Texas Renaissance Festival

Yesterday, Baba accompanied us to the Texas Renaissance Festival. This was the first time we had gone in a couple of years and we all had a blast. The name is a bit of a misnomer; while there are plenty of Renaissance-related things to see and do, it's not purely Renaissance themed. Rather, anything that looks or seems quasi-European from the 1200s-1600s is fair game there (as you'll see from some of the photos below). For many it's just a good excuse to let their freak flag fly.

Nearly half the people there were in costume: knights, fairies, gypsies, kings, elfs, ogre... you name it. John and Mary dressed up as well.

Maiden Mary and Sir John with one of the locals.

Mary and Baba on a giant swing (all the rides were man-powered -- no engines or electricity)

John and Meg on the spinner (also man-powered)

John, Chris and Mary on the Dragon Egg ride

Meg enjoying the scene

John getting his face painted

The results

Mary with her painted face

All 3 painted faces

Video of trip to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Seems like we make one of these videos every year. Hope you like the latest edition starring me, Mary, John, Baba and Pa.

Mary, John and Baba playing Uno

Baba is visiting this week and he and the kids have been playing a lot of games -- especially Uno.




The music, "You're My Best Poker Hand," is by T-Bone Walker, an old blues musician who was an influence on Jimi Hendrix.

Meg and Mary Ferris' Day Off

Meg and Mary are both still home today, although Mary seems a little more lively than yesterday. She woke up closer to 7 and was dressed and fed not long after that. She is essentially asymptomatic other than feeling a little more tired than usual.

The two of them have been reading together and running errands while some work is done around the house (mostly painting some of the interior rooms).

Also, happy birthday to Baba, who turns 69 today. And a belated birthday to Big Rig who marked his 79th birthday on Sunday.