Arizona Ren Faire~What's Not to Love

Jugglers with clubs (pins).

Dr. Franco's Hypnosis Show

Giant Rocking Horse

Mime at Exit of Faire

Most Amazing Whip Show Ever

Sign in front of the circus tent at the AZ Ren Faire

A week ago I went to the AZ Renaissance Faire in Apache Junction (near Phoenix) with my eldest daughter, and her family. It was a fabulous unexpected vacation and I absolutely made the best of it. I hope they decide to make it a yearly family reunion. That would make me very happy.

Old Buddies & Knife Throwing

Years ago I taught juggling at the Agoura Renaissance Faire with Adam Reid. I recently found him on Facebook, and I'm happy to hear he is still juggling at Renaissance Faires. I, on the other hand, have done nothing very interesting with juggling in a long time. I never quite reached the skill level to do Renaissance Faire shows, and I feel there is still a lot of sexism in the world of juggling.

But that doesn't mean I want to give up juggling. I just need to find my passion again. My juggling stuff is at the foot of my bed. I should pick it up and use it sometimes.

I'm learning a new circus skill: Knife throwing.  I've been doing it in the SCA for years at the occasional thrown weapons events, but I never had my own stuff, so I ordered my very own throwing knives. I tested them out yesterday and in one round, I stuck all 3.

Since Halloween is coming up, I've been gathering together witchy things and I took some photos today. Hope you like.

Black and Gold Fan

I love this rainbow knife, but to get 3 I'd have to order 3 sets.

I got a medium set of knives and a small set of knives.

I got the fan, the grotesques, and the roses all at dollar type stores, but in different years.

Hear no evil grotesque.

Scorpion Knives

My First SCA War Circa 1978

http://keradwc.com/1978_sca/19781021_caid_aten_war/source/3.html

 

That is me on the right in an outfit I made myself.

Juggling and Face Painting

I met a new juggler at the company picnic. Fantastic and only 15.

Me at my face painting booth.

My ex painting someone at the picnic.

'J' juggling clubs.

Vacation Highlights

I'm about to end the first phase of my working vacation. The gig went great. Four face painters, of which I was one. That was a fun day as I both entertained and was entertained by the wandering juggler, the balloon artist and the magic show.

I got to see 2 out of 3 grandkids. We all got to go to the local Renaissance Faire and drool over fine jewelry, meat pies, jousting and the best people watching on Earth. People outdid themselves with Steampunk attire, fairy wings, metal wire woven into elf ears, fancy masks and strange weaponry.
I did a little juggling and worked with the juggling sticks. I bumped into one of my belly dancing students Jenna, who now runs her own dance studio. I met her friend Gina, who also teaches belly dancing, and met her daughter who is growing like a weed. I saw another face painter named Theresa. She had the face painting booth at the faire, where I've worked before but that was years ago.

Face Painter Fayme Harper

Fancy dancing at the San Luis Obispo Renaissance Faire

The Greenman makes an appearance.

At the Renaissance Faire

My grandson in the pirate tunic I made for him.

Purple dreads.

My granddaughter's first Renaissance Faire

Double Crown Dancers do a sword dance.

I'm hoping to move back here some day.

Yesterday I saw a real deer walking past a fake deer. My daughter's house is nestled under oak trees.
I got to make a pirate outfit for my grandson to wear to the fair. My granddaughter also got a hat I made a few weeks ago. I started another monster hat for my grandson.  He enjoyed trying to play my mandolin. And my granddaughter is a sweet little thing who is teething and still happy most of the time.  I hate leaving them, but I need to get on with the rest of my vacation in Southern CA. I'm catching a train in an hour or two.

Oh and I almost forgot, my daughter signed up for ariel silks class. I got to watch her open workout class. It was full of advanced students hanging from long streams of lycra from the ceiling of a industrial workspace. It was like being in fairy tale land.

Time to get the two year old ready for the ride to the train station.  I wish he could go too. He loves trains.

When my daughter's were little I made them hats like this.

Swirly skirt

Maggie in the hat I knitted.

Happy World Juggling Day 2013

Usually I like to go to a big celebration at a park for World Juggling Day, but I don't know any jugglers now that I live out in the middle of nowhere. Hopefully it is the thought that counts.

Circus Skills Class

I'm thinking about teaching a circus skills class in Apple Valley, CA soon. It would include hooping, juggling, clown skills, costuming, and maybe unicycle if I can afford to get a new one.

 I went to a Steampunk event called Boomtown that got shut down before it opened, but I really love this canopy by the Steampunk Saloon. I wonder if they would have had circus performers inside it, or if there would have been a bar.