Summer Solstice, and other things

[helwen]

Midsummer is here! Happy Solstice!

Not sure if we'll go to the sunwheel today or tomorrow. We do have strawberry-picking on the agenda, as I'd like to try my hand at making strawberry jam. Also a trip to one of the garden places, to see if we can find vervain. If not, I may use lavendar. I know, not traditional, but I have it, and it's a worthy herb in its own right.

Likely will spend a good part of the day in the garden, today and tomorrow. Peas, beans, and tomatoes are all getting a little frisky, and need their string supports. The first potatoes are getting tall and need soil added on top of them. I was borrowing some from one of the spots where nothing had come up, and discovered another potato stem... covered it up promptly, of course!

Lettuce is completely out of control, so more salad today :) I took some up to the farm this weekend, for the in-laws to enjoy.

The blueberries and black currants are starting to color. It won't be a lot, but we'll enjoy them next month, nonetheless. Might be enough for some tarts, perhaps.

Next month is the start of blueberry and raspberry season! Mmm...

***
I'm hoping to get to Webs again soon. We have a project in the planning stages, for weaving a bunch of napkins. One person noted that probably we can't afford linen and will have to use cotton instead. He's probably right, and I did get a huge cone of cotton for $10 the last time we were there. But I'm hoping they might still have a cone or two of linen there.... huge cones, and not as fine quality as the Irish stuff, but infinitely less expensive. Still, the cotton may be the best we can do... the project involves making around 30 napkins, and I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on the good stuff.

***
Some folks have been talking this spring/summer about how SCA events aren't as medieval and/or fun as they used to be, people aren't as helpful, and of course there's the email lists where some people feel quite free to be rude and/or downright nasty. I'm not on very many email lists myself, but I do know what they're talking about.

I had a few random thoughts on it, that I started writing about in reply to one of zaduzbina's posts:

"The gatherings and workshops are probably my favorite parts of SCA right now. Events are the parties we throw when a bunch of us get together... what I think would be good is if people wore their medieval clothing more often though, and used hand tools more, and maybe had meetings by candlelight sometimes... so that when we get together at an event, we would all be more comfortable and not feel like it's 'dress-up'. Hm. I might post this to my LJ..."

When I first joined the SCA, we sometimes dressed in medieval clothing for the business meetings. From what I've heard, some groups still do that. For some folks that seems to be a terrible bother for them, but really, the more often you wear them, the more they become _clothing_, not _costume_. If your medieval clothing isn't comfortable enough to wear whenever you feel like it, then it isn't real clothing. I expect all of my clothing to hold up for at least 6-8 hours (work clothing standard), and preferably all day. Anything I don't want to wear for more than 4 hours is "Go-to-church clothing" -- the stuff you wear at weddings, funerals, etc. And for me, even that stuff is starting to move over to the higher standard. I don't like most synthetics anyway...

We also use candle light or an oil lamp around the house on a semi-regular basis. Saves electricity, and is just more pleasant in general. Quieter, too.

The local cooking guild is looking into maybe a field trip or two this summer/fall, to learn more about older ways of cooking; Plymouth and Sturbridge are the possibilities. I'm hoping to go, because I'd like to get a little more comfortable with the idea of cooking over flame or in wood-fired ovens. Of course, I also want to try a solar cooker and maybe a haybox too.

We need to find some less expensive places to rent for events, so that we can hold small events. Bergental's core personality was founded on small events; it's part of how we got to really know each other and enjoy spending time together, pursuing simple medieval pleasures. We held tournaments that yes, had a winner or winners, but the primary interest was in the joy of the tournament, not the need to win. At Love Tourney, for instance, there were many contests for fighters and non-fighters alike, but the true victor of the day was Love.

Comments

[flidaisairmid.livejournal.com]

Vervains are never in bloom this time of year in this part of the country.They come in late July/early August. Personally I use St Johnswort or sage- lavender and chamomile are also good choices. Some I know use elderflowers. All good choices for this day.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've not given specific thought to what plants to have at a summer solstice before (we've always gone with whatever's here), and vervain is one of the herbs I haven't added to my garden yet. The lavendar is budding now; not quite ready for harvest, but looking very pretty anyway.

Then lady's mantle is in full bloom and looking very fine!

[flidaisairmid.livejournal.com]

Lavender is a lovely little plant to use ! My knowledge of these things come more from a Wiccan perspective than that of a Druid. I belive the same rules apply though- use what you have on hand and is in abundance. One year, long ago , while trying to locate hawthorn blooms ( rare in these parts these days )for Beltane , I complained to a teacher that I could not find the appropriate herbs for the sabbath. He chuckled and said look around you and use what is in the greatest abundance. Thus began my tradition of using dandelions at Beltane ( sacred to Brighid) , St Johns at Midsummer, wheat at Lughnasad and so forth. Intention goes a very long way in these things .

Bergental

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

jducoeur and I are sending you a new prospective member: his mother is closing on a condo in Amherst in a couple weeks. She has attended the occasional event with us & is interested in connecting with the local chapter.

Re: Bergental

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Great, thanks! We'll do our best to make her feel welcome :)

[druidharper.livejournal.com]

Good post, padawn. ;) *runs for it*

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Student? True, I am your student in some things, O Teacher ;) As for running, well, _this_ teacher knows a few things too... like how to follow you anywhere... although I generally find it easier on me to simply get there first and wait ;)

[druidharper.livejournal.com]

O-o *sighs and grumbles* Fine, fine. ;)

[helwen.livejournal.com]

LOL Know each other too well, do we?

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

Once a month "commons" type assemblies, with a pot luck, a core class, and some dancing is a wonderful thing. They are my favorite way to bring people into the Society, as they meet local people in "gregarious" mode, and are able to ask all the questions.

Some fight practices become open hangouts, encouraging people to wear their clothes and bring a project and a dish might help if you have the room.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

We definitely have people hanging out at fighter practice to chat and work on small projects. And we have the newcomer meetings that usually have some sort of class (the latter at a mall in a community room). So, 2/3 of the thought, but not the whole picture :) It's something I may try to work on more, later in the year.

When our renovations and running around at the farm have calmed down a little, we might be able to host some informal get-togethers, wear garb to fighter practice, etc. We might even be able to do some dance practice this fall... currently the practice site doesn't have enough space, as they're still undergoing renovations as well.

Thanks for the thoughts!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Even closer than Sturbridge or Plymouth is Historic Deerfield or Hancock Shaker Village, or the Salem Cross Inn in Brimfield. You also might see if there's someone at Historic Northampton who does historic cooking.

As for smaller events - what about the Waldorf School or the UU Society in Springfield? Those would be perfect for a revel or a small tournament.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Old Deerfield might be worth checking out. I thought Salem Cross Inn was just a restaurant? I ate there once, years ago.

Waldorf and UU are possibilities, sure. Although I think once Bethesda's done renovating, it'll probably be the least expensive place we can get. Depends on what we're doing, too. If it's day-only or potluck, there's the possibility of the Sunderland fighter practice site that Bera's working on getting (elementary school), and of course, the farm.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Salem Cross is a restaurant, yes, but I heard once that they do occasional cooking classes. No idea on price. They *do* have such classes at Deerfield from time to time.