Vakkotaur

It seems like I spent most of the day talking to, or listening to, rillaspins but there was more to the day than that. I might not have done all that much in the way of watching acts, but I had fun with what I did do.

I got started a bit later than planned, so I didn't see how the opening ceremonies were done without the King, but I'd heard later that it was pretty much the same concept as last year, only with just the Queen. Also, the trumpeters supposedly actually played some music rather than just fanfares. I might try to see (and hear) that at least once this year.

Once inside, I was making my way to Rilla's grove and encountered the unicorn as I did. I had to play a bit and scritch the unicorn and "kiss" her hoof - that got a good reaction from her. I don't know if anyone was watching, so if there was any more reaction, I didn't see it. This was repeated later in the day when I saw the unicorn again and I was told that was the new person learning how to go about things. The second time we weren't in a crowd and I heard the handler compliment the unicorn on her silent interaction. I did not try to make off with the unicorn as in a previous year...

I had the feeling that I had forgotten something. I had. There were some photos from Siouxland that I intend to give to Mistress Bawd. They completely slipped my mind until I was talking with Rilla. I'll have to find those photos this week and have them ready for next weekend.

There was a new street bit this year. Or at least I saw one new street bit yesterday. There might well have been much more, but I was in or near Rilla's grove most of the day. In this bit two fellows hold up a canvas hung from a horizontal pole. On this canvas is a picture of two large draft horses who've been dubbed Chestnut and Buttermilk. There are two cutouts so it's a bit where you can get your picture taken (your or your friends' camera) as a horse. But that's not all, folks. Then they turn it all around and it's a picture of two horses from the other end, tails up flying in the breeze. It's surprising how many people are willing to have their picture taken that way. There were a couple couples who wanted their picture taken but didn't have a third member of the party and one person can't hold up the canvas alone, so I got drafted into taking a couple pictures. One guy tried to tip me (did I look like part of the bit? I may have.) and eventually I just accepted - and then put that in the tip basket since I wasn't part of the bit, at least not officially. Not that I didn't have my fun with it, too. When it wasn't too active I'd look out from behind the canvas (when it was front-side out) and ask people who came by "Is this my good side? Would you like to see my other side?" but that didn't seem to get much. Rilla had brought out some carrots and celery for a few folks at one of the picnic tables near or in her grove. I was offered, and accepted. I did get a couple good reactions (looks, a smile or chuckle) when I stood behind the canvas and looked through it (again, front side out!) and ate a carrot. I got Rilla to take a couple pictures of that, but I have quite a bit of that roll of film to shoot before I get it developed.

Later I made my way to Sunrise River (they say they'll have their web site better in a while...) and was looking at (and sniffing) the varieties of soap displayed. The layout is such that my back was to checkout area. As I was looking I heard from behind me, "That's the wintermint guy!" and a quick explanation that I bought a lot of their wintermint (wintergreen and peppermint) glycerin soap. A moment later a young lady addressed me, "I bet you're looking for wintermint." Surprisingly, I was actually looking for something else, which I was told they had, but it wasn't wrapped and ready for display. That didn't stop them from making a sale, however. I was offered what I wanted, and asked if not being wrapped and labelled would be a problem. I assured her it would not be. She also told they were discontinuing the wintermint glycerin soap. They would still have wintermint, but in the lye soap form. I took advantage of this to buy most of the wintermint glycerin soap they had at a steep (at least 50%) discount. When checking out I expressed some disappointment at the change and was assured that the new version would be as good as the old. I replied that I'd be the judge of that. They laughed and told me if it wasn't, I could special order a batch of the glycerin version. We'll see. They did not have the new, lye version yet, so I won't know for a while if it really is as good.

That was pretty much the day, at least as I can remember it.