Bob: Well it’s a long story and many months in the making. It started in October of 08 when I first saw the white sapphire and commissioned Paul Hapip to make it into a ring for Laura. Rather than give it to flat out, over the months I devised this scheme and with the help of 20 co-conspirators.
Two of those co-conspirators were not even at the Faire! Thanks to Sylvia and Mary at Protech (Bob's work) Mary printed up all of those clues, and Sylvia stayed with the Girls (our dogs) at home as we would be gone the entire day.
Moonie was most helpful by delivering all of the packets of clues to all of the conspirators the morning of the big day. And Jane the Phoole arranged for the grand finale, my presentation of the ring to Laura at Court with Queen Elizabeth.
Here is the instruction letter to the conspirator company:
The Order of Battle
Welcome all to the conspiracy of Laura’s Grand Adventure. As you all know during the recruiting process each of has elected to participate in me giving my wife a new shinny ring made by long time Faire vendor Paul Hapip of Gems of Antiquity. Laura is completely clueless on what lies in store for her-a grand adventure!
Below is the order of the visits for her day, mostly revolving around making sure she is at the end of the performer’s shows, with in between stops at the merchants, progressing through the day.
Each of you will receive a packet of information which will contain your clue to give her, only after Laura asks you a question, in the proper format that will be supplied to her. She will be searching for me and looking to see if I have been seen in your area. Once she has properly asked you the question, you may give her the envelope provided which will contain her next clue/destination/person to see. She should thank thee for thy help and use her magic pictures box to record the moment.
Laura: As Bob mentioned... I was clueless! As we walked into the gates, we said hello to some of our Faire friends.. and then headed over to the Globe stage to see our friend Moonie at his 11:00 show. As the show neared its end, Bob said he'd be right back.. he didn't feel so good. He gave me the tip money and then told me to wait for him here.
Well, as the show ended, I joined the line to put our tip in Moonie's basket. Moonie told me that he had something for us if I could just wait a minute till the line was done. I told him "No problem, I'm waiting here for Bob anyways!".
Well.... what Moonie had to give me was an envelope.... from BOB! I opened it and this is what I read.....
Welcome to Laura’s Big Adventure!
Hi Honey!! Bet you’re a bit confused at the moment, but don’t worry all is well. You are going to have a big adventure today and many of our friends here at Faire are involved!!
As I continue to tell you, I am completely unworthy of you and am amazed that you wake next to me each and every morning. So today I am going in search of something to show my worthiness and your job is to try and track me down, following the clues I am going to leave for you. You will need to approach the holders of your clues and ask in the manor prescribed, and they will give you more information, all leading to a chance to find me as I quest for worthiness.
This should be a fun filled adventure for you full of surprise, mystery and delight!
Now a couple of things, some of our performers are involved and you need to be there for their performances, so some schedule adherence is required. Second, I have breaks for food and water in FOF built in. Third, if you are lost or confused at any time, good friend Moonie and Nixie are your emergency back ups! Finally, do not worry about the girls at home. As part of my clever deception I had Sylvia come to meet the pups so she could come over today and take care of them.
So have fun and hopefully I will see you again when I am again worthy of you!!
Love ya!
Husband a sorous
Ps-use your magic portrait box to chronicle the event!
Clue # 1
This be a tight one for thee my love. Thou must make haste to the German Scientist’s Stage near where the elephants play. Remember to say YA! and that there is no giggling in German. Ka Boom! You must present thyself there by twelve, but no later than the end of the show at twelve and thirty. Per chance you might find me there.
Please ask the good doctor:
Heir Doctor, I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #2
Honey, I am sorry I missed thee at Dr Ka Booms stage, however I may still be in the area, visiting the other KaBoom we know at our favorite clothiers. The girl with glasses and the very long blonde hair there may be of assistance to thee.
Ladies Ladies, I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #3
Alas I have waited as long as I could, however a short trip over the glen to the footwear store, where you feel you are walking on wind, I may be. Ask of the Lady Mary or Sir Tim:
Moccasin makers of Snowflake, I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #4
I could not linger long my love and have moved on in my quest to obtain worthiness. Per chance you may come and see me where our friends, recently engaged, reside. He is the good natured fellow whom all at the show know and love and she is girl that owns his heart. Perhaps he will have another rose for the pin he gavith you two weeks past and please avoid eating the garlic mushrooms on the way to their shop! I wish to kiss thee when we meet!
Ask of Sir Dan or Lady Julie: I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #5
My love, thy hunger must be growing with they trek, please stop by the FOF garden and partake some in the feast and refreshment. But linger not long, as thy have an appointment to see the Bold and Stupid Men, for I am seeking instruction from them in hopes of becoming a gifted orator and once again being worthy of thee. I am reminded of one of Guido’s oratations,
Hot Blooded, check it and see
I have a fever of five score and three……..
Be there to see their 1:30 show, at least near the end. Ask of the two adventures: I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #6
My love I was unable to meet thee here as well. Alas the rigors of my quest called me on. Please despair not for I have not wandered far. I have wandered over to the Garden of the Copper Dragon to see if perhaps another dragon for our humble dwelling back deck would make me worthy of thee again, or perhaps a mirror or two……….
Master Copper Sculptress, I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #7
I have quested on again my love-if I may still call thee my love. Please read not more into this than is superficially meant, but I go to hang out with the Whores of the Girl Glass Garden, to see if a goblet or other trinket of shinny glass may suit thy fancy. Please feel free to linger and look but not too long my love.
Gaffer oh Gaffer, I must see the gaffer! I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #8
I hope this clue finds you well and enjoying the adventure, however even our friends in the glass garden have been unable to provide me with what I have been looking for. Please proceed to the feast at the FOF garden as I am sure you are in need of drink and food. However not to linger too long as you need to go see the man that Cracks us up with his whip like humor and horrible puns! Be careful not to get too close, as he does play with fire at the end of his 3:30 show!
Whipmaster I pray for thy assistance. I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #9
My day rolls on as does thee’s. Despair not I am working most arduously on establishing my worthiness. You may find me at the family jewelry store, where the gems seem to grow on vines, collected from around the world by the gem master himself. I am sure that Master Paul will have what I need.
Master Jeweler, I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #10
Ah Ha! I bet you thought this might be the end of the quest, but alas it is not. I have had to proceed further into the faire to gain favor with thee. Please try to catch up with me with the Heartstone folk at their booth. They have made thee thy fine tee cup and green and black dinner wear we love so much. And if in need ask for water to quench they thirst.
Pottery Artisans! I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #11
Alas my love, I have done run to the end of my course. I am in despair! I am still in search of worthiness in your eyes! Please return to the FOF Garden, enjoy some food and drink, and seek out the company of our sometimes house guest and our little Sequoya’s black and tan little friend. Now she may be working, so best to ask permission and who knows she may have the guidance I need.
My K-9 friend, Keeper of Dana-I pray you may help me! I am in search of my good husband, Master Robert. Hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed this way?
Clue #11
Alas Nixie and Dana were unable to provide me guidance. I feel such a Phoole! Perhaps thy should await the advice of a Phoole. Who knows when a Phoole will appear in the garden, but perhaps Her Majesties Phoole can offer the help I so desperately need. Per chance if Her Majesties Phoole does appear you can ask her:
Jane my dear, I am distraught! My husband, that mischievous scoundrel, hath involved half the Faire in a game of cat and mouse! I am glad to see thee as I am in hopes that thee, of all people, can put an end to this Phoolishness and please tell me of my good husband, Master Robert, hath he per chance been seen by thee or passed thee a message?
Jane informed me that I was to join her while she traveled to Her Majesty's Glade. It can take some time to travel with Jane as she is stopped many times along her travels to greet everyone she meets. It was quite fun! At last we arrived at the Glade and rested a while.
Bob: After spending the day hiding from Laura, and following around behind her to ensure that things were going according to plan, I arrived in the Glade where court is held an hour and half before Laura was to get there. I hung out in armory tents passing the time. I observed Laura being escorted by Jane the Phoole to the Glade and had to make myself scarce until the big moment.
Thank you to Kimari for taking all these photos in Her Majesty's Glade!
When Barron Strange, Keeper of the Queens Schedule, announced Jane to the Court with urgent business, I moved into position in a nearby tent. Jane then brought Laura up to stand in front of Her Majesty and explained that this good woman had been abandoned by me and was hoping Her Majesty could help.
Then Jane invited all the Court to join together at the count of three to yell Master Robert.
At which point I appeared and bowed to the Court and Her Majesty
And gave Laura the biggest grin of my life! She still had no idea what was to come!
I was then questioned by Her Majesty as to why I had put this poor woman through such an ordeal. I told her it was in fun and to give her a present. At which point Her Majesty ordered me to show her my present, so I advanced, leaving Laura to stand alone in the Glade by herself as I presented the ring to Queen Elizabeth and her Court.
Needless to say Her Majesty was quite impressed, as it is indeed a beautiful one of a kind piece. At this point, Lord Hester implored Her Majesty to accept this ring on his behalf as he had been trying to get her to wear one of his sense she was 12! Laura was shocked!
Her Majesty did take the ring from me to further admire it and show it even more members of Her Court
Finally Her Majesty asked me what was the reason for this gift, a birthday perhaps, to which I answered nay. An anniversary perhaps, nay I answered again. I give this to her for no reason at all, which brought about the collective sigh of the entire Court. Her Majesty instructed me to give Laura the ring, and to make sure I took a knee when doing so!
And Laura finally gets her first glance at the ring!
Her Majesty wishes us well and thanks us for sharing the adventure and asks for her to show the ring off to Court once again!
And finally the ring, Paul Hapip placed 2 Tiger Lily flowers on each side of the heart shaped 2 karat white sapphire with two small blue sapphires set inside the center of each flower.
The final epilogue of this story is that members of Her Majesties court continue to approach her to see the ring again. I have also been asked by numerous members of the Court and the conspiracy to never mention this to their wives!
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