Autumn Vagabonds

A Vagabond Song

THERE is something in the autumn that is native to my blood—
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.

Bliss Carman. 1861–?

August's cruel dominion has at last passed. The heat of the day now stays within far more reasonable double digits, the rain has returned to pour onto the parched land, and the wind carries with it a hint of the Winter to come.


Being that it's south Texas, I am fully aware that we will languish under 90+ degree days for likely another month, and that rain will still fall in dribs and drabs and that it's still has hot as Satan's Forehead out there... but there is HOPE, now- August always seems hopeless to me, a summer that will never end, am oppressive heat that threatens to bake everything green and living in its wake. But here comes the breeze, here comes the rain, here comes FAIRE SEASON!


In all honesty, for me, the only season it ISNT time for faire is Summer, but Autumn heralds the time when my 'real' life can resume!



Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF) opens in 32 days, and I know we are all starting to get that antsy feeling going on... that itch to get the garb out, to pack the camp gear, and GO! Work? what's work? I dont wanna work, I wanna bang on the drum all NIGHT!

Ive still got quite a bit on my plate that needs to be done for TRF, but mostly, it's stuff for me, and really, it can be done before All Hallows Eve weekend... but, still, the weather will be warm, which means wings and fun Faerie garb instead of the heavier stuff. My Mark I wings failed (the edges of the hangar came through the back pad and would cut my back) so I am attaching them to a shaped armature made of welding cane Hubby had lying around. If I could find MORE of it, I's make new wings, but, I cant find long enough lengths to really do much with, so I've mended the old wings and will attach them to the new armature with 2 part clay epoxy and JB weld, which I'll then likely cover with SOMETHING (grass, petals, I dunno) so it's *pretty*. That's my major need-to-get-done.

Otherwise, planning the meals and needs of two major camping weekends. Ive been requested to make my now 'famous' Monkey Bread opening weekend, so that means one thing there to be packed, though I think we will avoid bringing the whole kitchen if at all possible. Snacks will be in the form of dried sausage, nuts, babybels, crackers, dried fruit, etc, and for drink there's LOKI! My apple pie spce is shaping up nicely- I just always need to remember that it will be too strong for a while until it mellows the edge off the clove.



Otherwise, it's time that i start making lists, winnowing them, checking them, so we can be more than ready to go when Opening Weekend comes around!