With so few days to go till opening, I want to know what are the simple joys you look forward to at Faire?
Mine are:
Waking up to the sounds of crows
The first beat of drums as you enter gate
The smell of spiced wine
The general ambient SOUND of it!
Now you!
bewbs.
Sorry, my id slipped out for a second :D
Seriously, though- the whole sound of it, the feel of the cooler weather, all of it. It's just the whole of it rolled into one ambiance that you can't describe, you just have to experience. It helps me get away from the blood, sweat, tears, and heartache of the real world, and get a break from it all, to truly be something simple and be at peace. I need that, badly.
And the ladies sure as hell don't hurt ;D
Who you calling ladies???
*fixes her skirt and her freshly mussed hair*
The Spanish Conquistador. I don't know his name, but he makes me go weak in the knees.
Spanish sunrises in my mug.
My bodice chiller between Tia Juana & Tio Juan.
Deciding what to wear.
Javier! He's Colette's husband, and nifty people...
Walking thru the gate, taking a deep breath and thinking "Gosh it's good to be back"
Finding a second home
*sorry projecting since I don't know for sure*
This'll be a rough one for me. I'm missing the Opening Cannon!!! :'(
I want the smells, the sounds, the feel of waking up to bagpipes! Fussing with garb, looking for endless last minute things, breakfasting before the Great Hike to Paradise, and an ear crushing bang!
Oh, well, I'll be there(with the lovely wife) in a few weeks!! The days until then will be spent patiently torturing the evil Peeps! FOKTOP FOREVER!!! It's official....I''m sulking around the house now. :( DAMN!!
I hope the weather gods smile upon our beloved faire!
The gray over cast skys that brings the smell of the cool fall/winter air mixed with the damp smell of grass and hay.
Standing outside the front gate, sipping coffee as the acting troupe entertains the die-hards that brave the cold morning to be there as early as possible.
And as Morgana pointed out, walking through the gates, as the feeling of "home" washes over me, and the sights and sounds of faire clamor for my attention.
Home... I'm home.
I love the gathering and camaraderie in the campground
I love the smell of leather and the weight of the garb
I love to sit in camp and enjoy the breezes while savoring a fine brew
I love to walk through the gate and feel as though I'm entering into another time and place - A whole other world
I love hearing the hawkers heckle the danes
bewbs
I love meeting new people while walking the lanes enjoying a cold mug (lest it be november, then its a warm mug)
I love seeing my daughters eyes light up when she sees the faeries
I love the fact that there is only two more days till I join the early arrivers and we start this conversation over again
?Falling asleep and waking up to the sound of bagpipes and drums.
?Sitting by the warm campfire when it feels like it's -800 degrees celcius outside
?Hearing the continuous calls of "hip hip! huzzah!" and "titties and beer!" throughout the night
?The randomness that could only happen at faire
My friend and I have a tradition of walking through the gate, saying hi to Sholo, then stopping just shy of the coffee shop, closing our eyes, listening to the music and simply 'taking it in.' Then we try to remember which direction we started in the previous year...and head the opposite direction. :)
The flirting, of course!!! It's so much fun to let fly with that first arrow, and see the look of dawning glee when the recipient realizes what was said, and just what, exactly, was implied, and then the game begins!!! Of course, it's just a game, and that's what makes it so much fun... LOL
Then there are the mingled smells of hay, churned earth, ponies and camels, Faire food, leather, meade and various perfumeries that mingle and tingle the olfactory senses...
The sounds... Exclamations of awe, delight, disbelief and hilarity; different musical styles and instruments; massed voices raised in concert for pub sing, huzzahs, laughing cheers or a single syllable of "Aaaahhhh" upon seeing something that leaves them speechless with wonder (such as the raptor show); tiny squeals of delight at some new wonder or treasure being discovered for the very first time ever by a child who knows that magic is real because they're experiencing it first hand...
The sights... colorful garb worn in every conceivable fashion, from peasant to royalty, and everything in between, and all of it the pride of the wearers collection, no matter how fine or how frayed; smiling faces anticipating the fun to be had and the adventures waiting just around every bend in the lanes...
The shopping... old favorites and new discoveries to be poured over, agonized over and justified, and the satisfaction of taking possession of those things that have been saved for all year...
The bewbs... :D They tend to speak for themselves...
The KILTS!!! No need to say more on that subject... :D
The face and body painting... seeing all of the creativity displayed wherever there's a bit of exposed skin, and knowing that the next day it will all be different. How very zen...
The Pubs... wandering until your throat and your thirst leads you where it wants to be, then lingering for who knows how long with friends and firewater as the afternoon whiles away on it's own, and laughter, camaraderie and incriminating photos imprint the memories of fun and frolic forever in our hearts, even though they may be a bit fuzzy in our minds... LOL
Oh, uhhh... I guess the topic kind of, ummm... inspired me!?! ::)
the kids....the wonder in their eyes as they take it all in, and the amazing ability that faire has to bring us all back to childlike wonder.
My hubby and I were married at this faire, will be 10 years come 2nd weekend to be exact, so it's always a way to celebrate our love and reminiscence about past anniversaries.
Arriving in the time capsule, finding more peace there than with THE DARN TIME COUNCIL!..................AHEM!
Essentially, being more and more with the people I've come to know and becoming more and more part of the neighborhood than just an outside observer. Even becoming something of an "icon" myself.
The vacuum of the front gate... sucking you inside to wonders for the senses. The smell of cooking... incense... the clashing colors filling you sight like a maddened rainbow. The feel of the air... the watery sunshine, hinting at fall. The noise of the crowd... the "g'day Mi-lord" heard from every corner... the hawkers raucous calls... the laughter of children... the wink of a beautiful woman.
The feeling of belonging...of fitting in... the sense of coming home at last.
My favs are waking up with folgers in your cup at camp and watch everyone starting to move. Being at the gate for cannon and entering the fair wondering in the early quite time as most are still watching the proclamations. Later not being able to walk more than a few feet without a hail and well met from some one you know. The meet and greet at the POW and seeing all the RF friends, the Sea Devil and craziness and finally back at camp for nights of laughter and fun till you can't stand it anymore.
Sitting in the back, putting on your face, and readying yourself for the onslaught to come.
Hearing cannon, and realizing that you're in it for the long haul
Hearing cannon, and waiting for the patrons to funnel back to where your shop/section is
Smelling the roasted nuts and hearing the naughty things they say to go with it
That smell of fresh damp earth and the sounds of HUZZAH and sweet music that seem to permeate the very air we breathe
Damn... it's gonna be tough, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Some how the long (LONG) walk from Celtic Rogue camp to the front gate, making you ponder if all these things on your belt are worth it - getting through the gate, past the picture and program people, and smack into the bottle neck of folks - the sights, sounds, smells, all rush in on you, and someone (Always, but I don't know why) asks where we want to go first. But you hug the right side wall, get in line for breakfast, usually quiche for the wife and scotch egg for myself. Eatting at the tables accross the road, near the hot coco store, and watching everyone roll in with the same enthusiasm as you.
And then head to the Prinse of Whales pub for real breakfast! (I hope they have sam smith's oatmeal stout in this year...breakfast of champions!)
The smell of wood smoke from everyones camp fire, the morning mist hanging over the camp grounds, bag pipes playin in that mist. Hearing the bells ring over of the faire from Cloister. The smell of the candied nuts, sitting in the shade eating scotch eggs.
walking through the front arch to get that first glimpse and sound of a true fantasy ;D
Most important of all
friends & more friends
The smell of sizzling bacon as we prepare an early morning breakfast at the campsite. The strike of 10:00AM when we fill our wooden mugs with the day's first beer. The determined walk from the front gate straight to the POW, to greet Lady Michelle and the gang. The leisurely walk down to the Sea Devil, and onto Sherwood Forest where the sound of axes and knives hitting wood grows louder as we approach. Pipe music from a nearby Tartanic show filling the air...and well...you get the picture.
I love walking in the gate and opening my eyes to see a whole new world. Imaging that Ive stepped thru time to this magical place. The smells, the dirt or mud, and seeing everyone in their garb.
Oh I cannot wait until Saturday morn!
Walking about the lanes with my Lovely Lady's hand in mind as we get lost in the moment of faire
*and the rum... there be lots of rum there*
Just that smell, that smell that is nothing but wonderful, the earthiness, it smells like home.
Opening Weekend, seeing everyone for the first time since last season, that feeling of running up and giving hugs and catching up. Being pulled in a thousand directions to get to see everyone and everything.
The crowd of people at the Sea Devil and ending up staying there for a couple hours bouncing between different friends.
Seeing people that I know during parade and having them stop to come over and give me hell or a kiss before trotting on. :)