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Merrymaking Beneath The Pines....
Jun. 17th, 2012 11:17 pm.....or something equally auspicious.
I like Kingdom A&S, however, the site we use requires one to offload gear at the parking lot and portage it in from there, which means much schlepping - particularly when one has decided that taiko drums are part of one's cargo. However, there's a Ranch 99 Market one exit away, so last minute picnic shopping could happen to round out my planned menu.
Sadness - the spot I usually pitch my tent in was already filled with tentage: over the years others have decided to take advantage of the pond-side of the field by the time I arrived. I started dragging wagon loads of stuff to a spot further along the pond side and laid out my ground cloth. Unfortunately, the spot I'd picked out had to be rearranged - during my slogs back and forth with the wagon, the rope lines of the Von Schwetzingen "monster" went up right on top where I'd planned to stake my back wall. I dragged my ground cloth around and set up with one of the front ropes crossing the end of a picnic table bench - a little awkward, but I didn't want to move away from the trees into open space, not with the weather forecasted for Saturday. Also unfortunately, one of my uprights went over while I was trying to set up by myself. Petra saw me from across the way and came to help. The upright pole split around the pin when it went over and the pin got bent were bent. I managed to jury rig with copious amounts of strapping tape and it held for the weekend, but I'm going to have to skip Crown and cut myself a new set of tent poles next weekend.
Saturday was beastly hot most of the day. In fact, I don't think I even bothered with anything breakfast-like, just drank some water. Didn't even make tea.
Had three takers for my first period class on 16th c. contact between Japan and Western Europe, and I think they enjoyed it. My new-for-2012 timeline now includes tidbits from Food And Fantasy in Early Modern Japan, such as: "1569: Fr. Lois Frois visits the building site of Nijo Castle in Kyoto and presents Oda Nobunaga with a glass jar containing hard candy comfits (konpeito)." And attendees were treated to pieces of kasutera. (Folks like it, so I'll keep making it.)
James (AKA Fujimaki) and Sylvia arrived near the end of my class. I showed them where I was camped so they could stow their stuff in my tent, introduced Sylvia to Aasa so she could take Aasa's dance class, and then James and I went off to check out Aziz' class on building rapier "armor". Even if I don't end up fencing, I may have to make kit for James anyway. It was a good presentation, and Aziz has clearly tested a lot of fabrics for both puncture resistance and breathability.
Set out our picnic lunch under the awning and made some extra plain rice just in case. Gave my yojimbo a lesson in cutting up melon slices. Next time, he'll know to cut it in half, scoop out the seed guts first and then slice. The Prince of the Mists and one of his guard stopped by to partake, as did Daffydd, Bridget and their little ones. James, Sylvia and I pretty much blew off third period to lounge in the shade. Robert and I attempted a game of "I Spy" which is kind of interesting when you're playing with a child that's just learning what letters start what words. At one point he said, "I spy something that's blue and yellow and sleeping," (Fujimaki).
Had three takers for taiko, which I held under some accomodating, shady pines. The Princess of the Mists came along and gave it a try for a bit - and did reasonably well too.
I'd forgotten how attentive a retainer Fujimaki is. I'd ditched my kataginu to tie up my sleeves - I found it neatly folded and hanging on the wagon. He was there with my tea bowl any time I made to reach for it. I'd missed him for a lot of reasons and I'm delighted he and Sylvia are interested in getting involved with the local SCA. Reminds me, I need to go thorugh some of my European garb and see if she wants to try any of it on for size, as she doesn't have very much, just some old Ren Faire stuff. (I assured her she was fine as she was, but she has eyes and even with people dressed/undressed for the heat, she knew she was going to want something different.)
He had to work Sunday, so I went down the hill with them to the Black Bear to grab dinner before they headed home, figuring I'd miss court, but still make it back for the Laurel meeting at 7. Despite my making it back well BEFORE 7, they were already convened. I do not want to acquire a reputation as the Late Great Saionji no Hana, so I slunk in at the back. Just as well, I'm still very junior and don't feel like I have that much to contribute yet.
Visited Chateau Rose for a bit and traded some kasutera for Vyncent's namban wine. Stopped by Charles and Petra's fire for a bit (making a bit more kasutera go away!) then went back to get rid of the tin in my camp and detour to the privies. Ended up with Bridget and Robert hanging out on my "veranda" and talking quite late. The baby was only a few yards distant in their sun shade sound asleep in her play pen. Robert got a couple stories out me and his mother, then curled up on one of my cushions with one of my kosode thrown over him, before his father came to scoop him up and take the family home. I drifted off to sleep upon my new futon to the sound of bullfrogs calling to each other across the pond.
There were only a few morning classes scheduled for Sunday, but I'd brought a brush pen, some calligraphy paper and the cheat sheet didjiman had made me and sat in the Von Schwetzingen pavilion while Elishka taught someone how to write her name in an early Romano-Irish hand. I filled a couple of sheets with badly calligraphed Sai's 西 and On's 園, but aside from a tendency to continue to slant upward (funny, when I write in English I slant downward), things started loosening up and I finally managed my complete signature all in one shot before putting away my supplies to attend court.
, There are mistakes, but it actually resembles calligraphy! Need more practice until I can do it without looking at the cheat sheet too, but I was pleased.
Morning court had one bit of very happy business: Muriel Von Schrecken is now my Laurel sister and I'm pleased for her. She's been doing some very cool things, including masterminding a 14th century "cloister" set up at the event, which I really didn't get out of my corner of camp to enjoy as much as I would've liked.
And on that note, I believe it is time to go to bed!
EDIT for my own note:
http://www.manythings.org/kanji/d/5712.htm Kanji for "garden" - didjiman says I'm missing a stroke and he's right.
I like Kingdom A&S, however, the site we use requires one to offload gear at the parking lot and portage it in from there, which means much schlepping - particularly when one has decided that taiko drums are part of one's cargo. However, there's a Ranch 99 Market one exit away, so last minute picnic shopping could happen to round out my planned menu.
Sadness - the spot I usually pitch my tent in was already filled with tentage: over the years others have decided to take advantage of the pond-side of the field by the time I arrived. I started dragging wagon loads of stuff to a spot further along the pond side and laid out my ground cloth. Unfortunately, the spot I'd picked out had to be rearranged - during my slogs back and forth with the wagon, the rope lines of the Von Schwetzingen "monster" went up right on top where I'd planned to stake my back wall. I dragged my ground cloth around and set up with one of the front ropes crossing the end of a picnic table bench - a little awkward, but I didn't want to move away from the trees into open space, not with the weather forecasted for Saturday. Also unfortunately, one of my uprights went over while I was trying to set up by myself. Petra saw me from across the way and came to help. The upright pole split around the pin when it went over and the pin got bent were bent. I managed to jury rig with copious amounts of strapping tape and it held for the weekend, but I'm going to have to skip Crown and cut myself a new set of tent poles next weekend.
Saturday was beastly hot most of the day. In fact, I don't think I even bothered with anything breakfast-like, just drank some water. Didn't even make tea.
Had three takers for my first period class on 16th c. contact between Japan and Western Europe, and I think they enjoyed it. My new-for-2012 timeline now includes tidbits from Food And Fantasy in Early Modern Japan, such as: "1569: Fr. Lois Frois visits the building site of Nijo Castle in Kyoto and presents Oda Nobunaga with a glass jar containing hard candy comfits (konpeito)." And attendees were treated to pieces of kasutera. (Folks like it, so I'll keep making it.)
James (AKA Fujimaki) and Sylvia arrived near the end of my class. I showed them where I was camped so they could stow their stuff in my tent, introduced Sylvia to Aasa so she could take Aasa's dance class, and then James and I went off to check out Aziz' class on building rapier "armor". Even if I don't end up fencing, I may have to make kit for James anyway. It was a good presentation, and Aziz has clearly tested a lot of fabrics for both puncture resistance and breathability.
Set out our picnic lunch under the awning and made some extra plain rice just in case. Gave my yojimbo a lesson in cutting up melon slices. Next time, he'll know to cut it in half, scoop out the seed guts first and then slice. The Prince of the Mists and one of his guard stopped by to partake, as did Daffydd, Bridget and their little ones. James, Sylvia and I pretty much blew off third period to lounge in the shade. Robert and I attempted a game of "I Spy" which is kind of interesting when you're playing with a child that's just learning what letters start what words. At one point he said, "I spy something that's blue and yellow and sleeping," (Fujimaki).
Had three takers for taiko, which I held under some accomodating, shady pines. The Princess of the Mists came along and gave it a try for a bit - and did reasonably well too.
I'd forgotten how attentive a retainer Fujimaki is. I'd ditched my kataginu to tie up my sleeves - I found it neatly folded and hanging on the wagon. He was there with my tea bowl any time I made to reach for it. I'd missed him for a lot of reasons and I'm delighted he and Sylvia are interested in getting involved with the local SCA. Reminds me, I need to go thorugh some of my European garb and see if she wants to try any of it on for size, as she doesn't have very much, just some old Ren Faire stuff. (I assured her she was fine as she was, but she has eyes and even with people dressed/undressed for the heat, she knew she was going to want something different.)
He had to work Sunday, so I went down the hill with them to the Black Bear to grab dinner before they headed home, figuring I'd miss court, but still make it back for the Laurel meeting at 7. Despite my making it back well BEFORE 7, they were already convened. I do not want to acquire a reputation as the Late Great Saionji no Hana, so I slunk in at the back. Just as well, I'm still very junior and don't feel like I have that much to contribute yet.
Visited Chateau Rose for a bit and traded some kasutera for Vyncent's namban wine. Stopped by Charles and Petra's fire for a bit (making a bit more kasutera go away!) then went back to get rid of the tin in my camp and detour to the privies. Ended up with Bridget and Robert hanging out on my "veranda" and talking quite late. The baby was only a few yards distant in their sun shade sound asleep in her play pen. Robert got a couple stories out me and his mother, then curled up on one of my cushions with one of my kosode thrown over him, before his father came to scoop him up and take the family home. I drifted off to sleep upon my new futon to the sound of bullfrogs calling to each other across the pond.
There were only a few morning classes scheduled for Sunday, but I'd brought a brush pen, some calligraphy paper and the cheat sheet didjiman had made me and sat in the Von Schwetzingen pavilion while Elishka taught someone how to write her name in an early Romano-Irish hand. I filled a couple of sheets with badly calligraphed Sai's 西 and On's 園, but aside from a tendency to continue to slant upward (funny, when I write in English I slant downward), things started loosening up and I finally managed my complete signature all in one shot before putting away my supplies to attend court.
, There are mistakes, but it actually resembles calligraphy! Need more practice until I can do it without looking at the cheat sheet too, but I was pleased.Morning court had one bit of very happy business: Muriel Von Schrecken is now my Laurel sister and I'm pleased for her. She's been doing some very cool things, including masterminding a 14th century "cloister" set up at the event, which I really didn't get out of my corner of camp to enjoy as much as I would've liked.
And on that note, I believe it is time to go to bed!
EDIT for my own note:
http://www.manythings.org/kanji/d/5712.htm Kanji for "garden" - didjiman says I'm missing a stroke and he's right.
