Monday, June 26, 2006

White Hart Renaissance Faire

We live in the middle of a field. Literally. When our landlord runs cattle here, we have to open and shut a heavy metal gate where our lane meets the highway to leave or enter the field, as well as opening and shutting the single-wire electrified gate at the entrance to our yard. If we forget to shut the gate at the highway, the cattle can wander out and cause problems with traffic. If we forget to fasten the electric strand at the yard, we can end up with cattle walking through the lawn and eating the flowers. Like the 150 heifers that came visiting up close and personal a couple of years ago. The 150 heifers whose hoofprints still make it hard to push a mower over the grass.

Because we live in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere, we hardly expected to find ourselves right next door to a Renaissance festival. Yes. White Hart Renaissance Faire occupies the field just catty-cornered across the highway from us. Yesterday morning I went out to check the live trap for groundhogs (cute, but destructive little critters) and was regaled with bagpipe music floating over the fescue. We could hear great rounds of cheers sporadically throughout the weekend, and from our front lawn, we could see, albeit at some distance, jousting. Yes. I said jousting. With real horses. In fancy horse dresses. We can even hear resounding WHACKs from lances and swords.

I have a weakness for Ren fests. For years I dated a fellow who worked the one near Kansas City, and I used to spend weekends there wandering around in the ankle length green wool cloak and black suede, fringed boots that I wore for everyday back home. If I got tired, I just found a quiet corner backstage somewhere and settled in for a nap or to eat an apple and read the ever-present book. The boyfriend was busy treading the boards and chasing Ren wenches, and I loved every moment of those dusty, sunlight dappled, autumn days wandering alone amid the shops and street actors, bright ribbons and jingling bells and coins all around me. (Great Scott, reading the draft of this post, requests that I make certain to mention that HE was not the Ren fest boyfriend, and I shall add, "Indeed, not!")

The girls are dying to go, of course. Great Scott is making Noises of Interest in acquiring a kilt for future years of attendance, should the White Hart Ren Faire succeed, as we hope it does. If we go this year, I'll try to post some pictures. If anyone reading this decides to go, let us know, and we'll meet you on the porch with a glass of cold peppermint tea, should you care to drop by.

11 comments:

thewayseeker said...

Oooo I hope you get to go.

Jennifer said...

I wanna go!

Michael A. Wells said...

Ah, I've been to the one in the KC Area. There is nothing quite like it. :)

I do find the idea of one really out in the middle of no where (no disrespect intended) even more interesting for some reason.

Fieldfleur said...

Cool. Wow! From whence do they come? Ava? (hee, that's a joke:) How long are they going to be clunking around out there? Perhaps we'll be down at some point and can participate.

T

Meg said...

Oddly enough the only time I believe I've ever seen you was at a local Ren Faire. It was my Senior Year in HS or perhaps just after, and your two little girls were dressed as fairies. I actually have a horribly grainy picture of all of you, Great Scott included. I believe a minstrel was harassing you. I'll have to show it to you sometime. Oh the memories :)

Beth Impson said...

I would love to go to the Faire, but even more I wish I could be sitting on your front porch, sipping peppermint tea . . . :)

love and blessings,

Beth

Queen's Gambit said...

Thanks for coming over to see us! We'll be there next year as well, and I'm sure Charles and Di (your neighbors/the owners) would love to hear from you!

--theBruce
http://www.queens-gambit.com

Lucindyl said...

Queen's Gambit--what an honor to see your comment! Next year we'll be sure to look you up and listen a good long while. The two and a half hours we were there wasn't nearly long enough this year.

Anonymous said...

We are so pleased that you enjoyed the faire this year. The reactions of all of our neighbors have been so wonderful. It's a nice comment on the fact that we have picked the right place to have this event.
Now that faire is over we would love to get to know you better.

Anonymous said...

I sadly did not hear of this faire til it had already passed. I will be attending the one over here in KC within a couple of weeks. I would love to live in the middle of no where right next to a faire! Actually where I grew up theres a sizable castle that I always wanted to buy and turn the grounds into a faire... though I do not think the town would like it.

Anonymous said...

If you get a chance come up and see us in St. Louis in May-June for the RenFaire (http://stlrenfaire.com/) or September for the Pirate Fest (http://stlpiratefest.com/)