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Dear Diary
May. 2nd, 2010 05:16 pmDear Diary,
Still not queen, still not getting any, and my hair smelled like woodsmoke when the water in the shower hit it. Aside from that, the road construction on 101 through Santa Rosa and the bizarre wind conditions at the sheep ranch, it was a lovely weekend.
Got to site with some daylight left. As I slowly rolled my truck through the camp trying to find an auspicious spot, I saw Aelf sitting in the back of a black pickup throwing assorted gear out of the back of it. He semaphored that I should pull in next to where he, Rhys and Frederick (not of Holland) were putting up a pavilion. Not long after I started pitching my wedge, Miyake-dono and his family rolled in and scored the spot beside me. I had frontage on the list field/village green, good neighbors and an invitation for chicken teryaki and rice for Saturday dinner.
Accompanied Aelf and Frederick back downhill to MacDonalds, more for company than food, since I'd eaten, then back up again. The walk back from the parking area in the dark was rather nice, with an arm to lean on and tons of stars in the sky to admire. Then into my cushy, 0 degree sleeping bag for the night with the rising moon shining in through the blinds.
("Her tent has blinds?" Go here to see how I sometimes set up my wedge tent and all shall become clear. The blinds have been lined with muslin since these photos were taken.)
The site the Kingdom has been using for Beltane since I moved out here is a sheep ranch in southern Mendocino county: rural, isolated and gorgeous. The area we camp in is a good ways back off the road and is a broad field surrounded by high hills that result in some rather interesting wind conditions. I sat sewing under my awning and watched part of the live chess game, then dug out a little kite I'd picked up at the 100 yen store awhile back, thinking I might actually get the thing in the air. I think I achieved about 5 seconds of actual flight at an altitude of 15', but the breeze was so inconsistent and kept changing direction, it just didn't work out. (We did get some rather intense gusts during the day, requiring a great deal of tent-rope adjustment throughout the event in various places. I had one of the poles supporting my ridgepole kick out from where it belonged because the front awning caught a gust that lifted it up off the ridgeline just so, but as I was on my way back toward my tent when it happened, I got it righted and the ropes re-tensioned in a moment or two. )
Met a very nice gentleman from our Princess' Guard this weekend. If memory serves he brought me a rose from her at the Newcomer's Tourney the week before last.
Received a lovely miniature fan of the sort sold in Japanese stationery stores from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
syele. Silver foil and irises, very pretty.
Basically hung out with friends, watched court and even took a nap on my cushions in front of my tent. Got to see Aurelia get her well deserved Laurel - I honestly thought she'd had one already. Old royalty out, new - and I do mean new - in. Alfar at least had a reign as Prince of the Mists under his belt, but this will be Ketiley's first time. They looked happy and fairly at ease and I hope they have a lot of fun.
Managed to dodge all bardic-themed bullets, and since no one had brought out the May pole, I did not have to induce Anachronism Brain Cramps by playing hurdy gurdy while in Japanese dress.
Had a delightful dinner with Miyake-dono, Sedania and Linnet. Linnet longed for chopsticks to eat the rice with. Fortunately I had a package of the disposable ones. I also brought over what was left of the sake Bran and Ludmilla had given me at Estrella. Sedania had a little, but Miyake-dono and I stood next to the stove where the flask was warming in a pot of water and made the rest of it go away. Considering that bottle was opened two months ago, it was still good to drink and warming it mellowed its sweetness considerably. Sat at their fire for awhile, then to bed.
This morning, it was two peerage meetings and final court, though some folks decided to take advantage of the space and play a bit of bocce before court. Got torn down and home fairly early. Clean, tired, and should be thinking about dinner shortly.
Oh, and my Prince and Princess have asked me to bring the House of Cheerful Monkeys to Mists-Cynagua War. His Highness had pinged me the other day about doing it so he could be my patron, which is ironic as he does not drink. Maybe I'll make up a batch of onigiri. I'm sure I can foist 'em off on hungry fighter types. ;-D
Still not queen, still not getting any, and my hair smelled like woodsmoke when the water in the shower hit it. Aside from that, the road construction on 101 through Santa Rosa and the bizarre wind conditions at the sheep ranch, it was a lovely weekend.
Got to site with some daylight left. As I slowly rolled my truck through the camp trying to find an auspicious spot, I saw Aelf sitting in the back of a black pickup throwing assorted gear out of the back of it. He semaphored that I should pull in next to where he, Rhys and Frederick (not of Holland) were putting up a pavilion. Not long after I started pitching my wedge, Miyake-dono and his family rolled in and scored the spot beside me. I had frontage on the list field/village green, good neighbors and an invitation for chicken teryaki and rice for Saturday dinner.
Accompanied Aelf and Frederick back downhill to MacDonalds, more for company than food, since I'd eaten, then back up again. The walk back from the parking area in the dark was rather nice, with an arm to lean on and tons of stars in the sky to admire. Then into my cushy, 0 degree sleeping bag for the night with the rising moon shining in through the blinds.
("Her tent has blinds?" Go here to see how I sometimes set up my wedge tent and all shall become clear. The blinds have been lined with muslin since these photos were taken.)
The site the Kingdom has been using for Beltane since I moved out here is a sheep ranch in southern Mendocino county: rural, isolated and gorgeous. The area we camp in is a good ways back off the road and is a broad field surrounded by high hills that result in some rather interesting wind conditions. I sat sewing under my awning and watched part of the live chess game, then dug out a little kite I'd picked up at the 100 yen store awhile back, thinking I might actually get the thing in the air. I think I achieved about 5 seconds of actual flight at an altitude of 15', but the breeze was so inconsistent and kept changing direction, it just didn't work out. (We did get some rather intense gusts during the day, requiring a great deal of tent-rope adjustment throughout the event in various places. I had one of the poles supporting my ridgepole kick out from where it belonged because the front awning caught a gust that lifted it up off the ridgeline just so, but as I was on my way back toward my tent when it happened, I got it righted and the ropes re-tensioned in a moment or two. )
Met a very nice gentleman from our Princess' Guard this weekend. If memory serves he brought me a rose from her at the Newcomer's Tourney the week before last.
Received a lovely miniature fan of the sort sold in Japanese stationery stores from
syele. Silver foil and irises, very pretty.Basically hung out with friends, watched court and even took a nap on my cushions in front of my tent. Got to see Aurelia get her well deserved Laurel - I honestly thought she'd had one already. Old royalty out, new - and I do mean new - in. Alfar at least had a reign as Prince of the Mists under his belt, but this will be Ketiley's first time. They looked happy and fairly at ease and I hope they have a lot of fun.
Managed to dodge all bardic-themed bullets, and since no one had brought out the May pole, I did not have to induce Anachronism Brain Cramps by playing hurdy gurdy while in Japanese dress.
Had a delightful dinner with Miyake-dono, Sedania and Linnet. Linnet longed for chopsticks to eat the rice with. Fortunately I had a package of the disposable ones. I also brought over what was left of the sake Bran and Ludmilla had given me at Estrella. Sedania had a little, but Miyake-dono and I stood next to the stove where the flask was warming in a pot of water and made the rest of it go away. Considering that bottle was opened two months ago, it was still good to drink and warming it mellowed its sweetness considerably. Sat at their fire for awhile, then to bed.
This morning, it was two peerage meetings and final court, though some folks decided to take advantage of the space and play a bit of bocce before court. Got torn down and home fairly early. Clean, tired, and should be thinking about dinner shortly.
Oh, and my Prince and Princess have asked me to bring the House of Cheerful Monkeys to Mists-Cynagua War. His Highness had pinged me the other day about doing it so he could be my patron, which is ironic as he does not drink. Maybe I'll make up a batch of onigiri. I'm sure I can foist 'em off on hungry fighter types. ;-D
