Kingdom University/Yule Ball fun!

So, I'm home from KU and it was just excellent. I started out my Saturday morning by helping at the Herald's Consultation Table. We had a few takers, but mostly I worked on some pending clients' names and devices with the other heralds.

Later, I took a very well done class on beginning illumination with Lady Katherine of Great Chesterford and sat in on a C&I round table led by Mistress Genevieve, Mistress Oriane, and Lady Arianhwy Wen. It was a "terrible" thing to do, because I made the "mistake" of asking what should be in  a basic illumination kit. That led to a shopping list and a trip to Cornellison's in London after the event. This led to a large bag of goodies to get home. I'm now in the process of setting up a little scribal corner under my skylight! I also took a class on Homage and Fealty with Lady Lyonet de Covenham. Very interesting stuff and well presented!

Feast was lovely and we had nearly the entire household present. We added the Lady Þora Sumarliđadottir to our number and pre-admitted the baby bump belonging to Elyenora de Alesleye and Richard of Quintone. The poor mite may wind up with the SCA surname Monsterberg! Two other folk are currently under consideration, based on getting to know them better and checking on their other commitments. Raglan is going to be SO FUN this year!

After knee surgery, I don't dance, so I skipped the Ball, but the games area was lively, as was the company. Master Robert made it an evening that will never be forgotten by many!

Photos to follow after unpacking and laundry!

So proud of my kids!

So, the weekend just past was the Coronet Tournament for Insulae Draconis. During the various courts, both my daughter and my son-in-law received awards. Both of them were entered into the Orden des Lindquistringes, the Kingdom level service order. Now we are all order members! Here's its description:

This award was established to honor a former member of the Principality/Protectorate, Fahrquar Finley Fahrquarson (John Lindquist). It is now presented to those people who have distinguished themselves by long and extraordinary service to the Kingdom. The badge of the Order is (Fieldless) a ring formed of a wingless dragon in annulo widdershins Or, maintaining in chief with all four legs and mouth a gem gules.

My daughter was also given entry into the Order of the Fox, a Principality award for combat arts.

This Order’s membership have been recognized for their skills in some or all of the fields of heavy combat, fencing, target or combat archery and thrown weapons. As well as recognizing levels of skill, both existing and emerging; it also represents those willing to teach others, thus broadening the roster of participants in that field and those who show courtesy both on and off the field.

I'm so proud of them both!

New duties

I have gladly served the College of Saint John of Rila as seneschal  from its beginning, through incipiency and on to full branch status. It is now time to step down and pass the job on to Lady Sorcha bean mhic Dhomhnaill. This doesn't mean I won't continue to serve the College as herald, though. I will also be stepping up to serve the Kingdom as deputy seneschal for the Southern region (Bulgaria, Spain, UAE, and South Africa) when my warrant is signed. I think some travelling is in the works! How can I serve outside Bulgaria if I don't visit?!

Waiting for Yule Ball and Kingdom University

These two events are combined this year and I can hardly wait! There's a great set of course offerings, the ball will be lovely, since the dancing is being organized by Mistress Margaret de May, and the setting is a period castle.

Buckden Towers is a 12th century fortified manor house located in Cambridgeshire. I'll be flying in to London, and then travelling up to Buckden by train with a party of household members. We must NOT sit in the quiet coach! Just 11 days and I'll be on a plane!

Episode 1 - Secrets of the Castle

I've enjoyed the various BBC history documentary series featuring Ruth Goodman and Peter Ginn, starting with Tales from the Green Valley. This latest installation, Secrets of the Castle, features Guédelon Castle, a modern recreation of a 13th century French Castle.

And even more special about this show is that one of Drachenwald's own SCAdians is one of the costumers!! Look here to see her blog post about it!

Episode one just aired and is, as usual, fascinating. It makes one want to do even more reenacting!

Episode two features sewing a gambeson and building a crossbow.

Episode three has lime render, wall painting, toilets, and tile making.

Episode four has building a water mill, fish supper with pike, wood working, and bread baking

Episode five has Byzantine arches, stone carving, dyeing, and goldwork embroidery. Ruth is not a stellar embroideress. But she is a good pilgrim!

Well, I missed October entirely.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I haven't been around much here. That's not to say I haven't been working on projects, just that my time has been extraordinarily limited by Real Life.

Here's a sample of what I have been able to do though!

Lord Guy now has a lovely red wool livery coat and will be toasty warm for winter events. I do not claim the grand blackwork shirt he has on. That is the work of his wife, Lady Constanza!

I have also been working on a project for the Kingdom's second Arts & Sciences gift exchange. Here's a peek at part of the gift I made.

Winter is Coming!

      I cleared some things out of the garden today, because autumn is here in full force. I have hops in the dehydrator, because I'm planning to try my hand at beer making over the winter. I brought in all the rose hips I could find, because they are full of Vitamin C and are good for winter colds. The quinces are in and waiting to be turned into jelly and paste and the last of the peppers and eggplants should make a nice batch of kyopolou, or eggplant caviar, as it is also known. So it's off to the kitchen!

      Before I started on the garden/kitchen tasks, I finished up two quilted arming coifs for the fighters at the College and two more embroidered badges for the Household. It has been a very productive day!