Boredom War Report, Ginger, Rain
Jun. 4th, 2007 09:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
helwenGood event overall.
We camped Friday and![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fitzw got to play with Dziuginte in the torchlight tourney. The mist curling around the torches made for a magical experience. Met someone from Stonemarche named Korinna (sp.) who's been in the SCA for several years but this was her first time seeing fighting up close. Her thing is going to classes and bardic circles, so she'll go to events like the Pennsic War and never see a battle. It had quite and effect -- perhaps she'll watch one of the battles this year :) Although heaven knows there are plenty of interesting classes to take at Pennsic! And archery, fencing, thrown weapons, dancing, music, chatting, parties, and of course, shopping. I don't know as we'll get that much this year -- last year was definitely a shopping year, with much looking and then finally acquiring. I got the most lovely pair of stainless steel mitten gauntlets, among other things. It sort of depends on what else we have on our schedules, the weather, etc. The year before last was when fitzw and I were getting invested as the new baron and baroness of Bergental, so we had extra things to do. Shopping was sort of 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, say hello to some of the merchants we usually chat with, etc. I'm not really a coffee drinker, but if time allows I'm toying with going to the coffee place, just to experience it. They have lounging areas of cushions and hangings and such, all set up as if you were really over in Morocco.
Anyway, back to Boredom War! Saturday was sunny and in the 80s, and very, very humid. There were scattered storms going through the area, which were contributing to the humidity. Did a little shopping (pretty yellow and black amber necklace), lots of chatting including meeting Master Emrys "Broom", a wonderful and delightful person. Watched the archery champion tourney. There were a lot of archers at the event and they all did well. Some have more experience than others, but it was a delight to watch them all. Master Mark Squirrelsbane is Bergental's new Archery Champion, succeeding Master Krakken Gnashbone, who ran a great and challenging tournament. Lady Bianca was a close second to Mark. The final four had been Master Mark, Lady Bianca, Lord Alberic Mac i Droata, and Lord Detharlion of Nottingham. All would have been excellent champions, and in fact all have served as baronial archery champion in the past. There were 11 Bergenthalers in the champion tournament, and we definitely look forward to seeing them continue to pursue excellent and enjoyment of this fine art.
There was also a fencing tournament, added in just a few days before the event, in which eight fencers participated. I didn't see much of it, but they had a good time, and I did see at one point some fencers working together to improve their skills as well. Tourney was run and organized by Lord Annsem von Rien of Carolingia.
There were combat archery and siege weapons practice and competitions, everyone seemed to have a wonderful time with that as well. Greywolf and friends made a castle front a few years ago that is still going strong, called Spamelot. It includes some boards that are painted with "fierce" warriors, moved about by people hiding behind the walls, which the archers try to hit with their crossbow bolts. For those who don't know about SCA combat archery, the 'bolts' are made with plastic piping with foam on the end, so that they're too wide in diameter to actually penetrate anything/anybody. They are sometimes used in melees against armored people.
And of course there was rattan combat. First a warlord tourney to determine the captains for the teams, then the teams fought one another. I believe the two best teams went into the woods battle.fitzw was one of the line marshals in the woods because there was a deep ravine in there, and we needed to keep the fighters from "falling off the end of the world". Then field battles, and after all that there was some unbelted champions practice.
We only had one entry in the A&S competition -- does tend to be light at our summer event in general, but this was lighter than usual. Beautiful pair of knit stockings by Lady Henna Sinclair, in wool spun by her.
Oh, almost forgot! Mistress Eleanore leBrun made a most excellent dayboard and she and other Quintavians manned the booth as a service to attendees and fundraiser for their shire. Yum......
Court went well, with the new champions coming to stand in court as part of the entourage. In addition to Master Mark, there was Lady Azure for combat archery, and Lords Seamus and Richard for siege. These are new, and we'll have further discussion on them in the future. It was great having them up there though :) One of the out-barony siege teams that did well, btw (unarmored) were Lord Tegan and his young son, who's name I've unfortunately forgotten at the moment.
Dziuginte reported on how well the participants in Youth Combat did, and Mistress Eleanore MacCarthaigh presented elephant statues (symbol of the MacCarthaigh-MacMinn household) to the most chivalrous child in each division -- a hard decision as they all were very good sports and played well together. I remember the youngest, Boudicca in particular -- she had more experience than any of the other kids in her division, so she spent a lot of time helping the other kids and teaching them!
Our exchequer Lady Kalliera handed off her office to Lord Magnus, and our siege marshal Lord Ormgeirr handed off his office to Lord Greywolf. Kalliera and Ormgeirr will be moving to Oklahoma this summer (new job).
Magnus and Kalliera were inducted into the Order of the Hourglass (Arts & Sciences); him for his tabletweaving, carpentry, sprang, etc. and she for her work with herbs and in particular starting the baronial herbal guild. Lady Jeene of Johnstone was inducted into the Order of the Fountain (Service), for her work at events, usually at gate helping with registration, but also her help setting up at events. She was instrumental in helping to create the "garden" at the entrance for Brion and Anna's Coronation spring 2006, in what was a very modern and homely high school building.
Sir Tommaltach gave a report on the fighting and thanks to various folks who helped, in especial Lady Kathleen who, although he's worked happily with many MoL's over the years, has been so consistently prepared as Minister of the Lists that he has never had to worry about any of the paperwork that is involved in tracking fighters' positions in any tournament with which she has been involved. I think that's most of court.
There was a brief meeting of the Herbal Guild after court, then some of us went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Greenfield, beforefitzw took me home for the night. We'd been planning on staying over Saturday night as well, but the heat had gotten to me despite my efforts at staying hydrated, etc. -- I wasn't doing well. Prickly sensations on the upper legs and forearms, and an interesting gripping sensation around the wrists, plus it was making my arm hurt more. feh.
GINGER
Anyway, the interesting part is that at the restaurant they had a dish that claimed to help with regulating body heat and circulation, so I ordered it (why not?) It was a chicken dish with some big pieces of a meaty type of mushroom, and huge slices of fresh-cooked ginger. They were a little strong at times but I persevered, and by the end of dinner the tingling was gone. Just a tiny bit of a headache, although that could also have been from standing and/or walking for more than half the day... a definite improvement. Now, I knew ginger was good for stomach upset, stomach flus, and for general balancing of the systems, but I didn't know it would be specifically good for dealing with excess heat, just by itself.
So, I guess it's time to start making ginger water again! Ginger water has water, apple cider vinegar, sweetener, and ginger. I'll try to post the recipe later, but variations on this go back at hundreds of years. The people at Sturbridge Village call it Switchel. You can find variants that go back to India or possibly points in the Mideast (sort of like a type of sekanjebin), but I'd have to do the research on that again. L and I have a theory that it may have come over to the U.S. with the East India Company traders. At Sturbridge they use honey for the sweetener, while L's dad uses maple syrup (closer to hand, seeing as we make it).
***
Was feeling better Sunday, so we went back up to the event site to have breakfast and more chatting. Had a couple of opportunities to talk withislenskr about sundry things - always enjoyable, and hopefully we'll get together again soon! L took down the tent and packed everything up, then took down the shade pavillions. I helped out with collecting the caution tape and the plastic bottles. A few of the gallon bottles are safe to re-use (#1 bottles aren't, because the plastic gets into the water if the bottles get warm/hot), so I plan on washing them and using them for storing some emergency water in the basement. Most of the caution tape will get tossed as the pieces are too short, but there were a couple of long pieces we can re-use for future tourneys (or around the house -- L used some a few weeks ago to keep people from going across the newly turned garden).
Visited the folks at the farm for a short bit, then home again. We sorted some books upstairs so I know which ones to pack up for the year. Had a good talk on the phone with mom.
***
Today, still doing all right. Have a book order to fill, things to mail, barrel to buy, and shower gift too. Should be able to do it all in one trip. The barrel is because we still need an overflow for the rainbarrel. The 1 to 1-1/2 inches we got over the weekend filled the rainbarrel to overflowing. Sunday I re-filled all the buckets I had available, taking off 7-8 gallons, but it rained again last night and will be rainy for the next couple of days.
We camped Friday and
fitzw got to play with Dziuginte in the torchlight tourney. The mist curling around the torches made for a magical experience. Met someone from Stonemarche named Korinna (sp.) who's been in the SCA for several years but this was her first time seeing fighting up close. Her thing is going to classes and bardic circles, so she'll go to events like the Pennsic War and never see a battle. It had quite and effect -- perhaps she'll watch one of the battles this year :) Although heaven knows there are plenty of interesting classes to take at Pennsic! And archery, fencing, thrown weapons, dancing, music, chatting, parties, and of course, shopping. I don't know as we'll get that much this year -- last year was definitely a shopping year, with much looking and then finally acquiring. I got the most lovely pair of stainless steel mitten gauntlets, among other things. It sort of depends on what else we have on our schedules, the weather, etc. The year before last was when fitzw and I were getting invested as the new baron and baroness of Bergental, so we had extra things to do. Shopping was sort of 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, say hello to some of the merchants we usually chat with, etc. I'm not really a coffee drinker, but if time allows I'm toying with going to the coffee place, just to experience it. They have lounging areas of cushions and hangings and such, all set up as if you were really over in Morocco.Anyway, back to Boredom War! Saturday was sunny and in the 80s, and very, very humid. There were scattered storms going through the area, which were contributing to the humidity. Did a little shopping (pretty yellow and black amber necklace), lots of chatting including meeting Master Emrys "Broom", a wonderful and delightful person. Watched the archery champion tourney. There were a lot of archers at the event and they all did well. Some have more experience than others, but it was a delight to watch them all. Master Mark Squirrelsbane is Bergental's new Archery Champion, succeeding Master Krakken Gnashbone, who ran a great and challenging tournament. Lady Bianca was a close second to Mark. The final four had been Master Mark, Lady Bianca, Lord Alberic Mac i Droata, and Lord Detharlion of Nottingham. All would have been excellent champions, and in fact all have served as baronial archery champion in the past. There were 11 Bergenthalers in the champion tournament, and we definitely look forward to seeing them continue to pursue excellent and enjoyment of this fine art.
There was also a fencing tournament, added in just a few days before the event, in which eight fencers participated. I didn't see much of it, but they had a good time, and I did see at one point some fencers working together to improve their skills as well. Tourney was run and organized by Lord Annsem von Rien of Carolingia.
There were combat archery and siege weapons practice and competitions, everyone seemed to have a wonderful time with that as well. Greywolf and friends made a castle front a few years ago that is still going strong, called Spamelot. It includes some boards that are painted with "fierce" warriors, moved about by people hiding behind the walls, which the archers try to hit with their crossbow bolts. For those who don't know about SCA combat archery, the 'bolts' are made with plastic piping with foam on the end, so that they're too wide in diameter to actually penetrate anything/anybody. They are sometimes used in melees against armored people.
And of course there was rattan combat. First a warlord tourney to determine the captains for the teams, then the teams fought one another. I believe the two best teams went into the woods battle.
fitzw was one of the line marshals in the woods because there was a deep ravine in there, and we needed to keep the fighters from "falling off the end of the world". Then field battles, and after all that there was some unbelted champions practice.We only had one entry in the A&S competition -- does tend to be light at our summer event in general, but this was lighter than usual. Beautiful pair of knit stockings by Lady Henna Sinclair, in wool spun by her.
Oh, almost forgot! Mistress Eleanore leBrun made a most excellent dayboard and she and other Quintavians manned the booth as a service to attendees and fundraiser for their shire. Yum......
Court went well, with the new champions coming to stand in court as part of the entourage. In addition to Master Mark, there was Lady Azure for combat archery, and Lords Seamus and Richard for siege. These are new, and we'll have further discussion on them in the future. It was great having them up there though :) One of the out-barony siege teams that did well, btw (unarmored) were Lord Tegan and his young son, who's name I've unfortunately forgotten at the moment.
Dziuginte reported on how well the participants in Youth Combat did, and Mistress Eleanore MacCarthaigh presented elephant statues (symbol of the MacCarthaigh-MacMinn household) to the most chivalrous child in each division -- a hard decision as they all were very good sports and played well together. I remember the youngest, Boudicca in particular -- she had more experience than any of the other kids in her division, so she spent a lot of time helping the other kids and teaching them!
Our exchequer Lady Kalliera handed off her office to Lord Magnus, and our siege marshal Lord Ormgeirr handed off his office to Lord Greywolf. Kalliera and Ormgeirr will be moving to Oklahoma this summer (new job).
Magnus and Kalliera were inducted into the Order of the Hourglass (Arts & Sciences); him for his tabletweaving, carpentry, sprang, etc. and she for her work with herbs and in particular starting the baronial herbal guild. Lady Jeene of Johnstone was inducted into the Order of the Fountain (Service), for her work at events, usually at gate helping with registration, but also her help setting up at events. She was instrumental in helping to create the "garden" at the entrance for Brion and Anna's Coronation spring 2006, in what was a very modern and homely high school building.
Sir Tommaltach gave a report on the fighting and thanks to various folks who helped, in especial Lady Kathleen who, although he's worked happily with many MoL's over the years, has been so consistently prepared as Minister of the Lists that he has never had to worry about any of the paperwork that is involved in tracking fighters' positions in any tournament with which she has been involved. I think that's most of court.
There was a brief meeting of the Herbal Guild after court, then some of us went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Greenfield, before
fitzw took me home for the night. We'd been planning on staying over Saturday night as well, but the heat had gotten to me despite my efforts at staying hydrated, etc. -- I wasn't doing well. Prickly sensations on the upper legs and forearms, and an interesting gripping sensation around the wrists, plus it was making my arm hurt more. feh. GINGER
Anyway, the interesting part is that at the restaurant they had a dish that claimed to help with regulating body heat and circulation, so I ordered it (why not?) It was a chicken dish with some big pieces of a meaty type of mushroom, and huge slices of fresh-cooked ginger. They were a little strong at times but I persevered, and by the end of dinner the tingling was gone. Just a tiny bit of a headache, although that could also have been from standing and/or walking for more than half the day... a definite improvement. Now, I knew ginger was good for stomach upset, stomach flus, and for general balancing of the systems, but I didn't know it would be specifically good for dealing with excess heat, just by itself.
So, I guess it's time to start making ginger water again! Ginger water has water, apple cider vinegar, sweetener, and ginger. I'll try to post the recipe later, but variations on this go back at hundreds of years. The people at Sturbridge Village call it Switchel. You can find variants that go back to India or possibly points in the Mideast (sort of like a type of sekanjebin), but I'd have to do the research on that again. L and I have a theory that it may have come over to the U.S. with the East India Company traders. At Sturbridge they use honey for the sweetener, while L's dad uses maple syrup (closer to hand, seeing as we make it).
***
Was feeling better Sunday, so we went back up to the event site to have breakfast and more chatting. Had a couple of opportunities to talk with
islenskr about sundry things - always enjoyable, and hopefully we'll get together again soon! L took down the tent and packed everything up, then took down the shade pavillions. I helped out with collecting the caution tape and the plastic bottles. A few of the gallon bottles are safe to re-use (#1 bottles aren't, because the plastic gets into the water if the bottles get warm/hot), so I plan on washing them and using them for storing some emergency water in the basement. Most of the caution tape will get tossed as the pieces are too short, but there were a couple of long pieces we can re-use for future tourneys (or around the house -- L used some a few weeks ago to keep people from going across the newly turned garden).Visited the folks at the farm for a short bit, then home again. We sorted some books upstairs so I know which ones to pack up for the year. Had a good talk on the phone with mom.
***
Today, still doing all right. Have a book order to fill, things to mail, barrel to buy, and shower gift too. Should be able to do it all in one trip. The barrel is because we still need an overflow for the rainbarrel. The 1 to 1-1/2 inches we got over the weekend filled the rainbarrel to overflowing. Sunday I re-filled all the buckets I had available, taking off 7-8 gallons, but it rained again last night and will be rainy for the next couple of days.
