Continuing the 30-Year report

On Friday night Devan and Sonette helped me set up my tent, all in the dark, while Johanna helped out Deirdre and her family (husband and teenage son). My tent was on a slight incline compared with the flat site we normally camp on at Pennsic, but the tent seemed to be standing OK, so I went to bed with my neighbors still chatting as they worked on their tent.

Saturday morning was gray and somewhat humid. I had promised to make that heraldic pincushion for the prize baskets to be given to the various competition winners. So, after getting garbed and taking my car out to the parking lot, I took my stitching notions and went over to the main area of the event. I thought of sitting under the "populace pavilion" -- a HUGE white awning rented from some company, though not entirely un-medieval -- but ended up sitting in the back of the heralds' dayshade, in case I was needed.

I wasn't there terribly long when a guy from the event staff came over and asked for someone to cry a message: there was a storm coming up in half an hour. Uh-oh -- I left my tent flaps open....