 days he walked around faire with SI's proxy bottle of sand, and a few other things, for the entire year waiting to hand deliver it to Sir Ironhead this year. With time being a constant problem, it didn't happen as I had wanted. Somethings just can't be planned. Lol Kirk, thank you so much for everything you did last year!

I had the morning off without any more worries until the afternoon. Being without my escort I'd had almost all day the day before, Sunday morning was almost too quiet. The serenade from Craig of Farrington to Nickie, Athena, Nyte and me was just perfect! Getting to spend some time with my Gypsy Sis Tremayne/Jen was exactly what I needed as well. I'd been missing her. Last year I spent so much time with her, it was strange this year not to see her more. The afternoon was a mixture of good and bad. I got an unintended reminder of things I had been trying to not think of and that upset me greatly. Things calmed down and I got to spend a lot more time with a person I look up to and cherish a lot for being happy with knowing who she is and not giving under pressure to be something others would like. I also got almost tipsy, but remembered my self designated driver status and switched back to water. lol Having Spleen as an escort was rather fun. Talking down a guy who'd drunk more than me at the Empty Hats show was a tad bit annoying. I prefer music over drunk person any second! Getting serenaded by Giacomo took away the stresses that had crept back in and allowed me to smile again. I swear that man's voice could lull me out of rage itself. Lol It's not just the talent, it's the familiar and friendliness of it.

Rushing back to Nickie's house with Athena and Bacardi to quickly get changed and leave a surprise for Nyte and DB was more rushed then I'd have liked. Getting a phone call while driving us to Chef Wang's finished turning the day around. Although I didn't mean to sweat out Athena and Bacardi!!! Sorry guys! Thanks for being such great sports about it! Arriving at Chef Wang's to another phone call reminded me of the days trials. In the end, the food was great, the company even better, and amends were made before we left. Which gave Monday a fresh start.

Sleeping in Monday morning felt great. Although somehow, even with stopping for coffee {hence the coffee maker in rooms next year demand} we got there for Opening Gate. How that happened, I've no clue! That was two mornings in a row I made Opening Gate!!! And the rest of the day went by very nicely. Seeing some performances I hadn't gotten to see was awesome. Just being able to relax was even better. Though having to say good bye to people all throughout the day sucked. I liked not having a schedule to keep to for one day. And that even though I didn't need a watch that day, I still had the company of an escort. Who, was gracious enough to put up with me wanting to go throw axes again. Even stayed around while I gave pointers to the new gamer running the axes on throwing two axes at the same time. Once a Gamer, always a Gamer! Next year, Caria has to earn the title I'm leaving her of Jersey Axe Thrower! *smiles* There are so many little things that happened on Monday that just made it the best day of all. They are each precious to me.

Pub sing was emotional for me. A thrill of happiness looking around at everyone and knowing they had all had a wonderful time meant so much to me. That time coming to an end until next year was sad. Standing with Nickie, Athena, and Wenchie, getting to sing "Health to the Company" and "Beggars to God" was a wonderful ending. All the hugs and well wishes could not be replaced in my mind by anything. Going into this I had a tremendous sense of Family with everyone. I walked away with an even greater sense of the Love of this Family. I've never known such wonderful people, nor had such amazingly loyal friends! There were a few missing this year that I hope with all my heart are there next year. For those who were there I haven't the words to say what it meant to have you all there!

Weeks later I look back and smile. With yet another reason to smile. The gentleman Knight who so graciously made sure I got to where I needed to be on time, and didn't pass out the entire weekend, even though missing a few cues here and there, had the good enough sense to ask me to date him. How could I refuse a Knight who'd shown such honor? I couldn't. Lol I may have to have things pointed out to me occasionally, but I'm not completely blind. As with everything in my life, it's complicated, but worth it.

The count down stands at me leaving.... TOMORROW!!!

 

I can't believe it's time already!!! I'm half packed, and ready to have left a week ago! Lol I can't wait to see everyone! Ette Tu begins in about 11 days! This year is going to rock the socks off last year! 

To all my Ette Tuers: Drive and fly safely my friends! I'll see you all very soon! ;D

Now, back to packing and sewing. Lol Must finish garb before Ette Tu! :D

You scored as Morgan Adams. You are in it for the thrill, sure the pay off is great but the thing that drives you is the excitement and the chase.  Though your family life isn't that great you have many friends who make up for the crappy family life. Morgan Adams 100% Will Turner 67% Black Beard 67% Mary Read 58% Long John Silvers 50% Captain James T. Hook 50% Dread Pirate Roberts 42% Sinbad 33% Captain Jack Sparrow 33% Captain Barbosa 17% What kind of Pirate are you? created with QuizFarm.com

 

 I love Cutthroat Island! And Morgan is definitely my Favorite chick Pirate! Kick ass and cute to boot! {I want her boots too!}