Magic and Fairies and Pixie Dust

Ask any child their favorite part of the Bristol Renaissance Faire, and chances are, they'll tell you the fairies. Ask any photographer their favorite subject at the faire, and the answer just might be the same. It can't just be me, can it?

There is something so magical about the Fantastikals. I honestly forget I'm a menopausal, retired school teacher if fairies are nearby. Somehow the heat seems less hot in the Fairie Glen, and the humidity less oppressive. When I am watching the fairies through the lens of my camera, my heart slows, and I find myself smiling. 

It's easy to believe in magic and fairies and pixie dust when immersed in the world of the Fantastikals. There is a certain magic in that shady glen that for many of us helps us suspend reality, and if only for the time that we're there, makes us feel like children again.

Heat Got Ya Down?

Gramercy to Odorferious ThunderBottom for the kind use of his portrait.

The Bristol Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin is in full swing in the summer. My husband and I go every single weekend, if possible. With all my heart, I wish this faire were in the fall or spring, but alas, it is not, and it is so hot.

Heat and humidity are not my friends, and both are in abundance during the summer in the midwest. Nothing zaps my energy faster than being outside when the humidity is at 99% with no chance of rain.


Last year at the Bristol Renaissance Faire, I had a bad experience on a hot, sunny day that required first aid. I was physically exhausted, and my thinking was cloudy. It was hard to answer my husband's questions. Chuck knew something was really wrong when he told me we needed to get help, and I began to cry.


The safety and security team determined I was overheated, and treated me for dehydration. They gave me sips of Gatorade, and had me lie down on a stretcher in an air-conditioned room. They placed ice-cold, wet towels around my neck, and on my chest and head. I don't know how long I was there, but I never wanted to leave. I just wanted to sleep, and stay in that air-conditioned room.

It seems that ever since then, I am more susceptible to crashing during our long days at the faire. Bristol friends who've experienced these same symptoms have to endure more extreme conditions than I, while wearing layers of heavy Renaissance costumes; one friend compared it to wearing an upholstered sofa. They don't just sit in the shade, fanning themselves; they march in parades, dance, and perform. 

You might not DIE from the heat at Bristol, but by following the handy tips below, you will feel
a lot more comfortable.

You probably won't DIE from the heat at Bristol, but by following the handy tips below, you will have a much better time, and feel a lot more comfortable. 

These are some of the tips they have recommended to stay hydrated, and keep up electrolyte levels. 

Dandy Goodwell has been known to double up on the shade.

1. AVOID BEING IN DIRECT SUN. This is a no-brainer. (See what I did there, Kendall?) Seek out shade; there are many shows that have added sunscreens the last couple of years, and there are benches where you can rest under shady trees throughout the park. 

The Bristol Big Gulp

2. HYDRATE WITH FLUIDS. Refill your mug often at the water fountains. 

3. REPLENISH ELECTROLYTES. My brother Kevin is a medical professional, and he let me know while fluids are important, so are electrolytes. Our family P.A. said by drinking lots of plain water, I may actually be flushing too many electrolytes out of my system, which can cause me to feel sick. 

Take electrolyte tablets, or enjoy an electrolyte enhanced drink like Gatorade or Powerade from a drink vendor. Friends of Faire passes are available, and will provide you with unlimited water and Gatorade, in a shady garden area. Many friends recommend coconut water, V-8, Bloody Mary mix (sans vodka), and tomato juice, in addition to water. I've started PRE-hydrating the day before, and the morning of faire, drinking V-8 and Propel water with electrolytes. 

My favorite Ren Twins

3. EAT A DILL PICKLE. It may sound silly, but it really can help. "...Dehydration and indigestion - two of the most typical health issues out there - are both mitigated with a crisp, cool cucumber soaked in vinegar. So go ahead and chow down." (L.A. Times)

4. DRINK PICKLE JUICE, IF YOU NEED FAST ELECTROLYTES. "Yes, it turns out that pickle juice has hydrating qualities comparable to popular sports drinks. In fact, the electrolytes found in the briny juice can hydrate your body after intense physical exertion faster than the average sports drink." (from www.stack.com) 

And yes, those lovely young people who sell pickles will share pickle juice with you; you just have to have a cup/mug. They always appreciate tips, you know. HUZ-ZAH to the TIP-PAH!

Jason Smith, personal trainer.

5. EAT FLUID-DENSE FOODS. This tip is from Jason Smith, a personal trainer, and a member of the "Brute Squad," officially known as the Safety and Security Team at Bristol: "To recover and replenish your bodies without attempting to drown yourself in fluids, eat watermelon, tomatoes, oranges, and cucumbers/pickles. They are all fluid dense, but also possess copious amounts of electrolytes and other important micronutrients for recovery. Add them into your diet, and your body will thank you." I honestly hadn't considered that certain foods could help with hydration and electrolyte replenishment.

Laura loves her bodice chiller, and keeps it filled with ice.

6. COOL OFF WITH ICE AND WATER. I've put ice cubes against my skin, and enjoyed cooling water on my hands and neck. Bodice chillers, like my friend Laura's, pictured above, are available at the glass blower's shop at the faire.

7. REST IN THE SHADE. Don't overdo it with physical exertion. Find a shady spot, and enjoy a show. Rest every once in awhile.

8. COOL OFF WITH A FAN. Many patrons and cast members carry fans. These are available from different merchants on site. (Perhaps not as large as the ones pictured, but they will get the job done.)

9. SEEK FIRST AID. If you've given it the old "Queen's College Try," and the heat takes you down anyway, find one of the friendly people holding the bright yellow flags. The Safety and Security Team will get you the help you need to feel better. Don't wait, and don't be embarrassed. Their job is to keep us all safe and healthy, and they do it very well. 


The cast and crew at the Bristol Renaissance Faire know the ropes when it comes to staying hydrated, and replenishing electrolytes. I'd like to thank our friends for sharing your experience and tips with me. Hopefully, we can all do a better job of taking care of ourselves during these hot summer months. 

You can bet there is plenty of ice in that mug.

Magda is happily hydrated.

You'd expect BIG to have a BIG mug.

Pickles are pretty popular.

HUZZAH FOR HYDRATION!

Sunday Funday

PLEASE NOTE: My last blog post was about the importance of being RUTHLESS when it comes to editing/deleting/sharing photographs. Well, today I have to confess there's gonna be a lot of RUTH up in here. I was not RUTHLESS in my photo selection, so I guess I'm being RUTHFUL by sharing photos that would not meet with Chuck's criteria for a good photograph. I am using these pictures without my kids' permission, and without Chuck's authorization, and I might get myself in some hot water, but they say it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission, so...

I must say in Chuck's defense, the reason you would not have seen these photos if I had not taken it upon myself to share them, is because he only likes to share photos that are pleasing to the eye and flattering to the subject. Many of the pictures I will share with you today are not doing me or my family any favors, but y'all! These are too fun not to share. 

Here, I'll go first. This photo is not tack-sharp, and it is not a glamour shot, by any means, but look how much fun I'm having. Chuck captured some of my favorite, favorite memories from our trip to Utah. If you are one of my kids, and you are thinking you might not be able to forgive me for sharing a picture of you laughing your head off, then would you stop reading now so I can keep having your undying devotion? Please; it means so much to me.

Now for our regularly scheduled blog post:

A Wonderful, Flattering Photograph
Photo Credit: Chuck Bennorth

Whether you are looking for something fun to do on a Sunday or not, I think you and your tribe might really enjoy these games we played with our family in Utah: Telestrations and Bandu. And no, I am not being paid to endorse any products; I just felt like telling you about some fun, family-friendly games!

Another Wonderful, Flattering Photograph
Photo Credit: Chuck Bennorth

My son Dylan and his wife have a weekly tradition of Sunday Funday. This summer we enjoyed a Sunday Funday with them in Saint George when we all got together the week of Bridger and Joscelyne's wedding. Having all eight of us together, plus two of the granddogs, sure made for some happy memories for this old mom.

Elle the Frenchy and Rocky the Boxer

It was a hot, hot Sunday afternoon, and none of us wanted to be outside in the heat of southern Utah, so we decided to have a game day. Dylan and Jamie taught us how to play Telestrations (based on the old game of "Telephone," with the added hilarity of DRAWING the word instead of whispering it to the next person so they can relay the information to the next player). 

The basic game was perfect for us; 8 players for ages 13 and up. (If you have younger children who want to play, I think they'd have a blast, as long as they are readers.) 

The Board Game Family has a great review of Telestrations, and I have to agree with their one recommendation: buy the Party Pack so up to 12 players can join in the fun. It really is a great game.

After borrowing the game Bandu from our neighbors more times than we want to admit, Chuck and I finally bought it for ourselves.  Bandu is a stacking game with the added intrigue of bidding, which has its effects on strategy and outcome. We bought the game to play with our kids in Illinois when they come to visit, and to take to Utah to play with our kids there. 

Why yes, I was standing on a barstool to take this picture.

Bandu is a game for 2-6 players, and is recommended for ages 12 and up. There are 54 wood pieces, and 30 bidding beans in the box. One game can be played in 15-30 minutes, but plan on taking longer than that. It's so fun, we've always played several games during a sitting. For a review of the game and playing instructions, check out this article at Geeky Hobbies. 

Judging from the smiles and laughter, I think our kids like Telestrations and Bandu. And judging from the furrowed brows and looks of concentration, I think there is just enough brain power and creativity needed for both games to hold their interest. 

Nice capture of Braedon! See, not all of them are silly shots that shouldn't be shared.
Photo Credit: Chuck Bennorth

See? Aren't these great shots?

Maybe not Facebook profile pic material, but fun, right? Maybe not...

I'm pretty confident Sisi won't care. She loves to make silly faces.

See, Jamie? A nice photo to make up for the laughing one. I love both of the pics. I love you!

It's hard to find an unflattering picture of Miss Josce. She'll have to settle for a nice one.
Photo Credit: Chuck Bennorth

I love when my kids are laughing.

When tears are being wiped from eyes, we know we're having some serious fun.

Proud Bandu tower builder right there.

Did I go too far? I hope not. It was all in good fun.
Seriously, if you want to laugh and have a good time,
check out the games Bandu & Telestrations.

The Importance of Being Ruthless

Last Saturday, I took 951 photos at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Today I set a goal to limit myself to five images to share with you. Only five? Holding myself to a higher standard is hard, y'all. You see, I really like most of the pictures I take because I really like the people in the pictures.

When I look back at some of my earlier photo albums, I cringe just a little. Not at the memories, but at some of the photos I deemed worthy of saving. It seems that the more I know about photography, the more I realize there is to learn.

Ever since I met Chuck, I have been in awe of his camera skills. He is constantly seeking out knowledge to improve his art. He reads books and articles, listens to podcasts and watches YouTube tutorials. He talks to other photographers, and asks lots of questions. 

Do you want to know one of the most important lessons I am learning from Chuck? The critical editing skill is deleting all of the mediocre shots. 

Delete, delete, delete.

Chuck and I talk about deleting. Often. I still struggle to delete pictures of people I love. Delete my husband? Our children? The grandbabies? Our good friends? I will admit; it's been a painful process for me. 

Chuck once teased, "Ya gotta be ruthless; I tell ya. Ruthless. There shall be no Ruth in this house." Hearing my meek-mannered, gentle husband talking about ruthlessness makes me smile. 

What if the picture is of one of my favorite humans, but it's just not that flattering? Delete.

What if I'm learning a new technique, and I almost nailed it, but not quite? Delete.

What if the image is one of our canine companions, but the lighting is all wrong, and no amount of editing makes it look pleasing to the eye? Delete.

But what if it's the only picture I took of my grandma with my older son before she died, and it is not tack-sharp? KEEP IT! Look, sometimes a photographer has to have a heart; there are some moments that need to be memorialized, even if they're not exactly frame-worthy. 

As time went on, and I watched my husband delete pictures I would have been proud to have taken, I learned that one reason Chuck's photo albums are full of powerful images is he deletes the borderline shots, the weaker images, and the ones that don't meet his criteria. He would rather post one fantastic photo from an event than ten mediocre ones. 

A young man asked me at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin if we share all the pictures we take. I laughed. No, not even close. I used to share many more than I do, but I am learning to be more selective. Patrons and cast members might be aware of photographers pointing their cameras at them, and they might hope to see those pictures on Facebook later, but through no fault of their own, the pictures might not make the photographer's cut. 

On any given faire day, we take close to 1,000 shots. When we look through the images the first go round, we eliminate half of them immediately. There are times when someone walked in front of our subject, or the settings were wrong, or when our subject blinked or pulled back their head, creating an unflattering extra chin or two; all of those get the axe. We really do try to show people at their best. 

Now it is a standing joke when we sit down at our computers to begin the daunting task of editing our photos after a full day of shooting. 

"Be ruthless. There's no room for Ruth. Get Ruth outta here."

This year I've been challenging myself to limit how many photos I share from an outing or an event. So not only am I deleting lots of pictures, I'm being more selective about which ones I share. Out of 400 pictures during a Coffee and Cameras morning with Susan, I will sometimes set a limit of 12, or I might allow myself a baker's dozen. 

After a weekend at the faire, and knowing I took close to 2,000 photos, I've been trying to limit myself to posting 50 shots from each day. It is challenging because I know how much time and energy our friends put into their costumes, and playing their part in extreme weather conditions. Their small reward sometimes is a nice portrait of themselves, doing what they do best. 

Huzzah for ruthlessness!

Even though I never thought I'd have a goal to be more ruthless, I am beginning to see when it comes to editing, that's just what I need to be: RUTHLESS.

Rainy Days and Mondays

How could I make this Monday the best day ever, I wondered as I backed the car out of the garage into a light drizzle of rain. There had to be a silver lining in the dark clouds of this morning. I had woken up at 3:30 with a headache, but hey, at least I slept past two, which is always a plus. And the rain? My dead lawn would welcome every drop, so I would try to do the same.

Heading to the Kane County Courthouse for jury duty, I tried to put a positive twist on the morning, so far. Since I was up before the sun, I'd been able to linger over my coffee and do some reading. There was time to edit photos and snuggle with Bristol. Since the jury dress code was business casual, I chose a simple dress, lightweight jacket, and nice leather, open-toed slides. 

Chuck would be working from home, and rather than focus on the fact that we wouldn't really see much of each other, at least he wouldn't have to worry about that miserably long commute today, and he would be home when I returned. 

Even though I was initially flabbergasted that the memo from the juror website said cell phones were not allowed, I'd selected a couple of books I would enjoy reading if things got slow while I was waiting. It was barely raining when I parked the car, so I left my umbrella in the car with my cell phone. 

There was a steady stream of people exiting the courthouse when I walked in at quarter to eight. How early did that place open anyway? The line for the metal detector was growing, but the line for the jury selection was stretching farther and farther down the hall. Going to jury selection was like going to the airport without the fun anticipation of a vacation. But I was trying to find a positive perspective, wasn't I? 

When the women in front of me engaged in conversation, I happily joined them. Pretty soon it was evident that the steady stream of people leaving the courthouse were being turned away from jury selection. Oh, that I could be that lucky. 

"Someone dropped the ball," I overheard the bailiff say to another potential juror. No one should have been called in for jury duty today. We were told to call tonight to find out if we have to report tomorrow. When I think of all the schedules that had to be rearranged, and the general inconvenience, I decided I'd just be grateful I work for a very understanding family who will manage without my babysitting, if need be. 

A group of people had gathered in front of the glass doors of the courthouse, watching as a mid-summer storm poured down on the sidewalk. I kicked off my shoes, put them in my small tote, and pushed open the door. It had been awhile since I'd splashed through puddles in bare feet, or had felt rain pelt my head. I stopped scurrying, and just tucked my bag under my jean jacket. The water was running in a small stream along the cement curb. By the time I got to the car, my hair was flat and dripping, and my shoulders were wet. I smiled at the sight of myself in the rearview mirror.

Do you know what I love almost more than planned adventures? I adore canceled plans; especially those that may not have been considered very fun in the first place. I went home, hugged my husband who was busily working at his computer, and took Bristol upstairs for a nap. 

There is some disagreement about how long I actually slept, but the first time I woke up at noon, I was in a state of panic. I knew I needed to be somewhere today, but when I saw Bristol sleeping beside me, I knew it wasn't morning. Eventually my brain slowed down enough to realize I'd just startled myself from a very deep sleep. I texted Chuck that I was slowly waking up, and I fell back to sleep. For awhile. A very long while, according to the hubster.

The afternoon that I thought would be spent in a stuffy courtroom has actually passed pleasantly at home with Chuck, working at our computers with the puppies nearby. This rainy day and Monday did not get me down. There were many silver linings to be found in the grey clouds of this rainy day.

P.S. My day just got even better! I have been excused from jury selection at this time. My services will not be needed. Woo-hoo!