TRF starts on October 12th! Very excited this year, the other 3 members of the Fox Family will be attending and we hope to please the crowds that visit the faire. The only down side that we see now, is the music video "What does the fox say?" we expect to hear that too many times just on opening day, so if you are one of the vistors to TRF, and you see one of us, walking or standing, waiting for someone to take our pictures, please don't ask that question, because it will be the 100th time we heard it.

Be sure to watch Fandemonium on Travel Channel Sunday night, 10:00 pm Eastern, 9:00 pm Central, Adam Richman visits Scarborough Faire and for a second, they will show two of my fox friends, Christof and Sofia, it should be on the first part, but they might have more in the show.

While searching through a storage room yesterday, I came across a medium size shipping box, addressed to me, shipped on August 16, 2007, the box had come from Primal Visions Design Studio, what came in that box changed my life as a rennie.

A full year prior to receiving that box, I was at a Border's Book store, looking at military and WW2 battle magazines and I came across a book for pirates. Back in 2006 "Pirates of the Caribean" was still a big deal and lots of people going to faires were dressing as pirates. This magazine was full of suggestions on how to "be a pirate" at the faires, what kind of equipment, swords and clothes to buy, which faires had good pirate themes, but in the middle of the book was an add for a one-time fantasy faire called "Meridian" and on the poster for the "Meridian" faire was a wolf and a fox in renaissance garb, the most realistic wolf and fox heads I had ever seen.

I took the magazine home, and checked out the Meridian site and found a link to a place that made the masks, Primal Visions Design Studios. I looked at all the types of masks they had, and knew immediatly I wanted a fox mask. I sent them an email on how much a fox mask would cost, I was told a basic mask with no eyes and a moving jaw would cost $800.00, I had that amount but was worried about such a big one-time purchase.

Over the next 6 or 7 months I sold a lot of old board games that I had collected over the years on Ebay. During that time, the cost of the mask had gone up to $1,100, but at the end of 7 months I had $1,100. I sent in a form that had about 10 measurements of my head, so the mask would be fitted just for me. I was sent two pictures while waiting for the mask, I had seen how streamlined the vixen and "Valentine" masks were and thought my mask would be like that, I was surprised when I first saw the pictures, but accepted that my mask would be unique when compared to other fox masks.

On August 23rd, the box arrived, I opened it and put the mask on , tested the jaw and the vision and started to work on a design for a costume suited for the mask. I decided on a noble look for him because I wanted as little skin as possible showing. My mother makes all the renaissance clothes for me and she help with the sewing on the tunic and shirt for me.

A name, what would I call myself when I went to the faire? Since I am a big ALBEDO and BIRTHRIGHT fan, I decided on Alphonse, after the fox in BIRTHRIGHT. The first weekend in October of Texas Renfaire, I went in as my simple peasant, carrying one of my puppets, as I had done for 7 years, but had a mission, I had trouble walking with the head, so I needed a cane, I found a beautiful sword cane with a dragon head. I needed to cover my hands, so I got a pair of gauntlets, and I needed a tail, I bought the longest tail availible at the faire, but it was only 2 feet long.

The next weekend we went to the faire, I was very worried that day, in September, the t.v. show "CSI" had an episode about furries, and it was not flattering, I was worried people would see me as that. And I was concerned that the staff might turn me away from the gate because my costume was not to their liking.
That did not happen, from the moment we walked in, we were surrounded by so many people wanting to get their picture with "Alphonse". From that moment on, my life as a rennie changed, thanks to that special box I found yesterday.

It looks like there will be 3 foxes and a vixen attending the Colorade Renfaire this weekend only. Myself and The Fox family are taking a long road trip to Colorado for a one-time event. Several people on my Facebook account have shown excitement at the thought of Alphonse coming to their fair. Any fans in Colorado near Lansing, come see us!

I just thought I would throw this out there, I have most of the issues of YARF! THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANTHROPOMORPHICS, up to issue 43, I am putting them on Furbid to see if they will sell, it not that I don't like the artwork, its a case of I haven't looked at them in years and want to give others a chance to see them.

Alphonse will be attending the final two days of Scarborough Faire, this weekend only it runs Saturday, Sunday and Monday, I will be there on Sunday and Monday. I will be in as Alphonse mostly on Sunday and as my human personna with the puppets on Monday.

Of the 2012 season, it has been a great 7 weekends, only two Saturdays were rained out, but all in all the faire did well. I (as Alphonse) had a most enjoyable time with participants and patrons. Last weekend was a little warm with temperatures in the 80's, this weekend will be a YIP!, with temperatures in the upper 80's, so, lots of water and coolling down time.

After this weekend, depending on the weather in Dallas, Alphonse will make one or two showings at Scarborough faire on its opening weekend, after that, he will be retired from faire life until next October for Texas Renfaire. I love all three faires equally, Sherwood is close and in a cooler time of the year, Scarborough has many friends and a fun court dance that I love to do, and Texas Renfaire has the fun of camping out over the weekend and meeting all the people that work there during and after hours, and the fans, of course.

I don't plan on having any problems with the heat, but wish me luck anyway.

Alphonse Fox

The last weekend was a blast! around 11,000 people showed up for the 3 day weekend. Vendors sold lots of food and drinks and sword and armor. Alphonse got a decent amount of tips for just standing around letting people take his picture. The only downside was that it started to rain on Sunday around 2:00, I had to seek shelter, and when it looked like it wasn't going to stop, Alphonse had to leave the faire early that day.

On the other 2 days, many people came up and got their pictures taken with Alphonse, I spent most of Friday and Saturday in costume. Around 10 or so children came running up to me to give me a hug, when I saw them coming, I would drop down to one knee so they could hug me, their parents loved it as much as they did. For the ladies, while I did "smile" for the camera, (open the mouth just a little) I have the ability to mimic a cat's purr, so I purr for the ladies that get their picture with me. When they ask "Can foxes purr?", I tell them yes!

Now on to this weekend, I will not be there at all on Saturday, March 24th, a previous engagement has at College Station doing a World War 2 reinactment at the Brent Mullens museum, I will be at Sherwood on Sunday, March 25th. The weekend so far looks great, temperature in the 80's, no rain, just hot for Alphonse.

I am looking forward to this weekend, Sherwood Forest is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend, rain forcast is spotty at best, but the temperature will be near 80! Going to drink lots of water and take a blow dryer with me to dry off the interior of the mask in case I sweat too much. The local paper "The Bastrop Advertiser (bastropadvertiser.com) has a picture of me on their website, but not in the paper, :( .

I hope many people come and enjoy themselves this weekend and get their picture taken with a fox!

The next weekend of Sherwood Forest Faire is a special 3 day weekend, it will go Friday, Saturday and Sunday, hopefully, it will be drier than this past weekend, we need the rain, but not during the weekend please! While Saturday was a washout, Sunday, the rain quit around 11:00 am and the crowds did come in, Alphonse put in an appearance, walked in the parade and roamed the faire grounds getting his picture taken. Its hard to believe that the faire ends in only 3 more weekends.

Sad news for the faire and my fans, this weekend it looks like it will rain most of Saturday and Sunday, while I will be there with one of my puppets, Alphonse will stay in the vehicle until it clears, or he just will not make a showing. Hopefully, the next weekend will be better.

It has been a very good season so far for the Sherwood Forest Faire, as of this past Sunday, over 20,000 people, (and foxes and a raven) have come thru the gates. I was able to stay in almost all day these last 2 days, (March 3 & 4) as Alphonse. A lot of people have taken my picture, and many have told me that my costume/character was the best they had ever seen. (blushes)

Another nice thing is many of the repeat patrons from previous years, some, little kids mainly, have waited all year to come back and get their picture with me again. With my ability to purr on cue, I have captured the hearts of many ladies (and some guys, oops!).

Among others that showed up this last Saturday and Sunday was a Raven named Branwen, she is a very pretty raven as raven's go. Last year, she came in the form of a wildcat named Oshun, but has recently transformed. It was nice to meet her in both her raven and hooman personnas. We have friended on Facebook and hope to keep in touch.

To those thinking about coming to Sherwood Forest Faire, a little bit of vital information, tickets at the gate are 2 for 1 on Sunday before noon, so, if you think you can make it one Sunday, be there before noon and you can save more money for spending inside.

Alphonse will be at every weekend of the faire, including Friday, March 16th, the faire is open for a 3 day, Spring Break weekend. Only one Saturday will I not be there, Saturday, March 24, I will be away on special business, but will be there March 25, Sunday.

And every weekend until April 1st. I will be attending (working) at the faire again this season, we are lucky this weekend to have cool temperatures (in the 50's), perfect for cloaks and heavy clothes that many rennies do not get a chance to wear at TRF or Scarby. And for a 3rd year in a row, Sherwood Forest has won for best new faire! Also, it is ranked 36th out of 100 in faires in the United States, not bad for a 3rd year new faire. Among the things you can see at this faire, besides me, is full contact Jousting! From the NatGeo channel's "Knights of Mayhem", the guys will be at Sherwood practicing their art until April 1st, when a grand $25,000 tournament will be held, there will be 2 or 3 joustings a day, to those of you who live in Central Texas, please come and enjoy this faire!

A kind lady that owns a clothing boutique has invited me to stand in front of her store in the small town of Spring, Texas, just north of Houston, because she thinks there will be a large shopping crowd and I can get my picture taken and accept tips for my troubles, if I don't go, I will sit in front of my computer all day and play stupid war games. So, I will be at 102 Midway, Spring, Tx from about 11:00 am until 3:00 pm or so.

This last Sunday was the last day of TRF, although I am sadden that the faire ended, new friends were made, more fursuit personnas were met, and thousands of people, those that dress up, those that don't, from all over the world, got to see and meet with Alphonse.

Many rennies, those that follow the renaissance faires around the country, they wear elaborate costumes that rival what some cast members wear, came up to me and told me, that my costume and the way I showed myself, was the best they had ever seen. Hearing that come from these people, is truely uplifting and inspiring to me. I have had several job offerings, to stand in front of some place to attract business, been invited to birthday parties and other photo type events.

The cast of Texas Renaissance Festival really enjoyed seeing me and Alphonse out and about, walking the faire grounds, having my picture taken thousands of times a day. The owner of the faire told me before I left Sunday, that as long as he was there, I would always be welcomed as a lane entertainer, which is what I love to be at these faires. I also left a 5 X 7 print of Alphonse in the snow for him with a thank you note on the back.

I should be in Elgin, Texas next Saturday for a Christmas event parade, it will be cool enough for me to walk the parade, just as long as it doesn't rain. After that, in mid-Febuary, Sherwood Forest Faire starts its 3rd year, and I will be working there until April 1st.

Another successful and fun weekend down for TRF! Thousands of patrons that went there this last weekend got to see Alphonse either for the first time or again. Many people tell me that my costume and personna is the best they have ever seen anywhere. I never grow tired of hearing that! This weekend I got to meet, as Alphonse, a beautiful dragonness named "Fyreflicker' I believe she comes from the Colorado area, she has a very beautiful brown leather dragon mask with green eyes, her costume is very nice to look at and watch how she moves in it. Sadly, because I work there, I am not able to carry a camera with me, but on the plus side, a friend traveling with her did take a picture of us together. As for a custom I have, I did give her a present of a 3 X 5 inch photographer of Alphonse in the snow. I haven't checked to see if she is a member here, but I will later.

The next Friday, Sat and Sunday are the last 3 days of the TRF, I will be attending all 3 days and hope to have my picture taken a few thousand more times.

It was a fantasic weekend at TRF! On Saturday, counting myself, there were 8 foxes roaming the faire, 3 victorian era foxes, which went on to win the costume contest on Sunday, a black and white fox named Tymid, a red vixen with dreadlocks, did not catch her name and 3 people with half fox masks made of leather. I am sure there were more critter type costumes, but my duties kept me from looking at everyone. I also met a rabbit named Ambrose, steampunk era outfit, looked great in it. The 3 victorian era foxes, 2 males and a vixen were well dressed and carried themselves superbly from what I saw, while observing them having their pictures taken by many people, twice I was dragged over to them for group photos. My renfaire duties prevented me from staying with them too long, and I did not wish to hog in on their day, congradulations to them for winning the costume contest!

Every morning, 30 minutes before the faire opens, they have a "morning meeting" for all cast members, to let them know about weddings, weather, how many people attended the previous day or weekend, the owner also awards people for their efforts in making the faire enjoyable to all who attend, staying in character, engaging people in conversations and putting forth a good effort for that day. The award is called the Tudor Rose Award and it is only for those on paid cast, I am a "lane entertainer" I do not get paid, a can freely accept tips, but that is all, well, for the first time in the 3 years they have awarded the Tudor Rose to a lane entertainer, me. I am proud of it and was told it was not just for showing up, it was for all the people that smile when they see me and for the children I make happy and the thousands of pictures that have been taken of me over the years.

The first weekend was a success/failure due to the weather, on Saturday, it was quite warm but windy, which help cool me down a little, the crowd was fantastic, over 28,000 people came in the front gate that day, I walked in the parade with the vixen in the leather half/mask, lots of people took our picture during that parade. After the parade was over, I got a quick drink of water, and stayed in for about 30 minutes to pose with the fans, after that, I took a two hour break to cool down and went back in and stayed for 2 hours, moving barely 50 yards in that time. Lots of pictures, with kids, ladies, teens, and guys.

Working for tips was profitable, but I am not there just for tips, I am there to entertain people by letting them take my picture. The only complaint I have is twice I was "assualted", not really, but two people did come up from my side and back and vigorously pet and rub my head, while I don't mind a friendly pet from a child to make sure I won't bite them, the older ones need to be more gentle with the mask. I am going to need to find a way to let them know not to be so rough with the head.

Then came Sunday, it started to sprinkle at 9:30am and began pouring at 10:00am, my poor mask will not stand up to a driving rainstorm and it rained all day long. Being in a year long drought as we are in Texas, it was welcomed, we probably got 3 or more inches in that 5 hour period, which is good news to the faire, because last month, a monster fire came within a couple of miles of the faire, it would have been a worst disaster than it already was. So, after taking Neighland and a new puppet wolf named Draggen in to the faire, we decided that the day was lost and left early with no one getting to see Alphonse that day.

Next Saturday and Sunday look to be dry and sunny and hot, so Alphonse with be there both days.

Alphonsefox

Saturday was a great day! I drove to Magnolia, Texas, 118 miles for a Job faire at TRF, my goal was to get a full pass for Alphonse to roam the lanes of the faire and allow people to take my picture and tip me if they please, I took one of my vixens with me, Vannen, because it was her turn (earlier in the summer I took Anton to a party at Sherwood Forest Faire, I carried Kenda at a 4th of July parade in the small town of Round Top, Neighland is waiting his turn). I walked into the main office, the overall general manager took one look at me and told me it was not nessicary for me to drive all that way for to ask to be a Lane Entertainer, seeing Vannen, he knew I was Alphonse and said, "you are welcomed anytime here", I told him that coming to the job faire would show that I was serious about wanting to be there and thanked him for his words of encouragement, this will be Alphonse's 5th year at TRF, 3rd year working there. So when the faire starts, I will try and update my journals to let people know what costume Alphonse is wearing and where I will be most of the day.
Huzzah!!!

This last Sunday, May 8th, I went to Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie, Texas, the temperature was not the best for going as Alphonse, but I really wanted to attend the court dance the faire has later in the afternoon, I went in as Alphonse at 4:00pm and could not get through the main gate without have a dozen or so people ask to take my picture, either alone or with a loved one. After I made it into the faire grounds, it took almost 20 minutes to go a hundred yards to where the court dance was to be held, what used to me amazing to me (but not anymore) was the different kinds of people that wanted to have their pictures taken with Alphonse. Of course many young ones love to stand next to me, but its some of the adults that are really surprising, I have had heavy set bikers, bruisers, and even what appeared to be gang members stop and beg their friends to take a picture with me. And rarely does a girl or lady not pet my muzzle or ears after the picture has been taken. The dances start at 5:00pm and are open to anyone who knows them, which I know many as Alphonse, and the ladies of the court love to dance with me, its not every weekend they can tell their friends they danced with a true fox. I know that many people took my picture during the 3 dances I did, and I hope to find them online one day. Sadly, with the temperatures staying above 90 degrees from now and until the end of the fair in late May, Alphonse will not be able to attend anymore of Scarby this season, but I have Texas Renaissance Festival in October to look forward to.
Alphonse