1/28/2018 and 2/4/2018 - Lots of Pictures

For 32 years Gainesville has hosted the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.  The last few years it has been held at the Alachua (A-latch-u-a) County Fairgrounds by the Hoggetowne River, and they recreate medieval times.  There is a marketplace, jousting, falconry and a battle of knights on a living chess board. and rides and entertainment.  Pictures say more, so posting quite a few to give you a feel for the event.  One of the young ladies in our YSA met us there to show us around, she goes every year.

 

 Masks still cause me a little angst ..

 Fighting with swords, axes - acted out of course, but quite fun to watch.

 We were not able to watch the falconry, but did get pictures of some of the birds

 These owls were tiny - but are full grown.  Could not get the one to look forward, beautiful colors.

 Human chess board - they have individual fights to see which "chess piece" goes off the board

 

 
 There are people on each side to cheer for their team.

 These two street vendors "hawk their wares" but also sing - scary looking but beautiful voices.

Interesting people.

 

 The market place - a small part of it - food and anything else you can think of.

 In charge of the camel rides

Last Wednesday we attended the Multi-faith Progressive dinner which brings together the students of all faiths.  It was very interesting and we had an opportunity to meet the leaders of each, a couple we will probably visit again with.  They started with appetizers at the Jewis Center where we were assigned to help but really didn't have to do much. The Lutheran Church had salads, Catholic church had the main course, we toured the Episcopalian worship place, and then ended with dessert at the Methodist Church.  They had a church band that was fun.

The Lutheran pastor below is from India.  

 This is the Catholic Church's top floor.  They can have services here, and also on the ground floor they have an area where students can eat or study.

 Inside the Episcopalian church - beautiful old building.  It would be pretty hard to nap during church if you had to sit on these benches.

 The Episcopalian church has the Florida gator on one of their banners.

 Old organ in the Episcopal church, still in very good working order.  They have times during the week that the advanced students can come and practice and people can listen.

Above - Methodist Church:  Below - Band 

Grandma Waite loved the little children in North Carolina, you can see why.

We walk in the mornings - and are amazed every day at the beauty of the world our Father in Heaven has given us.  It had rained earlier and the water is holding to the leaves and buds.  On the trees in the top picture it almost looks like lots of little lights - but it is drops of water. 

We are reminded again of D&C 59:18-20 -- Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; for food and for rainment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.  And it pleaseth God that he that given all these things unto man..  We testify of his amazing love for each of us.

I only know of God and the world

What a mortal with two eyes must

But what I understand, I love

And what I don't understand, I trust