Last week, we headed to the Renfest to visit our fairy and princess friends.
Sugarwings was sporting her latest gown from TJMax's great selection of royal fashions. Every fall, they have the BEST, highest quality, dresses at the most reasonable prices (about $30). I started to dress up, but since my husband was going along, I tamed my look down for him. A garland for my hair and a semi-witchy ensemble was plenty for him.
As much as I have fun watching the kids explore the festival, I personally love the overall style of the place, all of the attention to detail in the architecture, and the shady, hilly park it is all built in. The best building though?
This castle!
Wow!
My son's friend, Jessie is the stone mason. It is a labor of love for him, each year a few more rocks are added to this hand built palace.
It is a beautiful spot for photos, the artistry of the structure makes all pictures interesting. (not like my cute little models needed that)
Jessie does custom stone work for clients the rest of the year, and uses the in process castle as a storefront to sell his geodes.
There is a big selection of round rocks to chose from and take to the geo-tine (like guillotine but for rocks). Jessie spins a tale while the rock gets cracked in two. That guy can draw a big crowd to gather around just to wait while a rock gets broken. He is a born entertainer.
When the CRACK happens, the crowd cheers and everyone is excited to see what the geode holds as the owner walks through the throng to show off her treasure. No two look just the same and he has a wide variety of different crystals. Mine was smoky quartz with marcasite. Really pretty. This one is Sugarwings' stone and I'm not sure what it is.
She enjoyed working the crank to break hers apart.
She's also always happy to visit the mermaid lagoon.
While waiting in line to visit the merpeople, we found this heart seed pod.
Sugarwings gave the heart to Aurilliea Gyldenscale, one of our local, Kansas City area mermaids. (Being in the midwest, we don't have as many merpeople as you might find on the coast, so ours are very special and rare).
The lagoon area is a welcome addition to the renfest, it was added not that long ago and while simple, is very cute. One year there was a large tank/aquarium that a poor, chilly mermaid floated around in, this seems like a much more humane way to display the fishy girls. And it is more user friendly for the kiddos too, the little girls are thrilled to get hugs from their heroines.
We never fail to make a magic wand at the Children's Realm. Afterwards, you can test drive the wand with a real wizard. This was the point when I realized that Sugarwings is lacking in her magical knowledge. When I told her to call her patronus, she had no idea what I was talking about.
Time to start reading Harry Potter to her, right?
She definitely is well phrased in fairy lore and was able to chat with the faye like a pro.
And of course, is a champ at the maypole after years of dancing with the fairies.
Hmm, maybe this is my favorite part of the day there. Look at the smiles on all of those faces!
My not-so-fave part?
Visiting the animal rescue center. Which sounds very nice til you find out that it is a dragon, a hawk, and a billion snakes.
Yep, that is a snake wrapped around our little friend.
And around Sugarwings who got teary eyed about having to give the snake back. She wanted to stay and hold it longer.
ugh-shiver-bleck
Luckily, there was a fairy godmother handy to zap her out of her mood with a sprinkling of magic and fairy dust.
It is hard to stay sad at the festival, with all of that magic and revelry around you.
The stone work is amazing! I wouldn't want to be one of those mermaids trapped in that tail all day. Darling photos of sugarwings.
Posted by: Janet | September 25, 2015 at 07:44 AM
This looks like an amazing fair and Sugarwings is absolutely beautiful with her gown and fabulous hairdo. She is stockpiling so many wonderful memories with you.
Posted by: liz | September 26, 2015 at 09:58 AM
I love having a blog to document and save those moments for her some day in the future, Liz.
Posted by: Karla Nathan | September 28, 2015 at 11:30 AM
I remember seeing her. She is a beautiful princess. :D
Posted by: Melinda | September 28, 2015 at 12:23 PM
How nice, Melinda!
Posted by: Karla Nathan | September 28, 2015 at 01:02 PM
I can picture sugarwings working here herself in the not too distant future. Definitely Harry Potter time.
Hugs
Posted by: Freda Butler | September 30, 2015 at 11:11 PM
Yes, I think she could move right in, Freda
Posted by: Karla Nathan | October 01, 2015 at 12:10 AM