Travelling Time and Space

When you thought the little accidents and misfortunes couldn't continue to add up I burn my finger and just this morning I broke my sewing machine ... *sigh*

I should have stayed in bed ... 

So word is out that Battlestar Galactica Season IV won't air before April 2008.

April 2008 ?!

APRIL 2008 ?! 

As if making fans of the series wait a whole -year- only interrupted by a short teaser movier 9 months into the endless sabbatical wasn't bad enough they are now adding a few more months to the painful ordeal. To add insult to injury they are also discussing spreading the last season over 2008 -and- 2009. 

I've pretty much had it. I'm not big into watching shows on TV to begin with but this is taking me over the edge. This long hiatus has pretty much weaned me off of the Sci-Fi channel and those latest news make me consider staying off of it and not bothering to come back until the release of BSG season 4 on DVD.

How you can deliberately do everything to piss off a rather goodsized fanbased viewership in a time where ratings are everything is beyond me ...

 

 

In the evenings when everything is starting to slow down my brain starts running amok contemplating this, plotting that and coming up with the wildest questions as some of you might have noticed :o)

Since there is no standard ceremony for elevation to a peerage here you get to pick whatever and which ever way you like it. Great ! Now ...where do I start ?

Tonight I'm hitting another [selfimposed] roadblock: What to wear ? HL Cara presented me with the most scrumptious cream brocade with bees [no, not the black one with the silver bees and the little Laurel wreath from JoAnns] - it's simple and very elegant with a very soft drape. The question is - what will it be ? For the past couple of years now I have mostly worn German Renaissance dresses and I love them. My focus has shifted to a later time period than when I joined the SCA and only my winter wardrobe and my persona name show where I come from. The t-front dresses are my favorite for everyday wear but the occasion and the fabric warrant something nicer. The question is what ?

Another Cranach dress like this but with a standing collar 

 

 

Or rather something different from Swabia

 

In both cases I'd use the cream Brocade for an underdress or lining and a darker velvet [brown, black or eggplant] as the fashion fabric. Thoughts? Comments ? Suggestions ?

 

 

Watching HGTV, a glass of red wine, the Order of Precedence in one tab and gmail in another I'm sitting here writing letters of recommendation. Just my kind of evening :o)

I stumbled across a post where somebody was airing their frustration about a couple of SCA myths that prevail no matter how much effort some people put into eliminating them. I personally can add the myth that I do SCA stuff 24/7. Much to everybody's surprise I don't. Now, I do love email and being able to communicate quickly and worldwide which is really important when you are a legal alien like me, and so I'm present and quickly available. However, it's been 3 days since I touched any of my brushes and other than setting up my sewing machine for C&C pouches last Wednesday I haven't done any SCA sewing in a month. Most of my actual projects come in spurts whenever creativity strikes and I'm done thinking, plotting and planning. Then there is no stopping me until I get everything out of my system :o) In the meantime I do maintenance like updating webpages, cleaning up lists, reading, collecting ideas, etc. Today I spent my 1 hour off during munchkin naptime sewing up a pumpkin orange renaissance shirt complete with cuffs and ruffs for his stint as juggler at Jax Zoo's Spookalooza this coming weekend. While the color is a tad bright [Blind ! I'm blind !] it turned out rather spiff :o) Next was getting started on Finn's astronaut costume we will need to go trick or treat-ing with Milica and her daughter again this year. For the helmet I abused a plastic pumpkin bucket [Heh ...], spraypainted it silver after cutting a window into the front, then I added a shield, a set of old headphones and voila - instant astronaut helmet ... the airtanks - two plastic waterbottles spraypainted and 'macgyvered' with some plastic tubing were next. *giggle* Now it's on to the silver suit. Well, yeah, I don't know what I'm going to wear but I have enough garb to thrown something together. And if I'm feeling gothy I have a black taffeta skirt and a nice velvet top that I can use :o) Pictures to follow - I promise !

Sputnik, the flying squirrel, did not make it through the second night - much to the whole family's dismay. Rest in peace, little guy.

So after lamenting and "oh woe is me-ing" over the scroll I managed to ruin last week I've finally returned to working on the new and so far unblemished version.

Once the munchkin is down to take his morning nap I'll start laying down the goldleaf and hopefully by tomorrow I'll begin painting the miniature. The calligraphy turned out really nice again so luckily the first one wasn't a one-time shot :o) It's looking good and this time the waterdish stays trapped behind bars so it can't tip.

In other news it looks like I became mommy to a flying squirrel last night. Heh :o)

When I escorted some of my Shiremates who came for A&S night at my place down the stairs I noticed Boots, our female cat, trying to eat something ... or rather someone. At first glance, in the dark, I thought the little creature holding on to the back of the fence pole watched by the hungry black cat on the other side was a bat. Then, upon closer inspection the bat looked more like a mouse until I discovered the tail and gasped "baby squirrel!" I do have a thing for squirrel, not only since meeting Margie and her pouch babies, but ever since I had a rather rare and unique little red squirrel entertain me for a handful of nuts at the porch of my apartment back in Hamburg, Germany. Here they are all over the place which amuses me. Yes, I'm easily entertained *G*

Anyhow, when I went to rescue the little thing it hobbled over to the wooden fence that separates our yard from that of our neighbours and when I went to grab it it fought with teeth and claws and then simply pressed itself flat against the wood turning into a fuzzy rectangle or rather surprising proportion. What the ... ? Sugarglider was my first thought but it doesn't have the little trademark hands and the rather dashing striped coat but it does have the patagium, the flying skin flap, and now I'm pretty convinced that 'Sputnik' is a Southern Flying Squirrel. He's really adorable with his huge black eyes and the very fine soft coat and seems to be okay with his current domicil, the cat carrier. While Sputnik's main interest yesterday was trying to take chunks out of my fingers [trying to - he didn't manage but he -did- pinch good] he seemed fine with me rolling him into my hand and placing him into a belt pouch. If that's what Margie's squirrel babies like, it can't be wrong for a flying squirrel, right ? He seemed to love it and spent the past 2.5 hours sleeping in the pouch while I was laying down the mordant for later gilding and occasionally I felt him roll over and snuggle back down. Since I have to vacuum I just returned him to his house and he approved of his new and improved nest : a crochet yarn roll that fits perfectly.

Now I'm trying to figure out what to do next with our little friend who has survived last night's adventure with the big black cat unscathed. In the meantime there are all kinds of squirrel goodies in the house aplenty...

 

This past weekend Darlene, Finndragon and I went to attend Village Fair. We left early in the morning after a quick breakfast and arrived safely and after less than 2h ride at the event site that looked simply beautiful in the sunlight from the heartbreakingly blue sky, a soft breeze rustling through the trees.

Fall is my favorite Florida season. It is still warm and the lakes and sea soaked with a long summer's heat perfect for swimming. The sunlight has lost its bright glare and now shines with a gentler light that enhances the color rather than bleaching it and the sky is nothing but blue. A blue so true it makes your heart ache.

This beautiful day made for a very relaxed event. People ambled about, stopping here and there to casually chat with each other before proceeding to one of the many classes offered or to witness the fighting at the listfield. Darlene vanished shortly after our arrival into the kitchen to busy herself with some onions and Finndragon and I alternated between playing ball and socializing with all those people we have come to cherish over the past couple of years and who weren't tied up in meetings or being Queen ;o)

We had lunch in the shade of a big tree and we feasted on little baked savory tartlettes, olives, pickled beets, nuts and apples and yes, for a moment I wished the Gatorade in my mug was happily foaming beer fresh from a keg but it was good all the same.

Court business was quick and easy and as always a pleasure. Our Crown is wonderful and it's a breeze working with them that I'm sorry I haven't been able to make it to many events yet during their reign. After Court business Finn [mightily impressed by having been introduced to the King] and I went off to find Darlene and then walked over to the Pavilion to find seats for royal court. Halfway there we had to stop to dress Finn into some clean garb since he'd managed to pour half of his chocolate milk over a sleeve. We met with Darlene at the pavilion where Countess Dulcia had been industriously distributing Court Bingo cards. Darlene 's bingo card features a box with "Scroll by Maeva Eiriksdottir" - so much for flying under the radar. I knew I wasn't good at that at all but the bingo card did surprise me. Well, that wasn't the only surprise waiting to happen.

Court started with Baronial Court  of the Barony of Darkwater. Awards were bestowed, thanks given and winners of the various competitions throughout the day announced. Since I had been to court business I knew that royal court was going to be short and I saw us already on the road, back at home fairly early in the evening.

Yeah, right.

After the last item of business Master Rurik, the court herald, raised his voice to yet another announcement calling up the names of the Laurels present along with their specialty who rose from their seats and simply stood. For a moment I was wondering what special projects the Laurels were up to [For those Drachenwalders who read this it reminded me of the Drachenwald 10 Years announcement they did at Baronial Investiture ..."Who will fight at .. ?" "I,-name-, will fight!" Remember ?].Melessee was sitting closest to me and she stood when Master Rurik called her and named her specialty. I know I turned to look back to the thrones since there were no more Laurels sitting further to the front on my side of the aisles and hear Master Rurik continue ".. and Maeva Eiriksdottir". And that was when something slammed into my stomach and forced the air out of my lungs. I do not know how I got to be standing in front of the thrones with all those very happy and excited Laurels behind me. I do vaguely remember the question whether I want to join the Order of the Laurel and I know I was barely able to stand, pretty much torn between bursting into tears, passing out or throwing up [which really is a bad idea - you can't just throw up on your king and queen. Bad idea, really bad ...]. I think I nodded after squeezing out a "I don't know ... I need to sit down" and everybody was laughing and hugging and OMIGOD! Thank you to Darlene for getting me and Finn back home. You were a godsend :o)

So here I am... Ich armer Tor und bin so schlau als wie zuvor. I'm overwhelmed by the faith all those people have in me, how much they love me and how much pride they take in me. I know they placed an awfully big pair of shoes in front of me to fill but I'll be damned if I don't try to be the best I can be for them and with them. For the past couple of days I've been incredibly emotional and "holy sh*t" has become my personal mantra. I still can't believe it but all the congratulations and the many emails I've received make it more real. Good thing I have a bunch of award scrolls to make - nothing better to put peace into the ant nest my head has become.

Right now I'm charged to find a suitable date for the actual ceremony, the rite of passage Merly called it that will mark my step into the next apprenticeship. God, there is somuch more to learn. I've just begun !

Thank you all. I don't know what I have done to deserve all this.

I'm so blessed. 

Help ! 

 

A full cup of water on a scroll ? Not so good. Not good at all.

There. 20+ hours of work just went down the drain ...

*sigh* 

I should've stayed in bed ... 

I perked up when I saw the tent thinking it looked familiar Then I saw Master Aethstan and went "squee" doubletaking at the familiar coat of arms in gold and purpure of Master Rhys Terafan. my Laurel :o) one of

Of course I have to share the joy so here it is, one of the bestest videos ever starring a whole bunch of very very special people

Go to sca-video.com/view/30/sca-in-jersey /

 

 

I just saw the Battlestar Galactica 4th Season teaser and all I can say is

 

OMIGOD OMIGOD OMIGOD !!!!!!!!!! 

So earlier today I'd typed up a whole thing about all kinds of stuff including not being able to join my Shire mates at the event, taking Finndragon to the Florida Theater to watch the Musical "Ruby & Max" and Ms and my plans to go to Pennsic next year and then tblog crashed on me and ate my post. Bah !

So I'm not retyping that and if you want more you'll have to email me or come see me :o) Anyways, I ended up with about an hour of uninterrupted me-time this morning during which I managed to work a bit on my special project. I'd finalized the linedrawing about a week ago and added goldleaf on Saturday - my only accomplishment this weekend, well, SCAwise that is.

Today the calligraphy followed and I even managed to start painting in the miniature. And, oh boy, it's coming along great. I love-love-love the calligraphy - my best ever, I think - and the first bits of paint look very very promising! It must be all that love that is going into this particular award and I feel like each brushstroke is celebrating how special this person is. No, it's not my husband :o) That other person is very special in a different way and I feel honored in being able to commemorate this occasion with my meager talent.

I really can't think of a better hobby :o)

Get Your Monster Name

One interview down, one more to go. By next week we'll probably know -something- ... I hope.

In other news I've been playing with my webpage and uploaded a few new pictures that the girls and I took in the park. Medieval babes in the woods - man, are we good looking *G*