Monday, August 11, 2008

Coming Back is Hard to Do!









Having been in the middle ages for a couple weeks, it is really hard to come back and return to "normal time"! I have to wear a watch again, and dress less comfortably (no, my personna does NOT wear a corset!) and be places not so fun as pennsic. Sigh. But the stuff that's no fun can stay behind, like the storms and low flying planes and politics. Is there anywhere that we can escape politics? I think not, unfortunately. But oh the stuff to be learned! I took an English country dasnce class, a bellydance class, 2 herbal medicine classes (history) and Viking wire jewelry, a couple costume classes, medieval beverages and 2 archaeology classes on viking clothing finds. A broad body of knowledge, and those are only a few of the available classes. And the SHOPPING! I didn't have a lot of disposable income this year, but there was so much to choose from... there was fabric and jewelry, sewing tools and books, honey, candles and weaving stuff, yarn, spindles and bone needles. You can buy herbs and spices from all over the world, armour, weapons, brass mirrors, shoes, clothing, bone, horn, and leather. You can find beads and cast pewter, buttons, pottery, tents, rugs and incense, there are vendors who specialize in a time or place, some who have baltic amber from Latvia, rosewood and mahogany from the Caribbean, drums from Africa and Ireland, zils from Egypt, handcarved lutes and ouds, handmade trebouchets, swords and crossbows and handthrown three-legged pots and castiron cauldrens. Oh the shopping!

5 comments:

~*~Patty S said...

Oh Kim! such wonderful pictures and I can only begin to imagine what fantastic adventures you had! Really Love seeing, reading and hearing all about it....traveling back in time by you vicariously!

Lorie McCown said...

wow, it would be hard to stop myself! We used to have this near where I grew up in CA, I made my costume, once, and I did appreciate all the long skirts! Hard to move around in :-)

Merci-Notes said...

It looks like another country!
Have you ever heard the composer and singer Loreena Mckinet (may have spelled last name wrong) We went to a concert of hers and she explains how she searches throughout the world and traces celtic music. The roots even go to the middle east! Because of the Holy Wars.
Maybe if you listen to her she can transport you back :)
Hugs,
Mary

Tiglizzyclone said...

It all sounds so fun and wonderful. Long time ago went to a such a place twice. That was at Black Point Forest here in CA. I have always wanted to go again someday. They now have it in a different place. I am glad you had a good time.

Leslie

Sarah said...

Wow, it look amazing! I'd love to have that experience, but all the historical stuff like that near me seems to be civil war battle re-enactment, not quite a medieval shopping experience! But it must be so much fum with all the tents and costumes, dancing and music, not to mention the crafts... thanks for sharing here :)

ps hope your dinosaur drawings went well :)

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