Sunday at the Dickens Fair

[mdlbear]

The title pretty much describes the day so far. After coffee and breakfast (yummy sourdough English muffins from our Trader Joe's expedition yesterday afternoon), we left about 9:45, stopping for gas and an attempt to pick up my cell phone, which I'd left charging at work. (The attempt was unsuccessful -- somebody had locked the back door from inside.)

Unlike last year, we didn't have to wait in the rain while they worked to get power back -- it was a lovely clear day. I gave everyone $40 for lunch and spending money, and paid the Younger Daughter two weeks' accrued allowance. Business as usual at Bank of Dad.

The faire was much less crowded than last year, and there seemed to be fewer shops. It may just have been fewer street vendors. There were also fewer and less interesting performances in the music hall. I hope this is just a temporary setback and not a trend.

The flower_cat got a pretty brass cat pin for her shawl, and she found me a great woolen cap, in a dark tweed. With a black suit coat (from a thrift store), shirt, and pants, it made a fairly respectable outfit. Respectable enough, in any case, that a tourist asked to have her picture taken with me and the Cat. (Of course the fact that the Cat's outfit was perfectly period helped a great deal.)

The kids had fun -- the chaoswolf bought presents for her assorted loves, and even the Y.D. (there for the first time) enjoyed herself. I think the kids stuck together; I know they played a couple of games of pool. In any case, they were done by a quarter of two, so in spite of the fact that we'd originally agreed to meet at 3pm, we headed for the door and were out by 2:00.

One of the better family outings.