"A Very Herring Christmas"

Happy happy! Fresca, Lucinda and friends made this wonderful film. We're off early this morning to beat the winter storm.

Welcome! Felicidades to the new parents!

Ofelia and Sachin became parents yesterday! Their baby, Arun Adria, arrived safely and Ofelia is doing well. I can't wait to see the pictures, but for now, here is a "before" picture from my brief trip to see them in Barcelona last week.

Ponies!

Ana and Jose took great pictures Jake, Sparky and their new friend Ladybug when saw them on Thanksgiving in Bemidji. Here is Ladybug looking demure.

Birdchick.blog has new pages of rabbit disapproval.

Ren Fest

My first Renaissance Pleasure Faire experience was in 1972 in Novato California. I remember amazing jugglers, gypsy flamenco dancers, bawdy costumed characters hawking unusual food, handmade objects that seemed incredibly exotic. To my child's eye,it was pure enchantment. Today, I'm more conscious of how much it all costs, but I still enjoy it, and my daughter and her friends adore getting dressed up, and all the activities, including medieval bungee jumping. We saw the king and queen's court.


Opening day at the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee had a middle eastern theme, so there were quite a few belly dancers in the parade. We got dressed up (well, I wore a vaguely peasanty shirt, but the kids went all out) and had a great time looking at all the creative costumes on adults, kids, and even some animals, like this turtle dressed as a Scot. It was a perfect day; fluffy clouds in a blue sky, not too crowded, dusty or hot. We ate favorite foods (the giant turkey leg, the strawberry florentine ice in an orange, blackberry wine), checked out the fabulous costumes, and made wax casts of hands. I enjoyed the bagpipe jam. We didn't see the jousting this year, but last year we were amazed at the size of the draft horses they used, the whacking and thwacking of the combat, and astonished that nobody was maimed or killed. Next week: The State Fair!