How I Spent My Birthday Weekend (or, The Adventures of Princess Limoncello and the New Dress)
So, this past weekend was my birthday weekend: I am now a brand spanking new 37 year old!
*does a little cheer and dances around in her undies*
Wait, what?
37 years isn’t a milestone that we normally celebrate?
Why not? I mean really, why not? It seems to me that every year reveals to us new truths about ourselves, awareness that we get to use as we move forward in our lives, knowledge that help us better see who we are. Personally, I wouldn’t go back to any prior year to claim that age instead of this one. I have 37 years if hard-won knowledge under my belt and I am happy to claim it.
First off, let me explain that this was a four day weekend in South Lake Tahoe at the Valhalla Renaissance Festival. I have not been at this event since I was in my early twenties and I cannot, for the life of me, understand what tool us so long to go back! As genuine, card carrying members of the woolen clothing reenactment club, This Event Is Ideal Climactically For Our Clothing. I mean, I was actually sad I didn’t have a red woolen petticoat with me to go with my woolen dress and woolen jacket. I wasn’t cold mind you, but a little less breeze beneath the skirt would have been nice on a few occasions. *chuckle*
We got there on Friday to find our friend J’s birthday party already well on its way. We joined in on the fun and I forgot a few critical things:
1) Limoncello is a *sipping* liquor, as such I should never drink more than two glasses of this stuff no matter how good it tastes;
2) Those glasses would really be better if they were oversized thimbles;
3) I have lost about 45 pounds since the last time I did any significant drinking;
4) Drinking at altitude is not the same as drinking at or near sea level.
So, two bottles of limoncello later (sadly, I am not joking here) I somehow ended up back at our tent and asleep.1
From what I hear, it was a great night and I was hilarious.
*eye roll*
The next morning I woke up at 6:15 AM and naturally hopped out of bed to go running. And yes, I packed running gear for an event, mostly because I knew this event had showers with hot water. I think I was also a little tipsy still, which accounts for my decision to actually follow through with this plan despite general sleepiness, cold weather and possible bears.2 But really, I am glad I did. South Lake Tahoe is breathtaking this time of year. Snowcapped mountains full of HUGE trees and rocks. Canadian geese, blue jays, squirrels, and ever-present chipmunks to annoy and be scolded by.
The lake. OMG the lake. *swoons in wonder*
The run was very nice to say the least!
I got back to camp and organized coffee and breakfast, then slipped into my new duds before heading over to German camp for a day of sewing and nattering with friends. It was a really lovely day and I got to spend it with a whole troop of my favorite people between Guild yard and Booth space.
At lunch we had bacon soup.
Honestly, how does life get better than bacon soup, a new dress and no hangover?
I also had a chance to decorate my new hat. With naughty pins.
I love naughty pins, they are historically accurate, and yet no one seems to wear them at faire. Instead people wear a million modern style faire favors with modern style comedy inscribed on the.
I don’t get it. *shrug*
PS: Thank you for the hat tutorial from vanagnessayem!
That evening saw us all gathered around the camp fire, telling stories and eating dinner together before heading over to the ‘talent show’ organized by the faires producer. The talent was low on the ground (not many acts even showed up, I blame poor word of mouth), but then we had a late entry from the German Feldwebel.
It involved a corset, sparkly eye jewels, stripy socks and silk boxers. And that is all I am allowed to say.3
I will say that I ended up warning the boys about my gay porn kink multiple times. *amused grin*
Back at the camp, we had a run in with Yogi (who did NOT make off with our pic-i-nik basket) followed by more campfire fun (more boys in corsets… What?!? I was my birthday after all!) before wandering off to bed sometime after midnight.
The next day I made a pass at 16th C false braids. I have been messing about with the Zopfe idea for awhile now and I managed a dry-run this weekend. I have determined that the bases I made for the braids are way too big for my own locks and will be handsewing smaller, wool stuffed versions for possible use at CoCo this year. Because it seems that big hair is always in fashion at CoCo.
;)
Zopfe in progress.
Zopfe on Caitlin (goofy version here).
.
K's version (with much better hair braiding than I can ever manage).
This version stayed in place with NO PINS for the remainder of the day and even survived a fight circle that afternoon.
Sunday also marked to Codpiece competition, with two German entries (of course!):
Those are leather costrels he has hanging down as...um...his jewel pouches....
The WINNER! There was a song and dance that went with this codpiece. E.P.I.C.
To the crew with St. Maximilian's Landsknecht Guild - Many Many Many thanks for a wonderful weekend, C and I both had a wonderful time and enjoyed seeing old friends and getting to know new friends better. To J & T of New Sterling Arms - It is always wonderful to see you both and thank you for the gatelist. We look forward to the Great Chicken Slaughter! *grin*
1 Honest to goodness, I don’t drink like this. Which is why I sometimes totally misread my level of intoxication and manage to slip from tipsy into ‘Oh Holy Hell, Hide The China’ without even knowing I’ve done so until it is too late. There is a comical side story here the next morning involving me wondering who had gone through the tent like the Tasmanian Devil and how I’d ended up in my pajamas…but if you are reading between the lines you’ll probably figure out how all that happened. *head desk*
2 Yes, bears. Like the one that showed up in German camp on Saturday night.
3 I am repeatedly amused by the assertion by non-Landsie folk that “Germans have no sense of humor.” Really? *shrug*