As Promised, Part Two

Just to be clear, I by no means meant to slight anyone that I've actually kept up with for the past few years, or whom I rediscovered more than a year ago, or any of my online friends, period. You all have tremendously cool lives. I just chose to highlight the friends that I've found again in the past week or so. (Or, in the case of the Angora Bunny Herder, I hope to hear from in the next week. Or month.)

Anyway, communications between my computer and Blogger are limited at best, so the pictures will be coming in a trickle, as opposed to the normal flood.


I was going to go to Estrella War this year, but the one-day pass was up $10 from last year--no way could I afford that PLUS the hour and a half (each way!) it would take to get out to the site. And all the classes I wanted to take cost money. Really, it wasn't worth it for one day. So a group of us from the ward decided to go to the Renaissance Festival instead. Since Annika is old enough to appreciate it and stick with me, but young enough to get in for free, I decided to take her.
As you can see, Afton was quite envious. We saw several acts involving animals and/or juggling (though no one was juggling animals--too bad!), which Annika loved. We also saw Tartanic, a bagpipe rock band that I absolutely loved last year. They've reconfigured themselves, I thought for the better, but we went to the first show and it was one long commercial for their website and new CDs. There was not much in the way of actual music. I bought their CD at the beginning of the show, anticipating great things, but alas. Now I have buyer's remorse. The CD, Unstoppable, is wannabe po-mo impressionistic bagpipe rock, not chock full of their reimagined takes on traditional tunes like I was hoping for. The lukewarm CD I bought from last year will have to suffice. What a disappointment!

Anyway, we also saw Clan Tynker, a joust, the Birds of Prey show, the Wyld Men, the petting zoo full of medieval farm animals (cows, horses, sheep, goats), and lots and lots of things for sale. Annika and I, and the lovely patient women we went with, had a good time. Annika's already talking about next year.



And here's an experiment with the camera sans flash. I have a great camera. I should really learn how to use it. Fun Annika Trivia: The stuffed animal is a girl named Kuzco. As in The Emperor's New Groove.

More to come later, when Blogger and my computer decide to be friends again.