Sun-browned and happy

I'm back home from this year's Winchester Pilgrimage and once again, it was awesome. Photos tomorrow! We couldn't have had better weather - sunny and warm every day!




A corner of the encampment at the Hospital of Saint Cross.





Here's the family on the walk.



The fiber twins - Spin and Knit!







Constanza and I vowed to do better on the Pilgrim's Knowledge competition this year and we tied with HE Susannah of York for second place. We won a beautiful candle lantern made by Lord Matthew Baker to light us along the Pilgrim's Way. Not too bad! We offered to help with next year's competition and are going to add information about Orthodox saints too. :)



Many of our friends were there and I am so glad that Lady Sofia di Marcello was able to come with us. I think she really enjoyed meeting everyone and going on pilgrimage.





Pretty Winchester buildings.



The Cathedral.







During Court, HE Genevieve la Flechiere was put on vigil for the Order of the Pelican. She will give her answer at Raglan Fair in August. I really wish I could be there, but my work schedule prevents.

On a different note, there have been more than 400 aftershocks since last week's 6.0 - in fact, there was just another little one. It's getting old, frankly.

What's shakin'?

That would be us! I'll do a real update later today, but for now - wow! That was a noisy 5.8 earthquake! First tremor felt here at 03:06, first aftershock at 03:10. Novinite says the entire population of Sofia is out on the street. That would be something to see. Here's an update - they're now saying 5.9, maybe 6.0.

Gifts

One of our graduating SCAdians stopped by my office today to say goodbye and to tell me about his plans for the future. He'll be working in Tirana, but plans to come back to campus for at least one College (SCA) event each semester for the next year. Then he hopes to go on for a Phd at Oxford. I guess at that point we'll have to hand him on to the Insulae Draconis lot, but until then , he's one of us. It was good to know how much he values the Society and our company. It was the real gift of the day.

A Dyer's Garden

Now that I own my home and garden, I can finally have a dyer's garden again. I used to have a really good herb garden in upstate New York, before we moved to Europe. Since them, it's been all rental flats or houses,with no garden space. Well, not any more!!! So far, I've started weld, indigo, coreopsis, false saffron, black-eyed Susan, hollyhock, Lady's Mantle, pot marigold, sunflower, and tansy for dye usage. I've also started my culinary herbs and veggies and am really looking forward to building this garden from scratch.

Camera woes

I am SO tired of being unable to post photo updates here. Argh! You see, when I moved last fall, friends helped me pack. I say "helped" loosely, because all too many boxes were mis- or un-labeled. The packing was fine, but finding what you needed later, well, not so much. Because we've been unpacking as rooms are finished, is has been even harder to find things; especially small things, well-hidden! I gave up this morning and ordered a new camera charger. I have the camera, the computer cables, the case, but no charger. >sigh< So in a few days, I should be back in the photo business, just in time for some shots of some almost finished items!

Waiting for the weekend!

Just four more hours and it will be the start of a four-day weekend for May Day! I hope to finally do all my spring cleaning and finish the planting outside. And maybe even get in a little more sewing and/or embroidery! I only have 26 days until I fly to the UK for the Winchester Pilgrimage, so I need to get moving on my projects.

More gardening fun!

Yesterday afternoon three friends came by with a rototiller and strong backs and tilled 3/4 of the garden (It's pretty big) They also planted our new лозе, or vinyard. They were pickier in their doings than a first-time mom with a new baby! But they said the grapes we picked were good varieties, both the ones for wine and the table grapes. The old grapes that are already here are in bloom, so we'll have at least a few for this year.