Something appears to have caught Dustin's attention!
The Blacksmith's Shoppe looks busy.
This soot-covered knight is announcing an upcoming demonstration by the Master Blacksmith,Mark Kirkendall.
The smithy is pumping the bellow to stoke the fire.
The bellow appears to be quite adequate, the flames are getting bigger.
He is fusing the strands of a crane cable and then flattening it to make a knife.
I was very impressed!
As we walked past this shop, the artwork displayed within caught my eye! We ended up inside, visiting with the artist and debating the possiblities of displaying his work in our home! We had not seen this artist at the Rennfest in our 10 previous years of attendance. He was a feature artist this year. After much discussion, leaving the shop to think about it, and then returning, we made our purchases. 
Our purchases were wrapped appropriately in these burlap bags!
We hung them shortly upon returning home. We decided they needed lighting, so that was added the next day!
The artist is Gary Williams from Plano, Texas. His business is named "Shatter'd Visages". The pieces are actually made of recycled paper! He shreds paper and mixes it with water along with bleach and salt to inhibit mold growth. Leaving out several more and complicated steps, the resulting slurry is packed into a mold. This "paper casting" is covered with metallic paints to create the aged patina.
South Texas has been getting some much needed rain, but we didn't really want it the weekend we had planned to attend the Texas Renaissance Festival. Luckily, by Saturday, it was just drizzly, but the mud was still prolific!
He and I feel the same way about mud!
As always, I love the architecture of the buildings! From dark and gothic
to whimsical and colorful!
There is always plenty of entertainment!
This is Louis of "The Other Brothers". They have a hilarious juggling act!
Folks in the crowd are also entertaining!
I was bundled up! I bought the wrap, scarf and armies at the festival. My cloak isn't really all that warm. Usually, we are trying to stay cool.
Our son, Dustin, loves the Festival. Our 14-year-old didn't go this year.
By late afternoon, the sun finally made an appearance!
Well, not a real shortage of sunshine, just a shortage of it in the evenings by the time I get home! It is hard to take photos for blogging in the dark! These Marigolds definitely have the attitude of sunshine! This is a current photo. Yes, it is still warm enough for them in South Texas.
Sunlight is in its glory through the colored glass of my bottle tree!
The blue bottles are especially delightful in the sunlight.
I think St. Francis agrees that the sunlight through colored glass helps brighten the winter garden!
My Sweety's Grandmother recently went into a nursing home. After her house was broken into twice, the family began to empty the house and find new homes for many of her belongings. We are taking care of some glassware. 
My Sweety is thrilled to have his Great-Grandfather's humidor and pipe stand with a pipe.
My sweet girls love me so much, they always greet me at the gate. It can't be that they like to get food or get let out!
I found eggs in pretty shades!
We have house guests! First I noticed "spots" on my driveway. They looked suspiciously familiar. I looked over head and saw my guests. I can't tell if they are the same kind of bats that call my bathouse home. These have decided they like the louvered vent over our garage.
I now take care not to stand just outside the garage door!
With the time change and the shorter days, I haven't been able to take many photos! Well, I could use a flash, but I prefer natural light. These are photos from the photo album "archives"! They really have nothing to do with the theme of the post other than I love my chickens. And they love me--well they love the treats I give them.
Oh, yeah, the theme of this post. Umm, last Sunday, my sweety and I went on the local historical society's historical cemetary tour. Victoria Preservation Inc. has an annual cemetary tour where folks dress up and portray people that played a role in the history of our city. It has become very popular. They now have it on Friday and Saturday night instead of just Saturday night. The paths are lit with torches. The "ghosts of the past" sit near the headstone in period costume with appropriate props to reflect the life of the person. Lighting is candles, kerosene lamps or lanterns. They do an awesome job. I didn't take my camera since was already dark when we left home.
Sunday, it was rainy all day. We still need the rain, so I am not complaining about it. I did try Pioneer Woman's Bread Pudding. Wow, it is wonderful. I will definitely make it again. 
I love cardinals. My Mom also loved cardinals. Not only do I have cardinals visiting my birdfeeders, but they are also IN my house! This is one of four of our Wegner prints. We also have the Goldfinches, Indigo Buntings and Ruby-throated Hummingbird prints.
My sister-in-law gave me this chirping cardinal.
This mug belonged to my Mother.
The Home Interior Cardinals belonged to my husband's grandmother.
My mother-in-law gave this mug to me.
The Andrea Cardinal also belonged to my husband's grandmother. She collected all kinds of bird figurines.
Cardinals in the small curio cabinet.
Another Cardinal that belonged to my husband's grandmother.
This little cardinal is a magnet that attaches to glass.
My sister-in-law also gave me this shelf-sitting cardinal.
Last weekend, my sweety had to make a run to Wal-Mart for something we had run out of. He brought home some pretty flowers for me. I love the green mossy ones. Does anyone know what they are called?