These are a few of my favorite things...

[Leyla]

I'm so sad that the 2009 season has drawn to a close. It's been a great year though!

Gryffyn (my dog) is considerably better mannered now at 8 than he was at 1 and it was a pleasure having him out this year.

I have to admit, my animosity towards Twig has waned and I'm starting to see why folks are so drawn to her.

Someone was terribly creative and started doing Renaissance DDR. I so wish I had gotten a photo! They had a mat with the arrows on it, a few musicians to play the tune, and a long scroll of fabric with the dance arrows upon it. Flipping awesome!

I found the Muses challenging patrons to gigantic Connect Four. Something I hadn't seen before.


There were the cutest puppies EVAR!

I have no idea who the guy was, just someone who wanted a photo on his phone too because...hello...cutest puppies EVAR!!!

I bought a stellar new hat.  Hopefully I'll have pics of that soon. And thanks to everyone for fawning over me in my new hat. I felt pretty darn good with all the compliments.

Two Children Left Behind doing D&D Hamlet. Probably one of the funniest things I saw all season!

I've discovered a keep warm option that is much easier to sew than a cloak, and more comfy to wear as well. My brain is busy working away on a few options for alterations. I may just have a new creative outlet!

Blushing, it was a pleasure meeting you today. Amber, I thoroughly enjoyed walking the lanes and getting to know you a little better this year as well.

These were a few of my favorite things this year. Anyone care to chime in with their favorite experiences this season?

[saphire_glade]

Just to make my season complete. I ended up changing what my fairy does a bit into the season. The first day I played almost purely with the bubbles I had an adorable little puppy chase the bubbles. It was priceless to watch and made me sure that the bubbles were the way to go.

Today playing up on the green, King the Rottweiler decided that the best part of the festival for him was to lick the bubbles out of the air, off the ground, or off the wand itself. All while his handler was hanging on for dear life.

It made my season complete and I was sure you could hear my giggles from the green to the track.

I just needed to share. Thank you for starting the topic.

[Leyla]

I didn't realize that you were on the forum. Welcome! I saw you near close tonight blowing bubbles right out of your hand. It looked like magic! So beautiful.

[Noble Dreg]

There were the cutest puppies EVAR!


These were a few of my favorite things this year. Anyone care to chime in with their favorite experiences this season?

Uhm, this puppy pooped on my hand...remember?

[Noble Dreg]

In truth, probably one of the most enjoyable years I've had at fest...Made entirely by those I have come to know and love over the years.  I met so many new people, forum and not.  Just got home and am missing it all ready...

[Lord Figaro]

Hearing all the fun times makes me wish even more that we were able to go this year and join the fun. Till we can come back we'll just live vicariously through you guys.

[William_MacKean]

I didn't see any shows this year, other than the ones at my booth.

Music acts were all great.  Helped make the day go faster.

Meeting people was the best part.  There are a couple folks I will never forget and really hope to see often.  I hope to have one of them living with me by the end of the year.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

So many fine memories of the 4 times we attended fest this season.

Joining Minnesota Fest Friends. A very good group of people, a place to rest a bit between shopping, attending shows, making new friends. Thank you.

Meeting the new Queen-to be. What a lovely addition. Antonia knows she has BIG shoes to fill and she will do just fine. Received an invitation to the Royal Wedding next season too.

Taking in more shows and supporting the performers who work their collective butts off to make visits to the festival worth it.

Seeing people have a great time as we talked with many who were attending fest for the first time.

Seeing even more people dress up. Dressing up in garb is finally catching on. Soon the number of those in garb attending fest will outnumber those who don't.

[TheFerret]

Yesterday Lolly showed up in garb as an Italian woman trying to marry off her daughter to the king because her daughter was prettier than this skinny girl he was courting. It was hilarious. The king was surprised and there was some word play. It was one of the best moments all season.

[Charlotte Rowan]

It was great wandering and chatting with you, too Leyla! It takes me awhile to get to know people and open up to them, and I am grateful to those who sstick around long enough to give me that chance.

I got to meet Lady Nicolette, William MacKean and a few other forum members for the first time, and every meeting was a pleasure.

The pirate take-over of the beer pub by BLT on closing day was lots of fun. After 7 Sundays, I finally feel like I'm starting to get to know my fellow ale tenders at Mac's. Just in time for the end of run, but I'm used to that and it's something to build on for next season.

The day an Irish Wolfhound came up to the bar. He was tall enough to look over the bar and peruse the beer selection. Awesome.

Hearing great music. My favorite Four Pints Shy has evolved a lot over the last year, and I love the new format. The Whiskey Chasers are a great addition to Fest - wonderful energy and a sound that is unique among the musical groups at MNRF. I hope they'll be back next year.

[Ethel]

So glad you liked the Connect Four game!  I came up with it last year and BJ (Hayrold) was crazy enough to build it for me.  This weekend was its inaugural run.

Next year, I'm hoping for Operation!

[Noble Dreg]

...Next year, I'm hoping for Operation!

Oooh, I want to play!  Me first!

"Take out wenched ankle"!   

I hope your version includes leaches!

Thank you, tip your waitress, I'm here all night!   

[Noble Dreg]

My favorite things...

I learned that pinnapple halopeno makes a danged good pizza (thanks Keith).

I learned what the  "BLT" and "Dead Dog" are all about.

I learned that a difference in age makes no difference in friendship (either direction).

I learned that the patrons can be pretty cool people too.

[TheFerret]

Other fun things from this season:

-My boyfriend drove out from Cleveland to surprise me Labor day weekend. He showed up 5 hours earlier than I'd expected, which was the surprise. He then arranged to have a rose delivered to me every day of fest for the end of run.

-It was the same rose seller who delivered the roses. If she sold 100 roses before noon yesterday, she was going to get to leave early to go to the Twins game. I bought the last of her roses (36), which brought her just over 100 roses at 11am. I then spent an hour going around site and giving roses out. They went mostly to people I knew with a handful of those I didn't. I only sought out a handful of people and the rest were "oh look, I know so-and-so! They could use a rose!"

-I had awesome photos taken by MBM and DB.

-The soap shop rocked this year! Happy owners, awesome staff.

-I got to play with Terpsicory again for part of the season which was lovely.

-I got to know some people better and met new people.

-People missed me the one day I missed most of (due to real job) and it made me feel loved.

-My best hawker was a bar stool with a basket of soap and a sign in it. Few people ate the soap (some still did, even with the sign) but tons came into the shop. I learned that sometimes if you're doing something not at all related to the shop, people will come in (I made an arrow outside of the shop but while I was playing around and making it, people stopped and wandered in).

And best of all, I was reminded of how awesome of a community and family we are and how happy I am to be a part of it. 

[Ethel]

Theferret, thank you again for the rose, but especially thank you for the story behind it!  I told it to about 8 people yesterday and all of them said it was incredibly heartwarming all the way around.  Lovely.  Just lovely.