Handcar Regatta

[summer_jackel]

OK, how cool is it that Santa Rosa is apparently home to a steampunk event? This would be the Handcar Regatta, (http://handcar-regatta.com/), a way keen rail-based kinetic sculpture race with decided steamy styling. Unfortunately, it was a very hot day, so I only stayed for a few hours, but it was a very fun-packed couple of hours. Lots of bicycle-based craft and a pervasive pro-bike/bike activism atmosphere, which was also lovely. Also, really delish fair food, but then this is Sonoma county, after all.

Chaos was extremely well behaved, although he got a little bit overwhelmed at the end, mostly because of the heat. But he enjoyed himself too, and politely met a lot of people and dogs, most of them also polite. It pleases me very much that his overwhelm behavior is to lay down quietly behind me and occasionally hide in my skirts, and also that he likes to drink water out of a bottle, a feat that impressed several people. I love my collie, and not just because he's the ultimate neo-Victorian fashion accessory.

Nobody knows he's a collie, though. I get this about Coba, too...approximately 8 people out of 10 who approach me about either of the boys say something to the effect of, "What a beautiful dog! He's Australian Shepherd and...what?" Nope. Purebred Collie (or Sheltie). No Aussie anywhere. Like Lassie, only blue. And no, it's not a new thing. They have come in that color (and Tri, which must exist in at least half the population if a breed comes in blue merle) at least since they were first exhibited in 1860; the sables were originally the weird new color and can all trace directly back to one dog. Of course, this was also before they were crossed with Borzoi to make them what they are now. Today I got the most interesting 'what is your dog' comment I've heretofore received; some lady asked me if he was an Afghan hound. I was totally amused. But it's true: anyone who has looked closely at sighthounds can see the influence clear as day in a certain snout.

So, here we are.





I can have one of these please?




Classy


oooooooh


Pretty one!


Hurrah for this sort of events happening in my town.

Comments

[teahound.livejournal.com]

The vehicle or the lady in said vehicle? ;D

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Yes? (Innocent Jackel is Very Innocent)...

[kynekh-amagire.livejournal.com]

I was also going to ask for clarification on that point. :>

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

honestly, what could I have EVER done to suggest to you ladies that I would ever harbor impure thoughts about interesting females, particularly those in steam-garb...? /Innocent Jackel looks up with big, liquid, innocent eyes and quickly hides the tentacle porn spread all over her drafting table/

[teahound.livejournal.com]

*gigglefit* 'S ok, I wouldn't mind a getup like that for my girl. *snatches the tentacle porn and flees* 8D

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

I bet you wouldn't mind the garb OR the tentacles for your girl. ;D

HEY that tentacle porn isn't done!!!!! I will share when it is ready.

[teahound.livejournal.com]

xD Okies

And I'd rather me in her than any tentacles. xD
Although I need to get on my ass about maybe trading with you again sometime. We keep talking about it and then life goes 'HAY IM DISTRACTIN U"

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

Yeah, thirded!

[kynekh-amagire.livejournal.com]

Sorry I missed out. Looks like, heh, a hell of a thing.

You look lovely! Also, is that Chaos? When did he start growing hair?

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

It was definitely worth going to.

Chaos' coat is totally starting to bloom. It is kind of insane; the fruff is just a leeetle bit more every day. He has a lot to catch up on before he approaches Coba-level, of course, but I will be very curious to see what his adult coat does. His daddy has very nice pelage, but his mom was rather flat-coated. Of course, she had just whelped; nobody has a decent coat when they just raised pups.

The floof isn't all that's sprouting. He is unmistakably taller than Jezzie at the wither now. He wasn't, 4 days ago. I will confess to fretting a little bit...'is this how tall he's going to be? I was hoping for a nice big collie rather than one of these midsize sorts'...but I remind myself that he is still a week shy of six months. We met today, among other cute dogs, a 6 month old golden pup, who was very soft and sniffy...and obviously not even close to her adult anything. Puppy, puppy puppy. Chaos is a puppy, even though he's actually better behaved than a good 75% of adult dogs I meet in the world.

Reality check. Chaos? He's half grown. And is Really Not going to be one of those undersized sorts of collie.

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

HEE!

I was there, too, with my wife and my sweetie.

I'm sorry that we didn't see each other.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

D'OH!!!!!!

I would love to have seen you. Next time this comes up, I will hopefully know about it a bit more in advance and all us local-ish folk can perhaps meet up.

[zrath.livejournal.com]

Your wife AND your sweetie?
Hon hon hon, that's so French!! :D

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

...poly is more common amongst the French? (I'm getting a lot of mileage out of my 'innocent look' this post, aren't I?)

[cal-foxx.livejournal.com]

You look gorgeous dear!

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I loves my corset.

[redstorm.livejournal.com]

Hey

We've never met, but I do enjoy reading your El Jay. I got to be at this event as well today, I think I even noticed you (well, your dog).
Now I need to get myself my own steampunk costume, I do love the style! I want something with a pith helmet I think. ;)

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Hey, great to meet you! Steampunk style is in fact quite delightful. There were some nice examples on display today.

Sure, I would love to meet some time. And yeah, Steeleye Span is awesome. I regret missing the Sebastopol Celtic Festival this year...it is amazing, genuinely world class, if you haven't been...but my recreational funds for the next while were spent on my Orlando trip. The regatta was free, AND many shades of fun.

[redstorm.livejournal.com]

Ok, hopefully this isn't too stalkerish - so I looked up your user info page after seeing that you were in Santa Rosa today - I didn't realize you were local! I'm down in Forestville. I'm also a huge celtic/folk music nut. Do you like Steeleye Span?
Fancy getting a pint at Barley and Hops one evening? I'd love to meet more local types, it's been a real pain keeping in contact with all my South Bay friends. More locals for the win!

[spacebabie.livejournal.com]

Damn girl. You are working that corset.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

/wag wag wag/ Thank you!

[tinygalaxies.livejournal.com]

You look smashing!

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[dollbunny.livejournal.com]

I love your outfit! And Chaos is a lovely accessory. Did corpsefairy make your corset?

[corpsefairy.livejournal.com]

No, that's a Dark Garden corset.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! As she said, it's a Dark Garden, but the ones she's making these days seriously rival DG's work, in my opinion. She did make my ballgown, which, no matter how beautiful it is or tempted I was, I am not going to wear to an outdoor festival with my dog in 90+ heat. Would have been pretty, though.

Siigh. It is cloudy and overcast today. Why couldn't it have been cloudy and overcast yesterday, for the event?

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

You and Chaos look beautiful together!

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! He is just going to have to wear a ribbon on his collar more often.

[a-rowan-dryad.livejournal.com]

You look lovely... but I am not buying the innocent Jackel thing for one blink of one eye (let alone both eyes)!!! ;)

BTW: There is a slim but very valid chance I will be in Sacramento in October on either the weekend of the 9th or the one there after. I am not sure yet (babysitting and gas money to be figured out), working the Ren Faire. My boyfriend needs to put in another weekend to be able to be officially part of his guild and I wanna meet/hug my northern CA friends so I might tag along for the ride. Are you up for running around faire? I will have to put in a little time at a booth (getting gate listed means I have to be a little helpful to earn my entry) but since my guild isn't there I will mostly be free! :D

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Oh, Faire would be neat! Is Northern Faire in Sacramento these days? (I fiddled with Danse Macabre for years when it was in Novato). Weekend of the 9th probably would not work for me, but the weekend after looks free right now.

[a-rowan-dryad.livejournal.com]

I won't honestly know what weekend I will be there until the 8th/9th. Sucky I know but Alan is away on a marine training gig and I won't here from him till he gets home... but I think the safer bet is likely to be the weekend after the 9th. :D

[archteryx.livejournal.com]

You looked awesome in the garb, with collie.

I have a semi-crush on you because you just are such a Neat Person(tm), and I still am very glad you showed me around your little world back in July.

But innocent? Innocent, my gold-plated ventfeathers. ;>

[hafoc.livejournal.com]

Your hometown has handcar regattas. Mine has grass drags. Where they drag-race snowmobiles. On grass.

(facepalms)