Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy Independence Day!
I'm celebrating in the usual way, by grilling burgers. The grill is fired up with charcoal, which sound pretty normal. The thing is, here in Bulgaria, it's not briquettes - it's really charcoal. Awesome stuff! It makes things taste really nice. I'll add some potato salad, devilled eggs, baked beans (also the homemade kind), watermelon, and a cherry pie. Yum! Since I love old films, I think I'll watch Yankee Doodle Dandy or Meet Me in St. Louis to wrap up the day. Hope all my US friends plus famaily around the world have fun today!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Post Coronation wrap-up
So, there were good things and bad things about Coronation weekend. Bad first!
The bucketing rain for the bulk of the three days certainly put a damper on campers and activities. The late arrival of our ride from the station to the site wasn't great either, although our driver was a charming lady. Set-up was fairly awful, although Constanza and I did pretty well with our ingenious decision to do as much construction as possible under the shelter of a permanent pavillion on site, then dash out with the mostly assembled tent and stake it down. It would have been perfect, had I not gotten two of the poles backwards. We had to shift them in the rain, but even that went pretty smoothly. The tent (alas)did not survive to go home with us, because we decided it had just enough drips and leaks to not be worth trying to repair again. Amusingly, a new camper rescued it from the bin and carried it off!
The good over the weekend far outweighed the bad. First, Constanza and Guy both liked their new clothes and happily wore them for most of the event. I don't have photos due to the wet conditions, but they have promised to take and send a few so I can add them here. Seeing Lord Raphe Cuthbert become Master Raphe Cuthbert, OP at the Friday night Court was excellent. He was most deserving of the honor. Here's a picture of the court before it opened. Unfortunately, my other pictures are not worth posting.
Their Majesties Lief and Morrigan had a wonderful first Court on Saturday, brightened by many well-deserved awards, but even more so by the surprise birthday wishes brought to Countess Judith by a messenger from afar. The classes Saturday afternoon were quite good and I especially liked the Disputation on Courtly Love organized by Lady Lyonet de Covenham. Master Robert of Canterbury put the question and Countess Judith, Lady Lyonet, and Lady Dagny served as judges. It was most enlightening and I hope we will see additional disputations at future events.
Best of all was the Saturday night feast. Due to the wet conditions, the planned outside feast was not possible, so everything was relocated inside to the two biggest rooms. There was a dining room for the King and Queen and another for the Prince and Princess of Insulae Draconis. We were in the Principality room and had the best of times. Our table was "below the salt" and we behaved accordingly. We sang, told riddles, read poetry, and told stories, much to the amusement of all. We also had a fine selection of various home brews, which we shared happily. We even drew in the king at one point, just because he wanted to know what was generating all the music and laughter in our room. After each course was cleared, we shifted every other person at our table down a seat and thus were able to talk with almost everyone throughout the course of the evening. This was Lady Lyonet's cunning plan and it was excellent! Interestingly, we even managed to keep Constanza out of the kitchen during feast. And she had a good time! Amazing! She was in there at other times and so was I. Seems a little skill at rolling pastry can make you quite popular with the cooks.
Breakdown and the trip home were uneventful and we spent the evening unpacking and washing clothes and watching DVDs. I spent the next two days around London (Spending money at the Handweaver's Studio, various bookshops, and clothing stores) and headed back to Bulgaria on Tuesday night. All in all it was a good trip!
The bucketing rain for the bulk of the three days certainly put a damper on campers and activities. The late arrival of our ride from the station to the site wasn't great either, although our driver was a charming lady. Set-up was fairly awful, although Constanza and I did pretty well with our ingenious decision to do as much construction as possible under the shelter of a permanent pavillion on site, then dash out with the mostly assembled tent and stake it down. It would have been perfect, had I not gotten two of the poles backwards. We had to shift them in the rain, but even that went pretty smoothly. The tent (alas)did not survive to go home with us, because we decided it had just enough drips and leaks to not be worth trying to repair again. Amusingly, a new camper rescued it from the bin and carried it off!
The good over the weekend far outweighed the bad. First, Constanza and Guy both liked their new clothes and happily wore them for most of the event. I don't have photos due to the wet conditions, but they have promised to take and send a few so I can add them here. Seeing Lord Raphe Cuthbert become Master Raphe Cuthbert, OP at the Friday night Court was excellent. He was most deserving of the honor. Here's a picture of the court before it opened. Unfortunately, my other pictures are not worth posting.
Their Majesties Lief and Morrigan had a wonderful first Court on Saturday, brightened by many well-deserved awards, but even more so by the surprise birthday wishes brought to Countess Judith by a messenger from afar. The classes Saturday afternoon were quite good and I especially liked the Disputation on Courtly Love organized by Lady Lyonet de Covenham. Master Robert of Canterbury put the question and Countess Judith, Lady Lyonet, and Lady Dagny served as judges. It was most enlightening and I hope we will see additional disputations at future events.
Best of all was the Saturday night feast. Due to the wet conditions, the planned outside feast was not possible, so everything was relocated inside to the two biggest rooms. There was a dining room for the King and Queen and another for the Prince and Princess of Insulae Draconis. We were in the Principality room and had the best of times. Our table was "below the salt" and we behaved accordingly. We sang, told riddles, read poetry, and told stories, much to the amusement of all. We also had a fine selection of various home brews, which we shared happily. We even drew in the king at one point, just because he wanted to know what was generating all the music and laughter in our room. After each course was cleared, we shifted every other person at our table down a seat and thus were able to talk with almost everyone throughout the course of the evening. This was Lady Lyonet's cunning plan and it was excellent! Interestingly, we even managed to keep Constanza out of the kitchen during feast. And she had a good time! Amazing! She was in there at other times and so was I. Seems a little skill at rolling pastry can make you quite popular with the cooks.
Breakdown and the trip home were uneventful and we spent the evening unpacking and washing clothes and watching DVDs. I spent the next two days around London (Spending money at the Handweaver's Studio, various bookshops, and clothing stores) and headed back to Bulgaria on Tuesday night. All in all it was a good trip!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sewing update
Over the weekend I finished a new linen dress for Constanza in a nice indigo blue 100% linen fabric. I hope she likes it and that it wil be comfy for Coronation. Since I was on a roll, I made a matching tunic for Guy! I'll upload pictures after I get back from England so we can see if they fit. Constanza had also requested a new white linen cap a la the Medieval Tailor's Assistant and that's done and packed too.
I think I'll have an empty suitcase on my way home, since half of what I'm taking to the UK will be staying there. This time I'm bringing my empty cordial bottles home, though. On my last trip I left them with Guy, thinking I could easily get more olive oil bottles here. Unfortunately, the supplier closed and I haven't found more. Argh! I think these bottles from IKEA may do the trick, but that means a run to Greece in the future.
I think I'll have an empty suitcase on my way home, since half of what I'm taking to the UK will be staying there. This time I'm bringing my empty cordial bottles home, though. On my last trip I left them with Guy, thinking I could easily get more olive oil bottles here. Unfortunately, the supplier closed and I haven't found more. Argh! I think these bottles from IKEA may do the trick, but that means a run to Greece in the future.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Hats! Well, one hat anyway.
In an earlier post, I mentioned a crazy hat that I want to duplicate. Well, here it is. This ia a mural which was commissioned in 1493 by a local ruler for the Kremitkovski Monastery near Sofia, Bulgaria. It is a portrait of a local noble, Radivoy, and his family. I love the wife's outfit, not just her headdress, and would like to re-create the whole thing. This is just the best - multiple colors and patterns and multiple layers. And she's got yellow shoes. You can't ask for more!
Speaking of hats, though, what is Radivoy holding? Is it a platter? a black bowler hat? I just can't tell.
Speaking of hats, though, what is Radivoy holding? Is it a platter? a black bowler hat? I just can't tell.
Signs of summer
You know summer in Bulgaria is upon us when the roadside vendors all have sweet cherries for sale and the roses are in full bloom. Guess it's really here!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Random book for my collection!
For the first time in two weeks, I was well enough to walk home after work today. My route goes past a bookshop, which is a dangerous proposition at the best of times!
Imagine my delight in seeing a new window display that included a large, heavily illustrated book entitled Представи си, че си рицар.
I know that doesn't mean a lot to you (Hi Mom!), but it translates as Imagine You're a Knight. You can see an English version here. The publisher's description says:
This heavily illustrated book takes children on an imaginary journey to medieval Europe, where knights swore oaths of loyalty to their lords and lived according to the rules of chivalry. Dramatic full-color spreads on every page show and describe the typical knight--his armor, his weapons, his helmet, his horse, and his activities. Young readers learn about--
* The Making of a Knight: his training for battle and horsemanship skill
* The Knight's Armor: chain mail, plate armor, and helmets
* Weapons: the sword, the mace, and the lance
* Chivalry: the code of conduct that emphasized loyalty and courtesy
* Jousting Tournaments: the main sporting events of medieval Europe
* Heraldry: the history, art, and study of coats of arms
This fascinating volume's added features include illustrated flaps and three gatefold pockets containing cardboard press-out models for kids to assemble. One is a knight's helmet, the second is a standing knight in armor, and the third is a knight on horseback. The book's front cover shows a knight's helmet-covered face. When kids push a tab to lift the helmet's visor, they uncover the knight's face.
I think I am still a kid, because I find it fascinating! It also doesn't hurt that it's useful reference book for the College. I now know the Bulgarian words for a lot of SCA terminology. It's a win-win purchase!
The heraldry section is certainly interesting!
Imagine my delight in seeing a new window display that included a large, heavily illustrated book entitled Представи си, че си рицар.
I know that doesn't mean a lot to you (Hi Mom!), but it translates as Imagine You're a Knight. You can see an English version here. The publisher's description says:
This heavily illustrated book takes children on an imaginary journey to medieval Europe, where knights swore oaths of loyalty to their lords and lived according to the rules of chivalry. Dramatic full-color spreads on every page show and describe the typical knight--his armor, his weapons, his helmet, his horse, and his activities. Young readers learn about--
* The Making of a Knight: his training for battle and horsemanship skill
* The Knight's Armor: chain mail, plate armor, and helmets
* Weapons: the sword, the mace, and the lance
* Chivalry: the code of conduct that emphasized loyalty and courtesy
* Jousting Tournaments: the main sporting events of medieval Europe
* Heraldry: the history, art, and study of coats of arms
This fascinating volume's added features include illustrated flaps and three gatefold pockets containing cardboard press-out models for kids to assemble. One is a knight's helmet, the second is a standing knight in armor, and the third is a knight on horseback. The book's front cover shows a knight's helmet-covered face. When kids push a tab to lift the helmet's visor, they uncover the knight's face.
I think I am still a kid, because I find it fascinating! It also doesn't hurt that it's useful reference book for the College. I now know the Bulgarian words for a lot of SCA terminology. It's a win-win purchase!
The heraldry section is certainly interesting!
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