We went to the Texas Rennaissance Festival on Tuesday.  We learned (from the Sturdy Beggar) that being a Renaissance Man or Woman meant that you were knowledgeable and more often proficient in many areas.  King Henry VIII was a poster child for that era-he was a musician, songwriter, poet, scholar, hunter, archer and swordsman among other things.  Homeschoolers are kinda like Renaissance people!  We do so many different things!

We also learned what a "Sturdy Beggar" was (from a sturdy beggar I might add.....)..A sturdy beggar was a person who had full use of his facilities (arms, legs, eyes, ears, etc.) who usually performed some type of trick or entertainment and begged for a living.  We have "sturdy beggars" here in Houston.  They are the people on the street corners who wash your car window when you stop at a light.  Mexico has "sturdy beggars".  They are the kids on the street corner playing their little instruments and singing for money. 

We learned they used hand held cannons during the Rennaissance era.  Kind of what we would call a Bazooka today.  It was VERY loud!  We watched the glassmaker and the minter.  We ate yummy food!

The weather was darn near perfect with a high of about 70 and not a cloud one in the sky.  We saw the Falconers with their awesome Birds of Prey (we're studying birds in Zoology right now!).  There was a Red-Tailed Hawk and a Vulture and an Owl and a Falcon.  They were beautiful and fun to watch....

We saw King Henry VIII and his wife Katherine, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Little John, Sir John Seymore, Fairies and witches, Celts and jesters and oh so many more interesting characters!

We enjoyed Cast in Bronze-the only Carillion show in the United States (www.castinbronze.com). Cast in Bronze has played for both Pope John Paul II and the Presidential Inauguration! The carillon of Cast in Bronze consists of 35 bells with a total weight of four tons. It is played by a modified keyboard with the fists and feet. It is the only musical act of its kind in the world, and the only carillon in history solely supported by listeners. Needless to say I bought the Cast in Bronze Christmas CD!!!!!

We had lots of fun.  We all learned something.  We gained a few pounds.  For a couple of hours on an October day we journeyed back in time and LIVED some history!