So, we did manage to go to the 2011 Minnesota Renaissance Festival one last time before it closed. It was cooler this time and we noticed an abundance of warm clothing and hats.

I love the shot of this gentleman reading in the sun. The vendors dressed warmly because their booths (especially those in the shade were very chilly, especially when a breeze ran through their booths.
look at those leggings with the hat and the adorable boots!

The performers too dressed warmly (and their family members). I believe in this case it may be the wife of Zilch the Tory Steller.


As we entered we were fortunate to see Twig the Fairy as she entertained the children. She is such a graceful and bliss-creating creature. Her smile just makes you feel warm inside.


As usual there were interesting costumes, including this steam punk inspired one. (I noted several this time around.)


This bat's wings moved dramatically.


As always I gawked at the gorgeous and varied costumes. It is marvelous how people find things to wear that represent their inner selves.


I just love the way the shadows played across the lunching in this table area.


We had to visit our friend and brilliant designer Marla Ferrara. She was dressed in an adorable cossack inspired look. Look at that brilliant smile!


Check her out at the Texas Renaissance Festival - Lost Art Leather. (If you see her, I doubt she'll be this warmly dressed!)


Of course we went to see some of the performances. St the moment we are somewhat obsessed with Danger Committee. We went to two of their performances this time and had already seen three other different shows. Reynaldo, Bald Guy and Other Guy do some blatantly dangerous things including juggling live stun guns. (Which I have to admit I don't enjoy very much.) I do love the knife throwing and the juggling of fire"cluby thingies". More than that I just love to hear Reynaldo's phoney accent and sarcastic jibes at the audience and his group members. I've noticed a certain lightening in accent of late and someone needs to tell him to cut that out, - he's got some 'splainin' to do!


Of course we had to check out the damage from the fire that occurred last week. The area was fenced off, so at first we could only see the tops of the building remnants.

We were toldthat the fire was put out quickly, even though it did cause an hour delay in opening.


Eventually I found a crack in the fense, so here is what it looks like without the privacy fence.


We really got decadent this year and purchased real Renaissance costumes, but we didn't put them on - we are saving them for next year. You'll hardly recognize us then, but in the mean time here is what we looked like this time around. Don wore one of Marla's stunning dyed tops (she doesn't just do leather - her textiles are to die for!)


I wore my bodice and as usual some remnants of belly dance costumes along with a scarf that I inherited from my dear friend Dana Atkinson who died last Christmas.


Don likes to take pictures at angles so here is another unique shot that actually shows the bodice.