Some Raglan projects revealed

For Raglan Fair X, I made several banners as surprise gifts for friends. They are specifically camping banners, made to deal with rain and mud and wind. I am very happy that everyone liked they very much. In fact, they were so well-liked that I now have commissions to make two for some other friends! The best part was that Barun Pol O'Briain was put on vigil for the Order of the Pelican at the Fair and he was able to use his banner in the vigil room as part of his display. It was a happy coincidence!

 

Lady Catherine Weaver of Thamesreach

 

Viscountess Susannah of York

 

Master Pol O'Briain

 

Baroness Caitriona of the Raven

Ten days and counting down.

Three projects finished, two more than half finished. Packing started. Don't know if it will all come together in time, but I'm trying! Pictures after Raglan, because nearly everything is a surprise gift!

Seventeen days

Until Rhaglan Ffaire. Yikes! Many, many projects to complete!

Old enough to vote...

Today is the 21st anniversary of my family's move to Bulgaria. It was intended to be for just a year. We left behind a house, family, friends, and jobs to have an adventure. Heh! Funny how plans and dreams change with time! I'm completely settled here now and I love it - the country, my home, and my job. I'm close enough to my kids to see them whenever I want to take a long weekend and I'm looking forward to becoming a grandmother in October! Life is good!

Excellent Fourth of July/SCA weekend!

         My friends from Kossovo came over for the long weekend and we did all the medieval things, plus a little Independence Day celebrating. We (that's the family, plus folks from the College, and our visitors) started out Friday with a rousing backyard fighter practice, followed by more food than any of us could eat, then more fighting, then fireworks and vodka-spiked watermelon.

Saturday saw us at the Modvs Vivendi medieval fair at the Boyana Church in Sofia (where we saw a fighting demo, visited an encampment setup, and heard several music groups perform).

 

Next was a visit to the National History Museum, then back home and into Blagoevgrad for dinner at the Irish pub.

 

 

And on Sunday, we made a trip to the Rila Monastery. To my surprise, you can now buy a ticket and climb up Hrelyu's Tower! And the ethnographic rooms have all reopened! We had a lovely time and finished up with lunch at my favorite restaurant and mekitzi from the monastery bakery.

Post-Midsummer catching up!

So, here it is, the last day of June and not a single post this month. Yikes! Life has been very, very busy - but in a good way. I've driven to Kossovo with three good friends and attended a colleagues' awesome wedding , done some sightseeing at a monastery and a Roman cemetery, and had some of the best Balkan food ever. I've been to the UK and visited both kids and their respective spouses, had a wonderful time at Midsummer Coronation, and finally got a toile made for Guy's jacket. I've had good SCAdian friends visit here and watched  fighter practice in my back yard for the first time. And I am eagerly anticipating the Fourth of July Weekend, when  the SCA folk will be back and we'll have a cookout and fighter practice and general merriment. Huzzah for Summer!

Here are some Coronation photos that don't do the event or the site justice!

Lots done, but not much sewing

We've had a run on getting things done in the garden, which has kept me out of the house and away from my needles! I'm currently on a six day holiday weekend (May Day and Saint George's Day are holidays and fell on Thursday and Tuesday, so we got the entire time off!) and we're working between the raindrops. The new front sidewalk is finished, a pergola has been installed in the front garden and it looks lovely with the grapevines over it. Now we need a bench to go under it. There are eight new David Austin roses in the central border, along with a new pink clematis to go with the original purple one (which is in full bloom). Half of the front lawn has been cleared and raked, ready to be and seeded with new grass. The other half of the front garden is partially cleared and if the rain lets up, it should be finished tomorrow. There's a new picket fence and gate enclosing the dog yard and there are now four raised beds and they are all painted white. It looks so nice! The peach trees have all been sprayed for leaf curl and are looking good - and they are FULL of little peaches! The apple tree and the quince are absolutely loaded too. It should be a bumper crop, of all goes well.

The only stitching I've done has been to finish a little white linen cap for Gwen. It has round braid ties in her mom's signature purple and white. She likes hats, so it should be a hit, hopefully!