Highlands Scottish Festival
Held in beautiful Highlands Ranch. As far as I'm concerned, it's my last event of the year. We have one more next month and I'm seriously not wanting to go. So far the plans are up in the air. I don't mind doing the local events, This last is less than an hour from home so gas and travel time not so much of an issue. Heck, I go to Denver occasionally just to get out of town and hit the Botanical Gardens and the Bonsai store and the Asian market place. And now there's Ikea so plenty of reason to go. I like meeting the people that attend the events, have some friends in other groups that we only get to see at them. However .......... the expense of getting gear and food is becoming overwhelming and then you have to put up with way too many rules. Got chewed for having a private convo with a good friend that is leaving for MA in a few weeks that I won't get to see 'til she comes back. Someone was coming to look at the exhibits, well, they don't need me to tell them what stuff is. It's all marked. Yes, it's more interesting if someone explains things but I wanted a few moments with a dear friend. Then I got chewed for giving false information. Um, no. I got the source material, at a fair expense, I read the source material. I made notes. I do not talk out my butt when discussing Viking food or food prep. I know my stuff. There's always more to learn but I _do_ know whereof I speak. Just because you didn't read it doesn't make what I say wrong.
The last event we're scheduled is a bit further away, up in the mountains and the weather is always iffy. they have new management and OMGs, What a mess. They're trying to cut down on gate crashers but the way they're doing it is just angering people. At least two groups have canceled, Another is a likely no show and I'm not going unless we have males to help set up camp. The gear is just too heavy. My back hurts for at least two days after we get back and I can't do hardly anything. Aside from the cost, it's just not worth it. It's not just the living history groups that are having a rough go, the clans and merchants are getting short shift as well and another at least four clans are not attending that have in the past. I realize that it's run by a for profit group instead of the usual non profit, in fact the only for profit event in the country, I believe. I know they want to make money but sometimes you have to not rake in quite so much. Expecting only one person to sit at the clan booths for all four days all day long is just ludicrous. No one can do that. One ticket per booth though. Should have at least three. It's a long event. People have to get out to eat, walk about, and visit the other clans.
Enough grousing. I missed the "bonney knees" contest this year but that's ok. I saw it last year, can catch it again. Would like to get a kilt for the grand son so he can participate. They have a special class for the little guys, ages 10 and under, with a special for the toddlers. The little guys are the best. They learn quite young how to bow and kiss ladies hands to impress the judges. Some offer bribes of chocolate. gotta love them.
Removed the rear support from the tent this time, gave me a couple extra feet so that my sleeping bag fit nicely into the tent this time so I did sleep in it. Quite comfortable actually. The tarp does not cover all the way to the back of the ridge pole but covers all the bedroll stuff. I stuffed the end with my goat skins because they're very tempting when sitting out in the display. It's a bit close in there so had to open one corner. Like to have a bit of a breeze and unless it's seriously pouring, it stays dry inside. Doesn't hurt the skins, heck the skins got wet when they were on the goat. Need to treat the backs though, to keep them supple. So far they look pretty good and I'd like to keep them that way.
Food demo was very successful. Lots of interest and discussion of diets. Unfortunately, no fish to display or eat. Made a beef barley stew for dinner on Saturday night. Had to borrow the Ren Scotts' grill to cook on. Forgot the hose to hook up the propane for our own fire pit. I love our fire pit. Can't have fire or charcoal because of fire regulations and also can cause damage to turf and sponsors don't like that. Nice to have piping hot coffee first thing in the am though. I like to play Viking but there are lines that will not be crossed and no coffee in the morning is one of them. Must have caffeine. LOL I want to do an indoor event sometime and have a real Viking feast. Maybe we will be able to do so when we do the Minnesota event. We're going to be part of an event sponsored by a museum so hoping that there will be a regular kitchen to store perishables. The cooking over an open fire is easy, we have everything we need but the cauldron and it's on order but the supplier is busy attending events in Europe so not at home and no one else speaks good enough English to complete the order 'til he gets back. It's all good, we will have it soon. We have a nice tripod and Roman grill set up, many hooks, trivets, and the handle for the fry pan. Thinking of doing brass as it's easier to work. Will have to be hand forged to get the right shape. We can fire the forge up during the winter. Despite the monsoon rains,it's still quite dry here.
Hoping to get some pumpkins this fall. The plants have been spouting blooms for the last month but no fruits yet. I think the squash are just going to not produce anything. Three crook neck squash plants, finally some blossoms but nada as far as fruit. The black krim tomatoes have produced one tomato each and no more blossoms. One Roma tomato had several fruits but has not bloomed in a few weeks, the other is going pretty good still. It's been another off year for them. Still waiting for the cabbage plants to head. They're getting huge. Huge. I have four purple and four green. Starting to crave cabbage burgers.