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On Saturday I attended the neighboring Barony of Dun Carraig's Silver Jubilee -- the 25th anniversary of its change from a shire to a barony. (In the SCA, larger groups can have a Baron and Baroness who are the local representatives of the King and Queen, as well as a full slate of officers. Shires are smaller branches that have only the slate of officers.) Since I missed Fall Crown Tourney due to mundane politics, I thought it would be nice to hang out with SCAdian peeps, probably for the last time in 2018. Also, it's been a few years since I've been to a Dun Carraig event that was NOT either the University of Atlantia or Unevent (the Kingdom's annual business meeting).
Despite the cold air and brisk wind, I had a good time. First I circled the around the outdoor activities and said hello to Her Excellency Storvik and other friends. I chatted with Baroness Genevieve, Lady Kunigunde and Lady Seraphina at the MoL (Minister of the Lists) table, and I *thought* I had taken a photo of the three of them, but I can't find it. Ah, well.
Then I decided to go indoors, where the A&S activities were happening in a nice warm downstairs church hall, hung with painted banners. I met a Dun Carraig woman named Mary who let me play a couple of her instruments: kantele and hurdy-gurdy. Joy! The kantele is very much like the Lithuanian kanklės, so near and dear to my persona, and thanks to Mary's explanation of her tuning, I was able to strum it and pluck out a melody too (not at the same time). Same with the Kelischek medieval-style hurdy-gurdy -- well, I didn't strum it, but I did pick out a cantiga tune with my left hand, not such an easy feat for a rightie like me.
I also had a chat with Lady Thea, who tried very hard to recruit me for scribal work and even gave me a copy of her handbook for new and aspiring scribes. If only I didn't feel like a curse on teachers of calligraphy and illumination. Mistress Nuala tried to teach me calligraphy ... and died of cancer. Alexandria/Heather had a scriptorium ... and her cancer came roaring back. Then Syr Richard, one of our local scribes of note, died of diabetes complications. Dare I take up the pen again?
Anyhow, I had more interesting conversations and sat through Royal and baronial courts. After court I presented Her Majesty Lynette with the medallion cords I've been working on for the past year. I didn't get on board for feast, so I drove home and had the boy toy's home cooking instead.
All in all, a pleasant day with friends and another chance to contemplate what to do next in terms of A&S....
Despite the cold air and brisk wind, I had a good time. First I circled the around the outdoor activities and said hello to Her Excellency Storvik and other friends. I chatted with Baroness Genevieve, Lady Kunigunde and Lady Seraphina at the MoL (Minister of the Lists) table, and I *thought* I had taken a photo of the three of them, but I can't find it. Ah, well.
Then I decided to go indoors, where the A&S activities were happening in a nice warm downstairs church hall, hung with painted banners. I met a Dun Carraig woman named Mary who let me play a couple of her instruments: kantele and hurdy-gurdy. Joy! The kantele is very much like the Lithuanian kanklės, so near and dear to my persona, and thanks to Mary's explanation of her tuning, I was able to strum it and pluck out a melody too (not at the same time). Same with the Kelischek medieval-style hurdy-gurdy -- well, I didn't strum it, but I did pick out a cantiga tune with my left hand, not such an easy feat for a rightie like me.
I also had a chat with Lady Thea, who tried very hard to recruit me for scribal work and even gave me a copy of her handbook for new and aspiring scribes. If only I didn't feel like a curse on teachers of calligraphy and illumination. Mistress Nuala tried to teach me calligraphy ... and died of cancer. Alexandria/Heather had a scriptorium ... and her cancer came roaring back. Then Syr Richard, one of our local scribes of note, died of diabetes complications. Dare I take up the pen again?
Anyhow, I had more interesting conversations and sat through Royal and baronial courts. After court I presented Her Majesty Lynette with the medallion cords I've been working on for the past year. I didn't get on board for feast, so I drove home and had the boy toy's home cooking instead.
All in all, a pleasant day with friends and another chance to contemplate what to do next in terms of A&S....
