If you’ve never been to a Renaissance festival or faire, you may have acquired some strange ideas about what is involved. I just want to encourage you to give it a try if you never have, and I want to share some tips on how to get the most out of your experience! Renaissance faires are usually set during the reign of either Queen Elizabeth I or King Henry VIII and employ performers, artisans, food service people, grounds crew, and more.

Misconceptions

• You will see people in various types of period clothing, but keep in mind that a renfest is not a park full of men in tights and women in corsets, talking in strange accents and trying to force you to do the same. There are many levels of participation, and while some enthusiasts may not appreciate it, there are often just as many people in normal, present-day clothing as there are people in costume. Remember also that those are costumes. These people don’t dress that way all-year-round.
• No one is going to bite your head off for speaking in plain old modern English. In fact, they won’t even look at you strangely.
• If renfest-ers are strange for enjoying the experience, at least they’re nice weirdos. I’ve found that the vast majority of people I’ve run into at our local Renaissance Faire are very friendly people. You’d be hard pressed to find an unkind face there. It’s always a laid-back, fun day.
• There is more to do than simply watch a joust! Have you ever ridden an elephant? Have you tried your hand at archery? Have you tasted mead? These are just a few examples of fun things to try.

Getting the Most

My husband told me from the beginning, and I now tell you, that to get the most from a renfest, you really should allow yourself to participate. As much as you’re comfortable, at least. Here are some tips:

1. Wear period clothing if possible. The faire we go to has a costume rental just inside the entrance, where you can stop and be fitted for an outfit. They come in all sizes. I was worried about being too big, but they have sizes way larger than mine! Last year, I wore my own flowy divided skirt and rented just a blouse and vest, and it worked very well. This year, I’m wearing my own clothes, but we’re going to stop at one of the other costume shops inside the faire to look for a blouse to purchase. That way I’ll be able to enjoy going to the faire multiple times this year without worrying about costume rental. Your costume doesn’t have to be extravagant or uncomfortable, but it will help you get in the mood and to enjoy the spirit of the events. Have you ever wondered what people wore during that time period? What would it feel like to wear that clothing? I was very, very hesitant the first time, but I enjoyed it immensely!

2. Drink some mead. I know, I know. I don’t like beer either. And the mead is not much better. But a small cup is something you have to try at least once!

3. Eat a turkey leg, or at least part of one. Messy? Yes. Too much protein for one person? I’d say so. But there’s something goofy and fun about walking around in costume biting off chunks from a turkey leg. I don’t know how to explain it.

4. Visit the shops and watch the shows. It’s pretty fun to see glass being blown, bare-chested, fire-eating men, and belly dancers. Cheering for the jousters may be your thing, or trying  your knife-throwing skills. There’s a lot to do! Take your time and visit any interesting-looking shops. (One of my husband’s favorites is the shop that sells liquid candy tube things.)

5. People-watch. Yeah, there’s a lot to see and do, and you can keep moving all day and do  it all. But there’s also something fun about sitting down for a while and watching the other renfest-ers. Watch them interact, look at their costumes, and give your legs a break. You won’t be missing out; people-watching is, in my opinion, just as much a part of the experience as all the rest.

Scarborough Faire

Our local renfest is called Scarborough Faire, and it runs from April 10 – May 31 this year in Waxahachie, TX. If you’ve never been, I’d highly recommend it! They’re open on weekends, aside from that last Monday. Memorial Day is a big deal, and the last day to go.

Have you been to Scarby or maybe another renfest? What’s your favorite part of the experience? Or least favorite? If you’ve never been, why not?? Let me know in the comments!

“A love-hate relationship is a personal relationship involving simultaneous or alternating emotions of love and enmity.”
– Wikipedia

I have a love-hate relationship with the Army. How the Army feels about me, I can never quite determine. Maybe the simultaneous contradictory feeling is mutual, for all I know.

Hate

Sometimes, I hate the Army. My husband would probably argue that sometimes is actually most of the time because I definitely complain about the Army much more than I brag on it or praise it. When I do hate it, I downright loathe it. I’ll tell you, the emotions can get pretty intense during these times. What has the Army ever done to me, you ask? Plenty.

1. The Army owns my husband. I come second after the Army; I don’t really have first dibs on him. When the Army chooses the flaunt this, I can get pretty catty.

2. The Army mistreats my husband. How can I take care of him when he’s constantly coming home with new wounds and problems? Tell me that, Army!! I try to get him caught up on his rest, and then you go and deprive him of sleep again!

3. The Army is too fickle. Make up your mind! Are they coming home at 0730, noon, or 2100? Does he get weekends off or not?

4. The Army strings us both along, promising things, and when we begin to suspect it may never deliver, they give us another bit of hope to keep us going. Sometimes, I don’t think the Army intends to deliver on its promises at all!

Plus Love

On the other hand, I do love the Army, sometimes. More than you might think! When I love it, I could go to tears thinking of life without it.

1. The Army pays our bills, like any faithful employer should. In fact, the Army’s regularity in this area is most pleasing. It’s never late.

2. The Army gives us security. We can’t get rid of the Army, no matter how bad we might want to at times. It’s always going to be there, and while it may seem fickle, it’s in many ways one of the most constant things in our lives. Even its fickleness is steady and constant, like a security blanket (or teddy, or hippo).

3. The Army takes care of our basic needs. Sure, it gets to decide whether other things are important or not, but the basic needs we have for food, shelter, and medical care, are taken care of, always.

4. The Army actually has a useful purpose. It can be hard to remember, when caught up in day-to-day life as a soldier or a soldier’s wife, but the Army does have a purpose, and serves that purpose well. Our country would probably be in bad shape without it.

Equals Army Wife Life

All of this together makes up a big portion of life as an Army wife. These last two weeks, as my husband was gone yet again for training, I had moments when I cried about how much I hated the Army and moments when I cried about how much I love the Army. Imagining life without it is hard, now. I pray for God to help us through this time in the Army, and to help us through the time when we have to face life without it!

Would you like to add in any reasons you love and/or hate the Army? Or do you, perhaps, have a love-hate relationship with someone (or something) else that you’d like to share?

We started a vlog! I may not have gone through with it if it weren’t for the fact that my husband turned out to be just as interested in the project as I am! So, we’re starting/have started a joint vlog!

What & Why?

We’re vlogging about life. I don’t promise that there will be a video for every day, but I do promise that the vlogs will chronicle our days. They won’t be super fancy, but hopefully they will be entertaining. You’ll see a lot more of me than of him, as he’s gone a lot for Army business. I want to give a feel of every day life in our shoes (as soldier and Army wife) as we go through crazy training schedules, friends getting married, selling Avon, deployments, and potty-training (you’ll just have to watch to find out what that’s all about!)

Where?

We’re posting the videos on YouTube, on my channel: www.youtube.com/ocipura. You can see that there are already several uploaded! As yet, there is no regular posting schedule.

Help Me Out!

You can really help me out by encouraging me and showing your interest, both here and on YouTube, for one thing. For another, give me some feedback about whether you think I should include videos in my blog posts, as in embedded, or not. I was thinking that I should just include a link to the most recent vlog at the bottom on my blog posts! What do you think?

Do you have a vlog, about Army life or something else?

Tumbles: Thank you for this clean towel. Don’t worry, I’ll lick it clean again before you put it away.

As far as I know, this trend started with the blog His Birdie’s Nest, but it’s growing more popular in Army wife blogs across the board. I decided I really wanted to jump on this bandwagon. So here are this Friday’s Five things I love about my husband!

1. I love that you call me “Love.”

2. I love that you offered to help me with some Avon stuff when you get home.

3. I love your idea for making the camp appear flooded by bringing dixie cups full of water from the creek.

4. I love that you need to hear my voice when we’re apart.

5. I love the workspace you set up for me in the newly cleaned Junk Room.

I’ve made this soup twice, and I love it. I think it’s now my favorite soup! It’s very easy to make, as well. I love curry, having grown up with it, so if you don’t like Indian food or curry, you may not find this as delicious as I do.

Ingredients

• 2 cubes Beef Bouillon
• 1-2 lbs Beef Tips (I haven’t measured what I use; I just try to fit as much in as I can!)
• 2-3 tsp Curry Powder
• 1 can Diced Tomatoes with juice (or equivalent fresh tomatoes)
• 2 tbsp Flour
• 1 clove Galic, minced, or ¼ tsp Garlic Powder
• ¼-½ tsp Ground Pepper (red or black!)
• 1 Medium Onion, chopped
• Salt, to taste
• Vegetables (Recommended: 2 sliced potatoes, and/or 3 chopped carrots. You may alternatively try peas or another vegetable you enjoy!)
• 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 2 cups Water

Directions

1. Put flour in a large bag along with your thawed beef tips. Shake to coat the tips with flour.

2. Over medium heat, combine oil and curry powder in saucepan. Allow the oil to heat up, very gently frying the curry. This brings out the flavor, or so I’ve read.

3. Add the onions and beef tips, stirring constantly, allowing them to brown slightly.

4. When beef is slightly browned, add water and bouillon, then your other spices (salt, pepper, garlic). Allow the water to come to a slow boil, then reduce to a simmer.

5. Stirring occasionally, allow soup to simmer about a half hour, then add your remaining vegetables. Make sure the temperature is high enough to maintain a simmer or a very slow boil for another 30-60 minutes. Continue stirring occasionally to make sure it does not stick to the bottom, and the mix the flavors together.

6. Before serving, check the beef to see that it is cooked properly. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed only after the meat is cooked. If too much of the water boils off, you may try simmering with the lid on, or you can simply add more water. I’ve found that the beef usually comes out very tender! This should serve 3-4 people!

Tumbles is available for all your last minute tax-filing needs.

Hours April 14th 0900-0930, 1030-1200, 1300-1315, 1400-1445*

April 15th Please request appointment

*Hours subject to change based on napping/feeding schedule.