Happy Holidays Ren Folks!

My upright humom got very ill and had to go to the hospital (a LOT) so she didn't have time to transcribe my thoughts.  I mean what ARE her priorities?  Sassy and I made some holiday picture to share with you and here is one.

We are looking forward to SPRING and the CTRF Robin Hood Faire.  It's not that far away.

Your friend,

Un Fair(e)

Here it is, the last day of Pet Weekend and the last day of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.  Where am I? I am currently home sulking.  After anticipating this event all year, the fates have dealt a deadly blow and left me longing yet another year.  My Mom, a Royal Ambassador, has attended every Faire day except these last two -- THE VERY MOST IMPORTANT DAYS.  Just because she contracted Lyme disease and also has a wound that blossomed into blood poisioning, I am still annoyed with her.  After all, she COULD have rented a wheelchair or hospital cart.  If only I had a drivers' license. 

I missed meeting Lynda and Richard's Great Pyr Alvero and I can see that he had a good time.  Also my veterinarian Dr. Zyra was at the Faire with Briard Gavin and he had a great time too.

Meanwihile, I've had to put up with my great brat of a sister who is just no end of a pain.  Mom is stuck in bed and she is in pain so she can't take us to any of our usual fun places.

Mom told us stories of this year's faire, of the beautiful lords and ladies (including Brittany Decker, Miss Connecticut), the handsome men in kilts, the naughty Pope and Cardinal, the brave knights, the jousters, and the royal court -- King Arthur, lovely Queen, and clever Merlin.  Apparently, the Fools dueled foolishly, Zoltan was more than adequate; Jayna Lee was but a speck in the sky; the birds of prey all performed beautifully; the gypsy belly dancers were stunning and the food was magnificent.

Mom also spoke of the hilarious Lord Mandrake with his "future glasses" that were all fogged up; his beauteous wife Lady Glori, the adorable pious Brother Redbeard and the brave and strong Sir James.

But Mom's very favorite thing was meeting the wee princesses and knights who were enjoying themselves greatly.

Well, I guess you probably will not hear from me until early in 2012, when I begin to anticipate the Spring Robin Hood Faire.

I hope everyone remembers to look at the wonderful pictures of the Faire that are located on the Faire website .

Hope you all enjoy the Fall.

Your friend

Only two more weeks

This weekend in Halloween Knights at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire and the weedend after that is PET WEEKEND, YAY.  My mom told me that every single person she spoke to at the Faire said that they were having a great time (and my mom is a talker, so I guess she probably talked to a lot of people).  People were even enthusiastic though the weather was a little unappealing.

The entertainment has been fantastic and I know Mom had to leave her money and credit cards at home to keep herself from buying many beautiful new things (she especially wants to get some more custom made footware from The Slipper Lady).  Mom also discovered Dave's Mini Doughnuts and she even brought some home to us -- although I am pretty sure she ate a dozen by herself before she got these home...

On Pet Weekend, I am going to make sure to go potty at home, before I go to the Faire

Your friend

It's HERE!

I can't believe it, it's like Christmas morning has arrived.  Yesterday was the first day of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.  That means we are even closer to Pet Weekend, when I can attend the Faire myself.

My humom went to the Faire and got to visit with some former acquaintances like The Slipper Lady. Lusty Leather, House of Avalon and more.  There are some familiar entertainers who Mom likes to follow, plus a number of new entertainers. 

I remember seeing Jayna Lee last year, and her performance was astounding again this year.  I am a BIG dog and I am probably taller than and weigh more than she does.  I would like to lick her right on the nose.



Mom said, that in addition to handsome men, there were also lady jousters this year.

Today (Sunday 9/25) is the last day for the Birds of Prey exhibit.  I sure wish I could go and see the falcons hunting as they do in real life.  Mom said there is even a golden eagle.

Bye for now.  I have my own personal countdown to Pet Weekend.

Your friend

Manly men

At the Willimantic Street Festival, my Humom met one of the handsome contestants in the "men in kilts" contest.  She said his name is Anthony and he was cute, very nice and did a good job talking to the crowd about the Faire.

I looked at his picture, and this fellow must be either be very brave, or a dragon!  I have to admit he does look great in a kilt! I know my mom, my sister and their friends are voting for their favorite man in kilt at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire Men in Kilts contest

Your friend

These fellows are fun and talented!

I am really looking forward to seeing the "Dueling-Fools".  I hear that their swordsmanship is exceeded only by their wit.  My fur sister commented that Rocco and George "are just adorable", but she is easily won over by a scratch behind the ears.

Your friend

Time Travel to the Renaissance

I am, of course a DOG.  An Old English Sheepdog to be precise.  I was rescued and moved to my furever home two years ago and my life is very good (except for the dieting/exercise part). 

My humom is very strange.  She did something called "retire" and now she is with me all day almost every day.  She has always liked doing peculiar things, like participating in adventures where she gets to be somebody else.  Something called "Renaissance Faire" really tickles her fancy.

She was thrilled to be chosen to work with folks from the Connecticut Renaissance Faire and she is something called a "Royal Ambassador".

So being a DOG, I say "What's in it for ME?"  My mom says she is going to teach my sister Sassy (the little demon cur) and me all about the CT Renaissance Faire and we might even get to pawticipate!  I just know there are turkey legs involved and I am on it.

Sassy was taken to the Robin Hood Festival on pet day last Spring, and she told me how much fun it was.  Now I am really jealous.  I am a well behaved gentleman and she is a puppy brat, so how come she gets to go?

Well, I will keep you up to date as I learn new things about the  Connecticut Renaissance Faire coming up this Fall in Sept. and Oct.

Your friend,

Beautiful wares at the Faire

Shopping.  Pah! Like all boys, I complain that I don't like shopping.  However, I found that I really liked the artisans crafts that were at the Faire.
Last year, my humom bought a beautiful leather mask at the Faire.  They are made by a really nice couple in CT, Lisa and Bill Therrien who own Black Swann Masques.  One day, before the Faire opened, Bill brought a mask to the car and that's how I met him. Mom warned me that even though the masks are leather, they are NOT chewie toys for me or my sister.  That's OK, 'cause they are beautiful to look at.

This year, I am hoping to find a mask appropriate for dogs.  The Therriens bring so many beautiful masks to sell at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire and there are many other fine artisans.  I know for sure that there are dog collars for sale AND last year, I saw one artisan who had a chain mail suit for a little dog!

I think I may surprise Mom by buying a new mask for her.  Perhaps one of these?
I plan on visiting Lisa and Bill at the Faire.  (Maybe they have a scrap of old leather I could have as a chewie...)

Your friend

New Friends Meet at Pet Weekend

So exciting.  I made new dog friends that are also involved in the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.  I already introduced you to Alvero the handsome Pyr who goes to the Faires.




Now I would like to introduce you to Gavin a handsome Briard whose humom is Sassy and my veterinarian.  Gavin actually won the pet costume contest last year.  Gavin seems to have traded smooches for votes....

Check out the special events and the Pet Weekend description.  Pets can attend the Faire on 10/15 and 10/16 and don't absolutely HAVE to wear a costume BUT there are PRIZES involved in the Doggone Costume Contest.  This year the competition caregories are: Scariest Costume; Most Complete Costume; Silliest Costume.

Only a few Days 'til the Faire!

Oh boy, I am really excited!  The Connecticut Renaissance Faire website has  been completely updated. There is a schedule of current events for this year, and for the next weeks, I am going to tell you about my own personal favorites.  My friend Alvero may also be commenting.

Other than eating (more about that later), one of my very favorite CTRF events is JOUSTING!   There are armored knights on horseback trying to knock each other off with colored lances.  (I like knocking things over myself).  At the end of the day, there is a big final joust and EVERYBODY goes.  I like to think that the horses are leaving me special gifts on the field but Mom says that "horse apples are not edible".

Maybe one of the Knights will ride ME.  I am exactly the same size as my friend's miniature horse.  Maybe a tiny person could ride me.  I like to show everyone how brave I am.

I am off to move the deer away from Mom's plants, but I will keep  you up to date on my personal CTRF itinerary.

Your friend,

I am not alone

I just found a picture of Alvero's humom and she seeems to be just as silly as my mom.  At least SOMEBODY else knows how humiliating it is for a young lad to have a Mom that still plays dress-up.  Alvero's mom is beee - u -ti -ful, but her taste in creatures to hug, well, I just don't know.

I knew I was SPECIAL, but....

Have I told  you that my humom is a geek?  She is such an embarrassment to me.  She LOVES to play "dress up" and attend public events that emulate a different time period.  Her special favorites are the Renaissance events.  She likes the events so much, she has become a Connecticut Renaissance Faire "Royal Ambassador".  

Being a Royal Ambassador means she gets to be even sillier than usual (and that's saying a lot).  She gets to be a cheerleader for the Faire AND she gets to attend the Faires AND she gets to wear her costumes AND she gets to just go up to Faire guests and talk to them.

AND guess what?  I get to go to the Faire also!  Mom will have to forgive me for the incident where she was dressed as Mother Nature and I thought her staff was a tree and I christened it. OOPS.  You can see from the picture my mistake was justified.

I will be speaking to you again.  I want you to help me convince Mom that I do NOT need to wear a costume.

I also will introduce you to my friend Alvaro who lives with Lynda who is also a Royal Ambassador.  Alvaro and I are Royal Ambassadors by proxy and we are SPECIAL!

Your friend,

Please consider being a Royal Ambassador

It would make me so happy if some of you would consider becoming Royal Ambassadors, that way my humom wouldn't be the only mom who dresses funny, talks funny and acts wierd.  At least I'll have a plausible explanation for part of the year.
Some of you in pawticular (and you know who you are) are always attending Faires with Mom, just think how much fun it would be if you were all Ambassadors.
Just in case, I put the information HERE.

Your friend,

Introducing my friend ALVERO!

I am so lucky, I have a guy-friend whose humom is also a Connecticut Rennaissance Faire Royal Ambassador!  His name is Alvero and he is a very handsome Great Pyrenees boy who was rescued from Texas.

It's so neat that Great Pyrenees (aka Pyr) were bred to be livestock guardians, and Old English Sheepdogs (aka OES) were bred to be herding dogs.  I think between the two of us we have the Faire Crowd control covered.

More on Alvero and his humom later.

Your Friend