Weekends are for... reconnecting with old friends in North Carolina

and also for making new ones

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Just a few quick pictures.

This event in North Carolina was definitely the best Renaissance Festival

we've ever been to... and we've been to a few!

They have permanent structures built in a huge area,

with self-powered (medieval) amuzement type rides,

lots of vendors, games, 10 theatre stages, even camel and elephant rides...

A day was not enough for this place.

Good thing it's open for 7 weeks out of the year

every weekend in October and November.

I have a feeling we'll be back!

Labor Day on the Outer Banks

So, it was a wonderful week at the Outer Banks...

We arrived less than 24 hours after Hurricane Earl,

but by the 3rd day the ocean had calmed down and swimming was allowed

which we did much of, on various beaches...

we also sailed, walked giant sand dunes, and introduced Caleb to minigolf -

the dinosaur-inhabited variety -

and we ate seafood every day.

There are many more pictures, which

I will try to post in the coming days,

as I have time.

Hope you enjoy these for now.

The Outer Banks is beautiful...

A Step Back in Time

A couple of weeks ago, we spent the weekend at the North Carolina Renaissance Faire. I think it's time I posted some pictures of our trip.

We always enjoy historical events, and this time we got to step back 400 years in time to the days of Queen Elizabeth I. We were entertained by Celtic musicians, jugglers, dog shows, fairy camps, duals on horses, knights engaged in sword fighting, children's dragon tales, and bagpipe concerts, among other things. Of course, Caleb engaged in much singing, dancing, dragon flying, pony riding, and sand trap running (the event was held on an old golf course). He emerged from the weekend with a new sword and a flying dragon, and the newfound ability to challenge us anytime by calling for a "sword fight!"

Here are a few of the photos I took at the Faire. And even though I am personally not in any of them, I promise you, I really was there.