Even though I was only out at faire for one day, I wanted to go ahead and post this up while everybody else was traveling back or enjoying their second day out there (lucky bastards...)
Talk about amazing! Opening Day of Sherwood Forest Faire was really wonderful, even if the weather was a bit muggy, the magic hasn't changed. And to see practically no mundanes, talk about a sight to see.
It was great to see so many people, including Merlin the Elder (finally, though I wish it had been for longer) and several others.
My girls and I were all sad to leave last night as we did not want to leave. Safe travels, everyone, and let the time fly till we're at faire again...
I had such a great time and it was so wonderful to finally meet you guys! My husband and I had a blast! We just got home about an hour ago and while we may be sore from all the walking and the gear we had on, but it was so worth it. We can't wait to go back again and if we can't go back during Sherwood's season, there's always TRF! Hope everyone has a safe trip back!
Sunday was nice too. Fun and not as crowded. But windy!!!!
Oh and the only thing the staff could do to help is get the signs on highway 290 a little clearer. Everyone looking for the main entrance was accidently turning into the camping entrance and not Old Potato Rd.
Elo, I gotta tell you...you made my day, Saturday! Do you know how long it's been since a woman (besides Nim) was happy to see me? I would have loved to spend more time visiting, too. About the time you came up to me, there was a rush of people all about. I apologize if I slighted anyone in any way! Elo, I'll see you at Scarby for opening?
We petered out before closing both days, but we had a marvelous time! Part of the blame for such a good time can be placed upon the Don and Dona, Lady Kett & Sidekick, and MacKee & Bonnie.
But to the management, staff, cast, and even vendors of SWFF, there is magic in them thar woods!
Nothing left to do now but wait for our next faire trip! (and chat out here!)
SWFF....HUZZAH!
It was great meeting you Merlin and your lovely lady! I think with all the 'owing of beer' going on we have come upon a new tradition lol.
Lady Kett, tell Bob I said 'Your Welcome' for the use of MacKee's 'chick magnet' but I will have to charge a fee of a beer per trip if he wants to use that trick again lol.
We had a great time at faire and hope to return soon. Thinking we might make it back the weekend after next....unless we get a wild hair and come back this coming weekend lol. ;) ;D
A wonderful opening weekend! Definitely nice to meet a lot of fellow R/Fers we hadn't met before and visit with those we had. The grounds are lovely and I enjoyed shopping (the stuffed rats were my favorite, I might need to get more the next time we go!).
Bonnie, I think we've invented a new sport - Beer Roulette to see who buys the next round! I don't think Bob will mind the fee surcharge either.
Merlin, it was so good to see you and your lady, too. Have a safe journey home!
We are currently planning on coming back for closing weekend and nebulous plans for one other weekend not yet decided. Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible again!
Had a really great opening day! Everything about Sherwood continues to exceed my expectations ;D
Pan and I had a wonderful time on Saturday! I wish we were able to come back today, but alas I had to get back to the mundane world *ick* It was lovely meeting so many of you! I hope to see everyone again really soon (and meet even more of ye!)
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on February 20, 2011, 06:47:54 PM
Elo, I gotta tell you...you made my day, Saturday! Do you know how long it's been since a woman (besides Nim) was happy to see me? I would have loved to spend more time visiting, too. About the time you came up to me, there was a rush of people all about. I apologize if I slighted anyone in any way! Elo, I'll see you at Scarby for opening?
We petered out before closing both days, but we had a marvelous time! Part of the blame for such a good time can be placed upon the Don and Dona, Lady Kett & Sidekick, and MacKee & Bonnie.
But to the management, staff, cast, and even vendors of SWFF, there is magic in them thar woods!
Nothing left to do now but wait for our next faire trip! (and chat out here!)
SWFF....HUZZAH!
D'aw! :D You most definitely will, and we will have to plan to actually hang out more that weekend. Tell Nim that it was so lovely to meet her, too!
It was such a great opening for Sherwood both Saturday and Sunday, that anything else would have a hard time topping it on the Wow fact.
With so many of our rennie friends from all over being there Saturday we felt like we knew at least 3/4 of the people there. It took a long time to get around just from stopping to say hello! The buildings and the grounds looked great. There was plenty of entertainment. The privies were convenient to everything. We loved the Italian Kitchen and the Golden Conquistador.
We saw Wino Vino for the first time and it was a blast. If you have not seen them, the best description is a riot set to music......that or a Sicilian Wedding. ;)
But I do have to mention that the signage on 290 was a little confusing. We turned into the camping entrance and had to laboriously turn around to get out because at least 8 people followed us in and back out again.
We spent a lot of time at faire this weekend, even if we never made it to closing cannon. I don't know that we've ever done this much time at Scarby! Even so, we only got to see a few acts, unfortunately, but enjoyed them all. We saw LOTS of vendors. I don't even want to talk about that! ... Just kidding. Some of the artisans do TRF (which we haven't in 20 years) but not Scarby, so we found some new things.
But I must pause here to bring something to your attention. My lovely wife, Nimue, is a patient woman, and will permit a little light-hearted flirtation. But I must warn the ladies out there that she is becoming suspicious! So many of you walk up in front of her and tell me what a lovely staff I have! Not being the prideful sort, I know that you are speaking of my woody walking stick with the large stone amethyst, but it is becoming uncomfortable for me. Please choose your words carefully...
We had a wonderful time. It was a great day for us and I look forward to doing it again soon. So that is what Bob was up too. LMAO. Bonnie collect the beers. I dont know about the rest of you but once we made it to the Jerusalem Pub it was hard to extracate ourselves from there. Again a great time and it was good seeing each and everyone of you.
Angus! I had dinner with you and the others Friday night, and didn't even get a chance to greet you! ...and I never even saw you inside the walls of Sherwood. My apologies, my friend. I owe you one ale at Scarby at either Preview or Opening Weekend! Don't let me forget! (What am I saying? a free beer and a Scotsman forgets?) ;)
It was a wonderful weekend indeed.
For those that I met Friday night. Can't wait to meet you again! (Doubt that I will remember any names from the walkabout)
For those that I met Saturday.... Yeah... Same problem. Also was doing good at remembering the ones I should have that day...
Sunday people... I will probably remember you!
(For those who were concerned about me, I truly appreciate it. I was put on some meds that didn't agree with my rummy faire style and left me more loopy than normal Friday night and seriously drained during the day Saturday. I am fine now and will have to apparently learn some new word called "moderation". I am not sure exactly what it means but I don't like the way it sounds at all)
*Those pills shall not defeat my having rum sips... ever*
Wow.......Saturday.............and WHAT A DAY!
I didn't realize it till Monday, as that I really didn't get anything done, of what an "energy wave" (my interpretation, constructed out of performing, that the energy continually builds like a great ocean wave and one is riding on the crest) it produced. I felt that even more when I was looking at the end of the day shots of people around the pub, such as
(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180036_1721573273496_1063254432_31745783_3614315_n.jpg)
and
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181914_1721587753858_1063254432_31745807_2561030_n.jpg)
Catch is......one can't come down from an energy wave the way they got up to the crest; it has to be released somehow.
But......so much energy.....so much LIFE!......and they did come close to having to throw us out on Saturday night.
(by the way, on facebook, to get back to the old way of viewing pics, go to the address, take the "&theater" out and reload. That should take one back to the old way)
Quote from: Bonny Pearl on February 20, 2011, 07:48:44 PM
We had a great time at faire and hope to return soon. Thinking we might make it back the weekend after next....unless we get a wild hair and come back this coming weekend lol. ;) ;D
Bonnie, please let me know if you go back in two weekends. John and I are going that weekend and are trying to put together our camping plans.
Quote from: Aiacha on February 22, 2011, 08:47:56 AM
Quote from: Bonny Pearl on February 20, 2011, 07:48:44 PM
We had a great time at faire and hope to return soon. Thinking we might make it back the weekend after next....unless we get a wild hair and come back this coming weekend lol. ;) ;D
Bonnie, please let me know if you go back in two weekends. John and I are going that weekend and are trying to put together our camping plans.
Sure will Aiacha. The only issue is that we will have to park our castle on wheels in the front parking lot and set up camp there. It's not ideal but hopefully there are plans in the works to be able to move our castles to the campgrounds and our clan can camp together. We couldn't figure out where to walk into the campgrounds b/c the opening that was there before is closed off, etc, etc.
the castle on wheels and campground situation is one that will evolve. issues persist in logistics. we will get our heads together and try to figure something out better for next year. evolution. thanks for your comments, rengypsy
Quote from: rengypsy on February 23, 2011, 08:44:29 AM
the castle on wheels and campground situation is one that will evolve. issues persist in logistics. we will get our heads together and try to figure something out better for next year. evolution. thanks for your comments, rengypsy
Thank you sir! I understand it will take time and it hasn't deterred us from planning for another visit this season even though we aren't camping with all of our fairemily.
you know we love yall, don't you? we are building sherwood because we are you. we want integration and inclusion. we want folk to be together, not separated. we are working hard toward breaking down as many barriers to community as possible. and also, keep up the comments. you make the experience better and see and experience things we may overlook.
today i ready about the men's entry by the front gate and we are already redesigning entry to allow more privacy.
we are ordering diaper changing stations.
we are examining ways and means to allow the carriages to access the parking lot.
we are addressing signage issues.
all as a result of comments from among our tribe.
blessings,
rengypsy
Your response to our suggestions, even you asking for our suggestions, is why this faire has started well and is going to be a great faire. You haven't responded with excuses. Your responses are we are fixing it or we are trying to find a way to fix it.
I heard lots of good comments about Sherwood Saturday from faire veterans who were there for the first time at Sherwood. Great impression you have made!
Quote from: Aiacha on February 22, 2011, 08:47:56 AM
Quote from: Bonny Pearl on February 20, 2011, 07:48:44 PM
We had a great time at faire and hope to return soon. Thinking we might make it back the weekend after next....unless we get a wild hair and come back this coming weekend lol. ;) ;D
Bonnie, please let me know if you go back in two weekends. John and I are going that weekend and are trying to put together our camping plans.
Are we talking March 5th weekend? Cause I will be there and it's bout damn time I meet people IRL and all lol
Well Jack all ya gotta do is make your way around the reserved camping area and you will meet quite a few board members. In fact, on our side you have two camps in a row (well sort of), you have Phoenix Risen and the Procrastinators. Just come on in and say howdy - we'll be watching for ya (o:
Quote from: KiltedPrivateer on February 28, 2011, 09:30:48 AM
Well Jack all ya gotta do is make your way around the reserved camping area and you will meet quite a few board members. In fact, on our side you have two camps in a row (well sort of), you have Phoenix Risen and the Procrastinators. Just come on in and say howdy - we'll be watching for ya (o:
Will do my best. Don't know the camping area at all but I'm sure I'll get enough Kraken in me to start wandering around lol
Well its not much different from TRF in that you can't really get lost if you just get on the road and start walking - So long as you don't walk past the security shack and out onto the highway - That would be the wrong turn you should avoid (o:
<------ Look for our flag - and hopefully our brand new sign this weekend
Will do, I'm sure I'll be stumbling around somewhere once I get there. If anyone sees a big bald man with a Doctor Who scarf looking wild eyed clutching rum just say hi lol