Entering the asylum

So... the last few posts have been about our trip to Scarborough Renaissance Festival. I mentioned that it's interesting looking at the different period costumes people wear. Mrs. Doohickie has always admired period dress, and we decided it's time to splurge. So just like Cinderella, she got ready for the ball. First, we went to a dress shop where she picked out a pretty blue form-fitting gown. Here she is trying it on:



I decided to try an artsy picture in the mirror, but one of the girls in the store noticed what I was up to:



So I asked

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who's of the fairest one of all?

She's obviously quite fit for sales, because this was her answer:



So now she had her pretty period dress. But the white sneakers she wore just didn't go with it. So we went to the moccasin shop where one of the clerks helped her try some on:



Oops! They don't call this place Boobfest for nothing! Anyway, where was I? One of the clerks yadda yadda yadda...



But now her escort was dressed entirely inappropriately. So I had to get some period clothes too. Here's a picture of the two of us after I got a new smock, some new britches and some new shoes.



So I guess that means the two of us are getting sucked into the asylum.

More fun at the Renaissance Festival

They had all the things you would expect at Scarborough Faire. They have a pretty good recreation of a joust with knights on horses and everything.





They have other animals as well. There's an elephant that you can ride (if you have enough money). Where they keep the elephant happens to be next to the line outside the Ladies room. I guess there's a joke there somewhere...



They also have camels.



You can ride the camels too.



And then,

there's

NOOBLER!



Noobler the Tinkergnome is probably the strangest guy I saw all day. Noobler (the guy on the right) is this strange little elfin guy that either huffs helium all day or has had his vocal cords surgically shortened. Maybe he's a eunuch. Who knows?

He greets small children, introducing himself and offering to shake hands. When a kid extends his or her hand, he grabs it and sings a silly little song,

N-double-O-B-L-E-R, Noobler!
N-double-O-B-L-E-R, Noobler!
All you need is a curly hat,
Curly toes and a butt that's fat
N-double-O-B-L-E-R, Noobler!
That's me! What's your song?

Note: These are not my videos, but this is Noobler!


It pretty much freaks out most of the little ones.

Speaking of little ones.... I noticed a trend. When mom and dad are in period dress, and they have a stroller, dad gets stuck pushing the stroller. Look at this guy coming to see Noobler:


Here's another example:


Finally! Someone found a period-accurate stroller!

Renaissance Faire

So my younger son wanted to go to Scarborough Renaissance Festival with some of his friends and asked if we could drive. Once we got there, my son and his friends ran off and it was just Mrs. Doohickie and I, and a chance to enjoy the faire.

I like going to the faire. You see a different slice of life there. For instance I kind of like the costumes the people wear...


Hello up there!


Some lovely ladies


A very distinguished couple


Queen Elizabeth herself!

Also, you get to see how people did things back then...

The glassblower:






The blacksmith:




The harp player:


You get to see where the fairies bought their chili peppers:

Wait a minute... Fairies? Chili peppers? Okay, so they're not historically accurate all the time.

It's a great place to people-watch though.