During a busy week at work, preparing for the holiday season (and getting to make sticky toffee pudding for up front!) I got to completely make, and decorate a wedding cake all on my own (with a little bit of guidance and supervision).

Aside from all that, we’re working on Halloween so not much to report just yet!

It’s that time of the year, it’s finally starting to cool down a little and the leaves are beginning to turn. So off we go to the Texas Renaissance Fair!

I’m a little delayed in writing this, we went last weekend, alas this week has been full, of work, of building Halloween and of illness.

We set off the Friday night after work, heading to Humble to stay with some friends, we made good time (definitely went a whole lot better than leaving after class at 11pm like we did last year!) and had chance to hang out for a while before we headed to bed.

DmentD and I had planned for this year, we knew what shows we wanted to see, and at what times so we could make the most of our time there. We were up at half 7 and managed to reach the grounds just after 9. We missed the opening parade, but not by much!

We made it in costume this year, DmentD in his pirate garb, and I went in my new, fully handmade by me outfit, I was (and still am!) very proud of it, the bodice worked wonderfully and stayed comfortable throughout the entire day, the skirt was just the right length and the apron, while not really necessary, completed the look I think.

Our first show was Sound and Fury, a trio doing “Fakespear” we saw their performance of Romeo and Juliet 2.0, an adult show (well, they called it PG13). It was very funny, and well done. We all know it was scripted and rehearsed, but it was all done so smoothly it looked almost improvised, I think perhaps a couple of small sections were.

We stayed at that stage to see the next show, Arcene, a French juggling act. He was good, but I found his “pre-show” while he was waiting for everyone to arrive, more entertaining than the main show.

We then had some time to wander about and meet up with the rest of the group to grab some lunch before we headed off to see Iris and Rose.

They were hilarious, I haven’t laughed so hard! Definitely an adult show, and good fun. Apparently the last show of the day is their most raunchy.. we’ll have to try and catch that one next year!

From them we went to see the Bilge Pumps, a pirate singing group. They were fun, they sang some good songs and they had an entertaining act. Plus it was fun being targeted by the bearded old pirate *grins*

The final show of the day was Ded Bob… he was alright.. I wasn’t all that impressed by him though. Spoilt by the previous shows, I just didn’t find him funny.

It was interesting to see how in the shows, when they pick on members of the audience, it’s always people not in costume that they pick on!

Amongst all this we had a nice time wandering through all the shops and stands. Oohing at the pretty clothes, ahhing at the shiney weapons *grins* came away having just bought an ice cream though. DmentD failed at the strength test this year, he claims his costume hampered him…

We ended the day tired out, and happy, what better way can there be!

In the continuation of the theme of things and event exploding into the house, Halloween burst in this weekend making a nice big mess!

We pulled all the decorations down and started getting lights up outside, plenty more to go. Monday we designed the invites for the party, making them Tuesday and doing a mass tour of town on Wednesday. Weaving about all over the place, sneaking up to each house or apartment. Quietly placing the invite outside and sneaking off again, texting the recipient soon after saying they might wish to check their doorstep, we saw some shady characters lurking about the vicinity!

It’s fun and exciting. My first real big Halloween! Helping arrange everything, even sat in the car yesterday for three hours as we drove about was exciting and entertaining! We’ll be doing some more decorating this weekend, though obviously the big push will be for the party.

I’m also getting excited about all the seasonal foods and confections I can start making, both at work and at home. Pumpkin and spices for now, and soon it’ll be peppermint in time for the holidays.

My ren fair costume is almost finished, trimming the bodice now with ribbon and then I just have the eyelets to add. It’s not really taking all that long, I’ve just been taking my time with it.

I’ve been slacking with putting recipes up, after DmentD went through all that effort to make me the recipe page and everything. Other things just keep getting in the way.. I’ll get there eventually!

Saturday morning we were up ready for a visit to the Sunset Valley Farmers Market. It was one we had heard about, and heard good reviews for. And we had been told most definitely better than the one on 4th that we went to last year.

We went as in my search for a decent mince recipe (so I can make mince pies at Christmas) I discovered a business in town called Full English, an American man and an English woman got together and are now making ‘traditional’ English sweets and savouries. Well, of course, when I found out they were at the farmers market I had to go and test them out!

The weather wasn’t too great, somewhere between showery and pouring down! We got some pasties from them, I had the Cornish, and DmentD had the lamb (nothing as good as the Tintagel pasties, but they definitely scratched that itch). The market had moved for this week, so it was a little smaller than usual from what I gather. But we had a very nice wander round. DmentD found a new coffee to try out and I had some delicious hot spiced cider. Then on the way out we picked up a baby banana plant for the garden. Decorative, and hopefully in a year or so , fruit bearing.

Even with the rain the outing put us in such a good mood for the day, a very pleasant way to start the weekend.

Then  we were off for the start of Project Halloween. Pricing out some items for DmentD’s costume (still haven’t decided on mine) and trying to find a Spirit store for some inspiration.

We went to the matinee of Zombieland, which was everything it promised to be, spent a large portion of the film laughing. You’ll never believe the cameo they had, done so cleverly and completely unexpected!

We finished yesterday grilling some dead animal, we made burgers, and our guests made caramel apples in favour of the season!

This week has been pretty good on the whole. We went to see 9 last weekend, and I’ve been working on my bodice. It’s not actually been taking all that long if you count the hours, it’s just taken me over a week so far as I’m doing it in small spurts. It’s coming together nicely though.

Work’s going alright, we had a new extern start this week. The start of my week wasn’t too great, leaving on Tuesday feeling irritated and frustrated for several reasons, but it perked up and by the end of the week things were going well.