Star Date : 03/08/03    

        Earlier the previous week, This Texas Road Runner had been searching the rockhounds.com web site and the Rock and Gem Magazine for any rock shows coming up in Texas.  I found the Abilene, Alpine and Waco shows occurring during the time of my vacation.  But as luck would have it,  I also found one for this weekend in Big Springs, TX.   I was starting to get excited about it until I realized on a map that it was a 4 1/2 hour drive.  It was kind of hard to justify such a trip for 2 hours of walking around and then turning back for home for another 4 1/2 hour drive.  Hum what to do.  I could always go to Canton and find more antique spindles for my candles.  But, what else?  I had already made great progress in melting and dying wax for candles, that I was felling a little burned out on it and wanted to find something different to do.

 

        Jean O' Conner, a Project Manager in the Network department overheard my situation.  She suggested that I check out the North Texas Irish Folk Festival at Fair Park.  She also sent me a link to their web site.  I check out the website and determined to go.  Mainly to see what it was all about and to see if I could sell my candles there next year.

 

        Saturday morning came. I gassed upped the truck  and headed out early.  There was still some ice around from the ice days we experienced last Tuesday and Wednesday.  I tried taking the scenic route that I took last time going through Ennis, then Kaufman and then to Canton.  Unfortunately, I lost my bearings and received some nutty directions from the idiot Ennis locals.  Therefore, I found I-45, headed North to I20.  There was a lot of road construction that slowed me down.  So I kept heading east to Canton.  I then exited HWY 19 into the city.  This route placed me exactly where I wanted to be, in the Arbors area and close to the shuttle bus.

 

        The old bubble machine was turned on as I remembered it last Spring.  Though I also wanted to see the rock shop, the first order of business was the spindles.  I found the spindle booth and purchased around 16 spindles for $ 60.00.  I was a really good deal.  Since I parked nearby, I put the spindles in the truck and headed back out.  I finally found the little walk-in mall that had the rock shop.  Unfortunately, the rock shop was no more and replaced by a print and frame shop.  So I grabbed some vendor food and walked around for a while.  I was able to take a few pictures, but was accosted by several vendors stating it was against the city ordinance to do so.  What a stupid local law!  But I was able to shoot some anyway.  The weather sucked so I headed back to the truck and back home.  Unfortunately, there was an accident on the road that slowed me down.  Slow down, it is still wet and icy.  I spent the rest of the day performing house hold chores.

 

Star Date : 03/09/03    

        Sunday morning.  I woke up quite early and began the day at Wal-Mart and MJ Designs picking up some clear plastic bins for storing finished candles and other supplies for projects.  Later, I finally made it to the North Texas Irish Folk Festival at Fair Park.  I was first greeted by a bunch of dinosaurs.  These guys always seem to haunt me.  It kind of reminded me of the Scarborough Fair Festival, but pertained for toward the Celtic theme rather than the Medieval themes.  There were quite a few Irish folk bands (Band 1, Band 2, Band 3) and plenty of beer, though I opted for the lemonade, soft pretzels and sausage on the stick.  By this time, I was getting burned out on festival food. Sure enough, folks brought their Irish Blood Hounds to show off.

 

       There were quite a few vendors in both pavilions.  Most of the items for sale were the standard theme clothes (I even saw a tie dye vendor who was dong very well with his sales), jewelry, Celtic musical instruments, stain glass art, swords and even a rock and gem booth.  The rock and gem booth was really selling different kinds of crystals with the motif of each different type of crystal whether it be an amethyst, quarts, or whatever exhibited magical powers or was a sign for something.  Unfortunately, I have to work with a lady who believe in that kind of stuff and claims she can charged them up?  Well, she tried doing that with one of my hunks of Celestite one time.  That really freaked me out.  They even had a kids playground area in addition to a cliff climbing setup.  Yea, I climbed the mountain again.

 

        I just may have a chance.  There was no one selling any candles.  The closest thing that was selling as far as candles are concerned was incense and heated oils for aromatherapy.  Therefore, I think I will sell Irish themed candles next year.  I'll start my preparations after I finish up the the Christmas candles.  Bye for now and more adventures to come.