Travelling Time and Space

24h from now we will be on the road to Pennsic! Wheeeee :o) I have conquered my Pre-Pennsic panic and I'm now the calm before the storm. I feel like taking a nap (but I'm at work so that's a no go right now). I'm packed and ready to go except for the overnight bag with toiletries and a few mundane clothes for extra change. Since Finndragon will be traveling with us until we meet up with the Grandparents we will be spending one night in a hotel and I also needed to pack for two; Finndragon took care of his entertainment bag for the drive. The Grandparents will keep him busy at their place so he won't miss his stuff at home. Well, maybe except for Batman, the guinea pig, and the cats :o) The new tent poles look fabu-licious. I like the new finials very much even if I didn't get around to gilding them. That'll go on the post-Pennsic project list. Maybe I can squeeze in one last "might be nice to have" project tonight - I'd really like to be able to attach a pennon to the finial(s) and all it'd take is one more hole and some modifications to a handy-dandy oak dowl I have kicking around at home. Hmmmm .... we'll see. Guess this is it for a last update before we leave. We are going to be back on the 10th of August (with shitloads of laundry ... ugh - now Milica is laughing - wait 'til you see the laundry pile, hah!). I will not bring a laptop and I won't seek out internet access while at pennsic so it'll be vewy vewy quiet here. Quieter than usual when I'm just procrastinating updating. Take care, make stuff, have fun! Be back soon!

I'm down to the "would be nice to have but the sky won't fall on our heads if I don't" kind of projects for Pennsic. Next thing is packing stuff, one last dentist appointment and in 1 1/2weeks we're on the road.

Eeep! 

My poor Jeep is fixable after all, the other insurance is paying for, it goes into the shop for good on Monday and I'll even get a rental car for the time they will be working on my poor car (which will be about two weeks ... or 58 work hours - no, I'm not kidding).

For the past couple of days I've been vegging; driving home after work, pick up Finndragon, cover basic household chores and doze off on the couch until hubby came home only to then crawl into bed.I got my motivation slammed right out of my system on Tuesday, it seems, and it took forever to come back.

Today is the first day that I tackled my remaining sewing projects with any kind of fervor and so far things are turning out nicely. I now have a nice canvas pilgrim's scrip to take to Pennsic which will be so much more comfortable and practical than my little basket that I usually lug around, my salmon Norse underdress is done and I've made a black velvet and cream bee brocade German Renaissance starfish hat :o)

Now I've got to run over to the craft store to hunt down some feathers! 

 

... to ruin your day.

 

This morning, a mere 3 blocks from my final destination, I became victim to a fenderbender. The ramp that I usually get off of the highway features a very curved off ramp. A ramp that I now driving the heavy Jeep tend to take at 15mph ..maybe 20mph if I'm in a frisky mood. The Jeep is heavy, heavier than the van, and once in motion needs room to stop, room that I don't have on this curved and rather short off ramp. This morning watching the oncoming traffic I decided to slow down from my 15mph to wait out the oncoming traffic. Could I have made it if I'd floored the gas pedal to the floor and through it? Maybe ... squealing wheels and everything. Could the guy behind me have done it? Maybe, but not with another car in front.

He tried anyhow.

Didn't work, I tell you.

I stopped him before he could wreak more havoc

*sigh*

Waiting for an opening in the traffic something slammed into the back of my car and I narrowly missed kissing the dashboard. Now my good ol' Jeep needs to go see the body shop (the trailer hitch is bent, the fender is bent, the trunk door is bent and so is the back door on the driver's side) for some serious work. It's still drivable fortunately which is something the other guy can't claim for his car. It was busy leaking transmission fluid while we were waiting for the cops...

Me? I guess I'm okay. I'm still a bit shaky, my neck is somewhat stiff from the whiplash and people in cars behind me make me slightly nervous but I'm alive and kicking. And grateful to be...

Your result for The hardcore SCA Test...

The Queen's Champion

Take The hardcore SCA Test at HelloQuizzy

The Pennsic university class list started out with 57 pages worth of classes. After eliminating the classes I'm not interested in and those classes being held before our arrival on site I managed to trim the list down to 13 pages ...

Today I discovered the list had been updated again .... to 69 pages total, and this is without listing any classes that are being added between now and the official start of Pennsic.

I guess I'll just have to clone myself ... 

Back from my dental surgery and only slightly dizzy from the ittle blue pill - dental surgery is a crappy way of starting into a new month, I tell you.

The funny thing is now that I'm back home and my adrenalin rush is slowing down all the great drugs I took to help ease my dentistry anxiety are now kicking in the safety of my home. Sweet ...I wish they'd work sooner but with hubby off to work and Finndragon at school a nap sounds like a fabulous way of getting my frazzled nerves back in order.

TTTFN - talk to you later :o)  

The Pennsic University schedule is online!

57 pages worth of delightful classes - I'll need a time planer to plot out my days at Pennsic! 

Yesterday found me on a roll at the sewing machine: I fixed and altered 2 kirtles and 1 apron dress, finished another Hemd, sewed a pair of bloomers start to finish and after a very pleasant interruption spent sipping wine and chatting with the lovely Lady Martine on my porch I threw in a pair of stockings for good measure.

That is, even for my spontaneous bursts of creativity and energy, a rather unusual feat and it was much helped by the fact that Finndragon happily played house with a number of action figures in his room rather than desire Mommy entertainment and hubby was off to a  good-bye party of a  fellow journalist.

Now I admit I'm easily amused, and by the simplest things ever. One of the things I love about my modern lightweight sewing machine ( which is very different from my assortment of old Singer workhorses that weigh a metric ton) are the funky stitches. "Heirloom" stitches, I believe they are called, and they include leafy scrollwork stitches, little rows of flowers and other stitches I have no clue what they could be possibly used for. My preferred stitch is the running stitch and occasionally I'll use a zigzag on the inside of a dress if I forgot to leave enough seam allowance for a proper seam finish (oh the shame!).

Easily amused, remember? Now while I was finishing seams on my new bloomers last night I decided to follow Milica's example and use a fancy stitch to finish the hem of the legs for a little bit of "bling" - kind of the equivalent to the little pink bow, lace-y edging, etc. on modern underwear. Dozing over the process of gently guiding the fabric while the machine did its 'thing' I mused how it looked very much like a string of laurel leaves - a thought that send my wine-corrupted mind into frantic activity. Oh, the possibilities! .... Then I started giggling which turned into gleeful squealing and now my bloomers sport a flirty laurel wreath on the backside :o)

There - now you know what Laurels wear under their kirtles ... heh!  

...so good.

It looks like my estimate was about right: I do have enough garb to last me a week and then some without having to dip into the darkest corner of the closet with the ubiquitous collection of garb I have but don't like to wear. Heh ... :o)  This is helped by the fact that I haven't grown into either direction since, well, after giving birth to the Finndragon. He did unspeakable things to my hips *sigh*

Back to the list:

- check garb for necessary repairs

- add headwraps/coifs

- add hosen

- add bloomers

- finish 2 more smocks (already cut and assembled but need finishing touches)   

 

Time is flying and Pennsic is approaching fast.I still can't quite believe that this year I will indeed attend the SCA's biggest event in PA but I do have my pre-registration confirmation and that's proof, right?

Anyways, today - after a very unsuccessful trip to both Home Depot and Lowes for a set of bed rail brackets - I decided to -not- make a bed for Pennsic and rather fall back on the modern convenience of a Northern Territory Camping Cot. Covered up it'l look just fine and I get to cross one item off of my to-do list. A list that is still rather long and time-consuming, if I may say so. Today I'm off of work - vacation! - and I'm in the midst of pulling all available garb out of our packed SCA closet. I need to take stock so that I know what items exactly I have to add before Pennsic and which, while nice to have, can be safely postponed until a later date. 

I have three time periods to dip into: 9th century Norse and 15th and 16th century German, and I'll probably only have to add some undergarments such as smocks, bloomers and stockings and a coif or two and headwraps. Fabric is aplenty and all I need to do is find some time to sew. Riiiight :o)  

This weekend or next we' have to do a test run with the tent and finish the new poles. Our tent has grown miraculously and the uprights ended up half a foot too short which made for saggy sides. Can't have saggy sides, oh noes :o)

Then it's on to staging and packing and just a week after my birthday we'll hit the road!

Oh boy ....:o) 

 

*bangs head on desk*

*repeatedly*

 

87 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Going to two events in a row with barely enough time to take care of the laundry before packing everything up again isn't my most favorite thing to do in the world but after missing the Order meeting at TMT I felt I had to be a good Laurel and be present at Trimaris' Summer Art-Sci Fair this past weekend.

And you know what? I'm sooooo glad I went! I had a fabulous time and it's been a long long while that an event felt to me like an event should - relaxed fun, pitching in where needed when needed, camaraderie with laughter and tears of joy, lots of hugs and smiles and time for conversations and of course delighting in cool A&S entries.

What an excellent weekend with delicious food on a site that despite the tick plague was lovely with its ample shade and air-conditioned hall and cabin! If you didn't go, you certainly missed out on some quality SCA time :o) 

• widowed for the weekend thanks to OASIS con in Orlando
• picked up a food poisoning at a burger place in Palatka on the way to the event (cannot recommend either)
• loved the new little chandelier for the tent
• enjoyed the company in the shire encampment despite feeling crummy
• I am blessed with the most charming and well-behaved boy ever
• I missed pretty much all of the cool stuff
• I missed all of the crappy stuff
• I -did-, however, see a Black Racer (that's a snake for those Non-Floridians reading this) in our encampment
• The Sandhill Crane kept watch all weekend
• It wasn't all that hot, really
• Congratulations to our newest Knight Sir Killian
• More Congratulations to our newest baby bird, Mistress Melessee
• And some more Congratulations to our littlest soon-to-be-bird Theadora who picked next week's Art-Sci Faire for her elevation
• I love this hobby :o)
  

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHH HH !!! NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoooooooo ooooo *howl* *slump* 's no fair ... no fair at all. A popsicle stick should not explode all over your packing area ... and seep under the glass of the frame of a certain scroll ... and make a mess .... aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

This past week I've been on a roll. I've been making stuff and most of the time I can be found cackling gleefully over yet another little addition to camp or wardrobe. Sunday our local tournament/revel is coming up and I can't wait because it'll be the first chance for the outing of all the cool things we've made recently!

Last night was particularly fun! The girls came over to set up our brand spanking new gallery/dining-fly and it worked like a charm. After that we finally tackled our wood and ended the evening with two finished benches and a half-finished table. This morning while cleaning up the saw dust covered porch I discovered a few cut outs that could  be used for ...hmmm ... and ere you could say "Behold!" a new project was born and finished 30 minutes later. This is going to be a surprised for Sunday .... that is if I can keep my mouth shut and not blabber about it because it's soo neat!

Not having to go to work tomorrow will help. I don't think I could not blurt it out sitting next to Milica for 3h straight. I'd need duct tape for my mouth, I swear :) Tomorrow is Finndragon's pre-school graduation. This past year has zapped by so fast and in 3 more months my baby will move on to Kindergarten!

Sheeesh .... 

When I was about 5 or 6 years old one of my ittibitty molars had to be removed by the dentist to not impact a new molar breaking through. I was - naturally - terrified of the thought of the dentist jerking out my tooth with a pair of pliers and during the first visit absolutely refused to open my mouth. We had to return the next day for another try and rather than quickly drugging up this resolved kindergarten  kid this neolithic dentist forced me into the chair and held me down,all the while yelling at me.

Fast forward 30 years.

Every time I sit down in a dentist's chair I turn into a terrified 5 year old in fight or flight mode *sigh* A high pain tolerance isn't really helping either so by the time I know I cannot avoid going to the dentist any longer (I so wish we were like sharks in that regard) I'm in for bigger trouble than necessary.

Intellectually, I know all of that. I just cannot closet that 5 year old. Thanks to a very very nice and understanding dentist who radiated calmness I actually enjoyed yesterday's root canal. No, I'm not kidding. Hubby was delighted and very relieved to see me in such a great mood after leaving the office. I did take a Zanax beforehand and I received gas but frankly, I do not think I felt either, really. I was fully aware of everything that was going on and occasionally noticed that I should relax my shoulders or my back into the chair. None of that promised dizziness and drunkeness. You'd think that a body that doesn't get anything but a double dose of Ibuprofen during a migraine attack would react happily to  so many drugs at once but noooo, not my body. Meh.

Anyhow, it went well, my head is still attached and while it's a little tender all I've needed for now was a single Ibuprofen rather than the K.O. hammer Vicodine he prescribed - just in case. 

"Dieses war der erste Streich, und der zweite folgt sogleich!" 

Yesterday the girls and I went wood shopping at one of the large home improvement stores and due to several customer service blunders we spent way more time there than we'd intended to. Armed with plenty of wood for a variety of medieval furniture projects we finally managed to flee the store and get home with barely enough time to fix dinner. We were starving!

Dinner was delightful with grilled pork chops, stuffed baked mushrooms, three different salads from leafy goodness to German potato salad comfort, roasted garlic, delicious bread and tsasiki (sourcream with garlic and minced cucumber) for dipping. We ate until we're bursting at the seams:o)

Of course we still have our projects to do which we were hoping to use at Sunday's Bragging Rights Tournament in the Park. Since hubby knows that my favorite thing to do is spending quality time with him and Finndragon we first picked up his motorcycle, then headed for a picnic in the park flying kites to return home for some project time. While hubby was playing with his bike I happily futzed around with jigsaw and drill and now all wood is cut up into the various base pieces for benches and tables and our brandnew sunshade. That way we save time when getting together to do the fine tuning later this week and actually have a chance at finishing at least some of our to-do-list.

I'm just taking a break from sewing the canvas for the sunshade and I can't wait to see when it's done! $40 in material and so far 1h spent - a simple quick project whch is going to have a major impact on the look of our Squirrel encampment. Ever since we were awarded the Crown's Acclaim for Heraldic Display we have felt like we have to improve our kit by leaps and bounds to be worthy of this honor. And one of the first things that have to go is our modern (albeit covered up) sunshade. It's probably going to have one last appearance on Sunday to provide shade for visitors but then it's going to retire for good :o)It's a nice versatile design which will even allow us to add modules to expand! I promise to show off pictures next week.

Tomorrow I'm off to the dentist *grimace* Wish me luck! 

If you're happy and a Laurel clap your hands
if you're happy and a Laurel clap your hands
if you're happy and a Laurel and you really want to show it
if you're happy and a Laurel clap your hands!

If you're happy and a Pelican, volunteer
if you're happy and a Pelican, volunteer
if you're happy and a Laurel and you really want to show it
if you're happy and a Pelican, volunteer

If you're happy and a Knight, then swing a stick
if you're happy and a Knight, then swing a stick
if you're happy and a Knight and you really want to show it
if you're happy and a Knight, then swing a stick

 

 

 

"We are such stuff as dreams are made on." William Shakespeare

Once or twice a week I sit down to browse a collection of blogs and online journals to see what other members in the SCA are up to, here and abroad, costumers, calligraphers, woodworkers, researchers and philosophers.  Every other time somebody will contemplate an issue, a problem, an experience made at an SCA function that gives insight into inter-Kingdom anthropologies and cultural differences of this game we play. Sometimes these issues sound ridiculously strange, sometimes they hit very very close to home. And while it is generally comforting that there are some aspects that happen everywhere giving our worldwide hobby a constant, a common base line, it is very disturbing when a complaint reveals itself as a society-wide occurrence.

"Is the interest in the SCA waning?" is the latest poll I stumbled upon and the answers are alarmingly homogeneous, from East to West  and in between.  The weak economy coupled with rising gas prices is given as one of the main reasons for this trend but I found the collection of "Other" influences much more interesting and thought-provoking

- politics
- burn out
- clique-ish behavior
- old boys club 

and so on, and so on. And you know what? I'm not buying it. Now before you start ranting at me for that keep in mind these are -my- musings, and none other but -mine-. I'm not saying I'm right (although I think I am *G*) and I'm not going to hit you if you don't believe me. Continue to read at your own free will and speed. Take it or leave it, use it as food for your own thoughts or simply shrug it off for all I care, but I felt I had to try and write down my thoughts on the matter.

"Politics". The establishing of a social pecking order, the favoring of those that make us look good or help us stay in favor, the moves and decisions you make to remain with the in-crowd, to simply belong, vying for the attention of the cool people - they happen whenever a group of people get together, whether it's a weight support group, a rabbit breeder association, a gardening club, the SCA. Sometimes these social shenanigans can get out of hand, sometimes you find yourself in the midst of it and sometimes they do leave a bad taste in your mouth. Can politics lead to burn out? To a waning in interest in the SCA (or any other club)?

They sure can and certainly do BUT only when there is nothing to fall back on.

If there is nothing than an air mattress smelling of obnoxious plastic waiting for you in a stifling hot tent or a moldy cabin, nothing waiting for you but a creaking squad chair and conversations about rising gas prices, the last car repair, the laundry at home when you flee from yet another uninspiring meeting that leaves you grumbling over yet more rules to follow and another form to fill out, then yes, politics will make you leave.

It's not the politics and squabbling between members that are the cause. It's the lack of anything but that that makes leaving, and not staying, an easy option.

In the past I've had rough stretches of time in the SCA. I've had my fair share of unpleasant moments and experiences and I've been teetering on the edge of leaving for good. No matter how disenchanted I was at any of those times, however, I always had my magic moments as I call them to fall back on, to remind me of the wonders of the SCA. I know there is that beautiful dream alive out there filled with banners fluttering lightly in the first breeze of the morning. I have seen the mist rising over medieval tents sparkling with morning dew. I've gone into the forest to collect firewood when all was still silent only to tease the sleepy heads from their comfortable cots with the first smell of pancakes and (not so medieval) coffee prepared over the camp fire. Goosebumps ran down my arms listening to tales of battles and chivalrous deeds and my memory is still ringing with the laughter over racy filk and sweet tunes sang to the crackling of a glorious fire.

I don't like that "The dream" talk, but I do encourage everyone to dream. No, not the dream that makes you obediently attend meetings and file your report. That is not the dream part of our game, that's just the organizational effort necessary so we have room to dream. Sadly, this part is taking over our game, bit by bit, step by step, one uncovered cooler, plastic chair, mundane dress, paperplate at a time.

Celebrate the romance of the Middle Ages!
Create! Teach! Learn!
Sing and dance!

Return to the roots of the dream and dream once more of noble lords and ladies, of banners, pennons and gonfalons, of clashing swords, flashing blades and whirring arrows, of breaking lances and many colorful artisans, of the glory of your kingdom and the grace of your King and Queen.

Make more than just an attempt. Give it your all and everything to give this dream substance and sustenance.

How, you may ask?
Do not allow our modern lives to creep into our medieval dream world. Within your means support the dream, from your wardrobe to your composure, from the cover over your cooler to the hat on your head. Each little step toward the magic realm of the dream counts.  The fewer modern things are around to distract us from where we want to be, the more you are contributing to the dream and the more you are helping weave the magic that makes the SCA this great hobby.

"I don't have the money/knowledge/time/skil ls/etc !"
Nothing happens over night. Take your time and progress in small steps. Nobody expects you to appear with a fully accurate encampment, wardrobe and other accoutrements within a week. That is the beauty of the SCA. Start simple and improve your kit over time, one babystep after babystep. The more you learn, the more you can contribute. Even "peri-oid" is better than modern!

Everybody loves to quote how the SCA started as a medieval party that hasn't ended yet but frankly, I believe we have forgotten how to celebrate the Middle Ages.

It's about time we remember.

 

My eyelets are starting to look like eyelets :o)

My latest garb creation is slowly nearing the finishing stage. All that is left to do is finger-knit and add aiglets to the cord for the front lacing and hemming the skirt.  Except for baglining all pieces, the dress is hand-sewn which is becoming more and more common with every dress I make. I'm having an especially good time figuring out nice laces for my sleeves, complete with aiglets for the tips for easier lacing. I discovered some tiny piping at the hardware store and after cutting it to half inch pieces and threading it onto my laces I can crimp it into place and have nifty easy-to-lace ties:o) Next on the production line are a new headwrap made from soft white linen along with a wimpel band for that very spiffy 15th century draping effect. And of course additions to hubby's and Finndragon's wardrobe. Especially Finndragon's is woefully out of date again *sigh* The munchkin is growing like a weed and definitely needs something new for events. I have some of that nice teal-blue linen left because I skimped a bit on the skirt volume so I might make him something to match Mami :o)

By now I should have enough outer dress layers for Pennsic. Now it's on to the underwear and little accessories and except for a small shelf which I'd like to whip up for our encampment I'm pretty much set. Still doesn't feel real - Squeee! I'll be going to Pennsic this year -  but I'm glad that the sewing muse bit me early. I dislike last-minute sewing projects just before an event.

Then again, I -should- be painting scrolls... oy :o) 

 

I wrote my last entry three weeks ago - how did that happen ?! Sheesh ... so here it is, the long overdue update on my adventures

St George Faire
My favorite event came and went ... this year unfortunately without me. Finndragon caught a vicious stomach virus the Friday of the event and I ended up spending the next 12 hours cleaning up after my poor munchkin who kept throwing up even when there wasn't anything left to throw up.
We barely escaped the ER and IV when by 8pm the first liquid stayed and did not come back out. You need to know that Finndragon has spit up exactly three times in his entire life. He has a stomach of iron and handles anything like Vegas: what goes in, stays in. The only times he's ever thrown up, something was seriously wrong.
When he finally stopped he went into fever mode which hubby and I watched and managed all through the night and into the early morning. It finally broke at 4am at which point hubby and I collapsed into bed. We slept and napped through most of Saturday and by Sunday Finndragon was - aside from a spell of utter exhaustion - back to his old self.

Order of the Nut and Squirrel
While I couldn't be there (and test our new encampment equipment and be there for Bres's belting and feast...bah!) the other squirrels were and had a lot of fun. Darlene looked great in her new dress that we whipped up 2 days before the event and we were honored with the Crown's Acclaim for Heraldic Display! Now we feel that we need to improve our kit to be worthy of this honor and are happily plotting new stuff :o) Innis fought great , and the girls picked me a beautiful necklace from the prize table made by Baroness Teamhair!

Bento
Twice a week Carrie and I create bento boxes for eachother for lunch. It's a lot of fun and we both enjoy surprising the other with our latest creation. Staying home for St George was sweetened by being there to personally accept my latest Bento supplies shipment: new cute Onigiri Bento boxes, more rice molds, new bags and other little things which will soon be assisting with the creation of more cutesie lunches :o) Finn got a bear bento box and is delighted to have his own lunch box now!

School
Finn's time at the preschool is nearing its end and so is my time as German teacher for the same. he will graduate from preschool in only two more weeks and then go to a different, less cost-prohibitive one for the summer. In August then he will start his Kindergarten year (OMIGOD?! Another "how did that happen so fast" aspect of my life) at the coolest Montessori school ever. Heck, I'd love to enroll myself there! Everybody told us it were nigh impossible for Finn to get a spot there (we don't live anywhere near the area this school serves and they have a ridiculously small number of free spots to begin with) and we're incredibly lucky and bouncy about Finn being registered there :o) Wheeeee ! Finndragon is all excited about the prospect of a new school and will tell you all about it if you ask him. He is also tickled pink about being able to read words and small sentences - and he's only 4! I'm always baffled when he is doing things that at home kids learn in first grade ...

SCA
I'm plodding along working on streamlining the hospitaller and demo coordinator office to make it easy on the eyes and time-efficient. My first report is due this week and I'll get to list quite a number of things accomplished in the short time since I've taken up the office. I'd have never thought that there would be that many demo requests. One I'm really looking forward to is a tiny in-persona demo for just 5 students. It'll be a lot of fun :o) I just need to swing by at Joanns to pick up some wool roving (which I should have done today, really, but oh this old brain is sometimes a bit flaky).

I still have plenty of projects lined up to keep me busy. I really can't remember the last time I was bored, really. Today I went over to Joanns - something I haven't done in probably a year - and stumbled over their 50% Linen Sale, Yay baby! I came home with 5 yards of delicious dark teal linen and a few yards of white and I've already cut the bodice and lining to a new 15th century kirtle ... *dances* The red linen Nuremberg dress is almost done - it needs proper hemming and lacing holes for the  sleeves. Then I have to take care of the length of slate wool-silk blend and be done with my Pennsic garb projects. That is once I finish my 4 shifts :o)

Speaking of finish, I need to finish here to fix dinner for my men and myself. We're having a Japanese night tonight with Sushi, Dim Sum, Shrimp and Sausage Octopi for Finndragon. Yum! 

 

 

40 more minutes until BSG season 4

*twitch*

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee e :o) 

 

Over the past year, year and a half I've grown more and more disenchanted by the state of the camping affairs around me. Not enough that cellphones appear to be everywhere (I'm highly 'allergic' to them in mundane life, to begin with) but paperplates, uncovered cooler and other modern conveniences are creeping more and more into the game we're playing.

Or at least this is how it appears to -me-. Keep that in mind, please, when you are reading this :o) This blog and all topics discussed here are highly subjective and only represent -my- very own point of view.

I realize not everybody plays my version of the game and while I wish we all could find some common ground, say on Known World handbook level, I respect that you play your version of the game and I, I play mine. Part of mine includes a certain level of historical accuracy or at least the attempt at a historical look. While in the past drinks went from their original container into mugs and pitchers, a lot of people don't seem to bother anymore. Modern trashcans are abound in plain sight so are uncovered coolers, modern camping tables, and the list goes on. I love modern conveniences, I understand why you don't buy a medieval tent but I don't get why you aren't even making an attempt at playing medieval anymore.

*scratches head*

Now, I know I can't make anybody do anything they don't want to. All I can do is carve out a happy niche for myself (and others who feel like I do).  For myself I want a nice medieval encampment with all the bells and whistles, my own little patch of Enchanted Ground ,and in a sudden fit of boundless energy I went ahead and made furniture this week :o)

During the past three afternoons I designed, sawed, sanded and painted a table and a bench that fold down flat and fit into the trunk of our Dodge Neon, our smallest car, for easy transportation. Finndragon lent a hand and had a blast eating his breakfast at the "Knight's Table" this morning. The bench needs another coat of paint but then I'll probably even have pictures to show. I'm not much of a woodworker but I can handle a jigsaw just fine and that was the biggest tool I used on those two items. The scrapwood came for free from a neighbour, a little weathered and stained which is why it needed painting rather than just staining, but now it looks scrumptious and I can't wait to set it up with our tent.

Finndragon declared we need another bench for the other side of the table and I think he is right. It'll have to wait a bit though because I can hardly lift my right arm and my hand is a bit tender ... heh.  I do have another sheet of plywood for experiments and encouraged by the success of my first furniture making endeavor I'm ready to tackle more projects.

All my nifty little projects are going to have their first outing at St George's Fair and I'm excited about the prospect of camping! It feels great :o)