Pleasing things
May. 15th, 2011 05:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gurdymonkey
Anachronistic war shield of Hosokawa Sora no Miya. Her Highness is an accomplished artist. I wish I was this good! (Anachronistic because the Japanese didn't use shields, particularly round ones.)
1. Arrived onsite while it was still daylight.
2. Had my pick of spots to set up. It was windy and rain was predicted for Saturday night and Sunday, so a lot of folks opted to day trip.
3. Was done setting up when the rest of the contingent from Cynagua began to roll in, allowing me to help Takeshi-no Miya hammer stakes for their big double bell wedge, which is not at all Japanese, but is big enough to house his entire family and their belongings.
4. Did Their Highnesses' youngest a good turn. Child was shivering, it was dark, parents were busy un-Tetrising gear from vehicles and trying to set up in the dark and I had a fleece jacket in the back of my truck handy, so I dug it out and put it on him.
5. Did a fellow court member a good turn. By this time it was dark enough I could not actually see Shishiyo's face, but he didn't sound good and when he asked how late the nearby Target would be open so he could pick up some allergy pills, I downed sledge-hammer, declared, 'Well, let's get you down there right now!" and took him to the store. (He'd ridden down with His Highness and didn't have a vehicle to make his own town run.) Poor guy was red faced and slit eyed from the indiscriminate tree-and-grass sex when we hit the bright lights. OTC meds and a pair of swim goggles were acquired. He was doing much better when I saw him Saturday morning.
5. Did a stranger a good turn. Woman had not remembered to pack a cloak and was bitching vociferously about being cold. I went in my tent, grabbed the Upholstery Fabric And Flannel Dobuku Of Doom - you know, the one I probably should have worn my own self - and said, "Here, put this on." (While she did thank me and return said garment to me Saturday evening, I observed vociferous bitching at other times. Whether she was simply having a bad day or she's not a happy person I cannot tell and reserve all judgements. Suffice to say it was windy, chilly and overcast most of the day and inadequate dress would make anyone uncomfortable.)
6. Started the day with taiko! Micah used my web page to build a bunch of cardboard and strapping tape okedodaiko, borrowed some drum stands from the dojo he studies with. We taught some folks enough of "Matsuri" to start with and once the army was ready to march out to the battlefield, we did so: Micah played an arrangement of "Black Swan Rising" on fue, those with okedo played and marched and I marched behind my folding wagon with the stands and my PVC sewer-pipe taiko in it and played that while a kind helpful young man whose name I never got pulled it for me. ("Black Swan Rising" is in a minor key and sounds better than it ever has played this way.)
(Left: Micah on okedo-daiko. Right: Got insulin? Elena, Emiko and Akio.)
Actually played quite a lot most of the day on and off. Had lots of children cycling in and out to play around on the drums when we weren't and a few adults when we were. We were stationed far enough across the field from the picnic tables I don't think it was too much of an annoyance to anyone attempting to converse and socialize.
7. Their Highnesses looked quite spiffy in the jinbaori I made them. Considering I had to make them without measurements, they weren't too huge. To my delight, Takeshi-no-miya left the field with grass stains, seed pods, dirt and a couple tears in the back, all of which remind me the reason they exist and that maybe I shouldn't have angsted so much about how badly the silk took the paint.
8. Despite the fact I erred in the placement of the crotch gusset, my kataginu kamishimo ensemble was comfortable and practical wear for a field event. (I thought I'd set it low enough, but it didn't feel quite right once I'd walked around in it a bit. Simple enough to rip out and position a couple inches lower though.)
9. My only "attending" duty was for court. It was a lot of fun watching Nather and Aurelia kidding around in the front row. Micah, Susan and I were called in and given Den Grimme Aeling. And yes, I already have one, but as I look at the listing of the recipients, I see others who have received it more than once, so I guess they can do that. Always nice to be appreciated.
10. Got a very cute photo of Her Highness of the Mists and
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syele . 
11. I got to look at New Guy's kosode mock-up and hakama before going home. Told him what he'd done right, how to fix what needed fixing, and am pleased to report he seems to be headed down the right track. Also sent him home with a small bottle of Momokawa Asian Pear to try since the early closing meant not opening the House of Cheerful Monkeys to serve any. Nice guy, just needs to slow down and let the information soak in.
12. Rain and possible hail and thunder were predicted, so the event pretty much closed after court. Got everything torn down and packed pretty quickly. Ended up having a sit-down dinner with Micah, Susan and their two kids at the Appleby's down the street. Emi and Akio crashed after two or three bites of their food. It started raining by the time I hit the road, but I was home by 10 or so and slept warm and dry in my own bed.
Didn't get that many photos but the set is up at http://www.flickr.com/photos/70104978@N00/sets/72157626729426436/with/5724485552/
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