House Capuchin 3

Some weeks are just so disorganized that they’re hard to write up! Yeah, this week…. Your scribe managed to put several projects…. somewhere…. One is a finished snail bookmark that *ought* to be obvious. Another is a rag doll that I figured to finish the hair for this week. <sigh> At least we made frumenty! Hopefully this week will be better.

Project Day is now open for in-person meet-ups as well as in the Virtual Realm! Herbs Workshop and Sewing are ongoing. Masks required. When will the rest of these open up in person? We’ll keep right on with the virtual ones side-by-side with the actual. 

• Herb Bunch – At Ancient Light, Thursdays, 7am-9pm, taking a break.
• Herb Workshop, In the Garden – Irregularly scheduled. Please ask to join the facebook chat!
• Sewing Time – At Ancient Light, Saturdays, 3-5pm
• Project Day – At Ancient Light, Sundays, 1 to 5pm
• Cheese and Wine happens irregularly, usually announced with little notice on our Facebook group.
• Next Potluck – 2/20
• Winter Feast LVI, Norse Theme. Virtual event. Page here – https://housecapuchin.com/winter-feast/winter-feast-norse-feast-as-lvi-february-2022/ More pages coming!

Here is the direct Portfolio link which has all the past Project Day reports and various projects, original here:  https://housecapuchin.wordpress.com/portfolio/  and new one here:  https://housecapuchin2.wordpress.com/portfolio/ and number three is here: https://housecapuchin3.wordpress.com/portfolio/

Misc – 

Another from Rosalie’s Medieval Woman [used with permission] – “I’d always assumed that those “head in a bath” manuscript images were grossly distorted, but, actually… well, see for yourself! Part of my new display for 2022.”

Inspiration….

Nicholas Breton: Winter – Passamezzo – A description of Winter in early modern Britain. – From NIcholas Breton’s Fantastickes, 1626. Read by Peter Kenny

IT is now Winter, and Boreas beginnes to fill his cheekes with breath, shaketh the tops of the high Cedars, and hoyseth the waues of the Sea, to the danger of the Saylers comfort: Now is the Earth nipt at the heart with a cold, and her Trees are disrobed of their rich apparell: there is a glasse set vpon the face of the Waters, and the Fishes are driuen to the bottomes of the déepe: The Usurer now sits lapt in his furres, and the poore makes his breath, a fire to his fingers ends: Beautie is maskt for feare of the ayre, and youth runnes to Physicke for Restoratiues of Nature: The Stagge roares for losse of his strength, and the Flea makes his Castle in the wooll of a blanket: Cards and Dice now begin their haruest, and good Ale and Sack are the cause of ciuill warres: Machiauil and the Deuill are in counsell vpon destruction, and the wicked of the world make hast to hell: Money is such a Monopoly, that hee is not to be spoken of, and the delay of suits is the death of hope. In it selfe it is a wofull Season, the punishment of Natures pride, and the play of misery. Farewell.

Events

University of Atlantia – University Session #109-2/5 – February 5, 2022 to February 6, 2022 – Kingdom of Atlantia (online) Location: University of Atlantia website: https://university.atlantia.sca.org Student Registration is now open, from January 3rd until midnight February 2nd, 2022, for the University of Atlantia’s Winter Session!!!

March 11-13th, 2022 The West Coast Culinary Symposium is coming to Caid. It is a full weekend up at a Camp Wrightwood of culinary classes, hands on workshops, lectures and all things food (and drink). People from all parts of the Knowne World, from beginners to advanced cooks, travel to enjoy being around like-minded foodies and to geek out about historical cooking. All are welcome and encouraged to come and enjoy the event! Registration for this event is currently happening with early registration discounts up until January 3rd, 2022. All those that are wanting to either reserve a bed for the weekend or day trip, need to please register in advance. Registration link to Google Form: https://forms.gle/n2mDJbFihKLBoMAG6If you are wanting more details and updates on this event, please check out the FB event and add yourself to it as interested. FB Event link: https://fb.me/e/S6hsNi2N Hope to see you all there!

Classes – 

This past week Adiantum A&S – Quill Pens and Oak Gall Ink – SCA Aila’ntha

Medieval tapestries and where to buy them – The Creative Contessa – Learn about medieval tapestry reproductions, how/where to buy them cheaply and about the symbolism and meaning of some of the originals!

Paper in the Middle Ages with Orietta Da Rold – Medievalists – Although it tends to be thought of as a time when people rejected technology, there were many new inventions met with enthusiasm in the Middle Ages, including one we might not be able to imagine living without: paper. This week, Danièle speaks with Dr. Orietta Da Rold about the many uses of medieval paper.

63. The religion of simple believers, with Jack Tannous – Medievalists – Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-vabfe-…
    A conversation with Jack Tannous (Princeton University) about the “simple believers” who made up the majority of the population of Byzantium (as well as the caliphate and just about any premodern monotheistic society). They probably knew little about the minutiae of theology, but what did they know about their faith, and how important was theology for their religious identity? The discussion is based on Jack’s recent book The Making of the Medieval Middle East: Religion, Society, and Simple Believers (Princeton University Press, 2018), which highlights the role of religious practice and interpersonal attachments.

A Brief History Of Richard Duke Of Gloucester – Richard III Of England – Brief History – A brief history of King Richard III of England. (more info on the youtube link)

Early Week – …was the usual put-away after the potluck, plus some sewing and embroidery. A lot of the last two was sorting out materials and equipment as they floated to the surface at Anja and Loren’s shop. They’re in the middle of their winter cleaning and rearranging.

Cookery –  Sunday night’s supper was the Jorvik Frumenty with Cheese, bacon and baked carrots. We both liked the frumenty. Texture was good, the spicing was just right (couldn’t taste the horseradish, but it added depth!) the cheese was a good texture, not completely melted in, and the greens just wilted with the cooking method. This is a dish we’re going to keep in the repertoire!

Hastletes of Fruyt (fruit kebabs) – https://modernmedievalcuisine.com/2022/01/20/hastletes-of-fruyt-fruit-kebabs/

Thorrablot – https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/thorrablot-midwinter-festival-iceland

Icelandic Harðfiskur Recipe – https://familycookbookproject.com/recipe/3329915/icelandic-harfiskur.html

From Bog Myrtle to Hops: Ethnobotanical fragments from the history of Nordic beer brewing – https://www.brutenorse.com/blog/2019/1/17/from-bog-myrtle-to-hops

Medieval Pork Brodettum – Historical Italian Cooking – Today we prepare medieval pork brodettum from the Registrum Coquine, written in the 15th century.

Ingredients:

• pork loin
• eggs
• cheese
• cinnamon
• cloves
• saffron
• salt

2.18 – Al Triste El Puñado De Trigo Se Le Vuelve Alpiste (2.18 – To the Sad Handful of Wheat Turns Birdseed) – Fogones en la Historia (Kitchens in History) – Receta de potaje de trigo, receta del siglo XVII. Un plato que comian todos los estratos de la población. (Recipe for wheat stew, recipe from the 17th century. A dish eaten by all strata of the population.)

Jewish Chicken with Stuffing – Nick Saint-Erne – Jewish Chicken with Stuffing is a recipe from the book SEPHARDI – COOKING THE HISTORY by Helene Jawhara Piner. It has been translated from the Arabic cookbook “Kitab al-tabih” from the 13th century.

Sewing – During the week another bookmark got finished (that’s the one that’s vanished) and then another project was started that has nothing to do with SCA stuff because Anja has some students for hand-sewing. That got worked on during the Sewing Workshop on Saturday, plus some more sorting of supplies into the large rollies. We also found a couple of boxes that have pictures on top that need to be varnished.

[good article!] Sewing Needles Reveal the Roots of Fashion – https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/fashion-history-sewing-needles/

16th Century Tudor Dress Hooks | History & Making of by a Blacksmith – Lynne Fairchild – In the 16th Century, dress hooks were quite useful for English and Dutch women to hold up their skirts and/or to hold down their partlets. Learn about the history of the metals used and the different styles of hooks available. Plus, watch a blacksmith make a pair of dress hooks.
16th Century historical dress hooks from the Renaissance / Tudor periods typically found in museums were typically made from silver gilt (silver gilded in gold). However, for lower class people who may not have been able to afford silver, then other metals were used (such as brass).
The 2 dress hooks made in this video are made from brass. Follow along with the step by step process of how a piece of a scrap brass plate becomes two floral dress hooks.
** Fair warning, though, if brass is used. If the metal gets wet, it may discolor the fabric. So, these brass hooks will specifically be used with a cord (like a belt) to hold up the hem of the over-skirt, rather than being permanently attached to the back of a partlet, where it could discolor the fabric over time.

Dyeing with My Daughter: Eastern Brazilwood I Sappanwood – History Science Fiber – Dive into the rich history of Eastern Brazilwood (aka Sappanwood, Biencaea sappan) with this in-depth video as we take a DIY approach on how to prepare your fiber and set up your dye pot for rich deep crimsons, luscious pinks and dark purples. This is the first video in the new Dyeing with My Daughter playlist which celebrates how to include young children in the amazing world of natural dyeing. Big thank you to Mary Larose for filming and editing this together! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffp6-R09pIg (link will open on youtube, but doesn’t show here…..

May we help grow tiny humans who love the world and nature. Totally sustainable and a great hobby for children, come explore natural dyeing!
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
0:55 – Chemistry
1:29 – Fiber Preparation
6:00 – Prepare the Vat
9:44 – Heating the Dye Vat
10:16 – Putting the Fiber In
11:50 – Taking the Fiber Out
12:22 – pH Change
16:30 – Rinsing the Fiber
17:01 – Results
18:34 – Outtakes

Sundials, etc. – 

An Introduction to Medieval Hammered Coins – SCA Aila’ntha – Our guest presenter will be: Baron Hrodr-Navar Hakonsson OP, OL (AKA Steve Alter) – What was it like to use coins valued at their metal content, and not just as symbols of value? How were medieval coins produced, and quality controlled? How did merchants deal with foreign coinage? What changes were implemented by Edward I that made English sterling one of the leading currencies in Europe? We will discuss these issues, and look at some period coins to see evolution of English coinage from William I to Elizabeth I.

Horn: The Plastic Of History – Making A Horn Comb – Townsends

Herb Bunch – No workshop again…. The garden is still in “winter” mode, but spring is coming!

Sixteenth-century tomatoes in Europe: who saw them, what they looked like, and where they came from – https://peerj.com/articles/12790/

Project Day – Amy came in for a few minutes early one to drop off some dishcloths and lucet cord. Isabeau and Coleman stopped in later. Anja and Loren were horrendously busy with customers since there was a huge contrast between the foggy, gloomy, *cold* (32f?) Valley and the 60F bright and sunny coast!

Anja got to messenger chat (but not video) with Claire during the late afternoon and various people posted things online.

Claire posted – “Today’s project. Mittens for my friend Jan. There’s a glove version but the one pair of non-patterned gloves I’ve made are fiddly enough.”

Supper for Anja and Loren was the wheat frumenty from Jorvik (see Cookery, above)

Helen Louise posted – ” Making more wax sewing thread patties from the wax our bees produced. Also going to make some beeswax food fabric wraps today…”

Anja says, “I gotta find the 1/2-done set of food wraps that I have.”

….and – “Also pursuing ebay and bought piece of silk fabric with wool crewel work to make this jacket and hopefully a bag too… I know the embroidery pattern is a bit big but I’ll add some more work on it… thinking bees, bunnies, a fox and more flowers… be still my heart… and don’t tell hubby… LOL…”

There were two long online chats, with Claire and with Gudrun, but I don’t have permission yet to edit and re-post…. 

Feast Planning

Online pages are in draft mode for the feast. The Wire-Weaving class is going to be a youtube. We hoping to do the same with the “feast lecture” and the festoons class.

Recipes

The Jorvik wheat frumenty was this week’s test dish. – https://housecapuchin.com/winter-feast/winter-feast-norse-feast-as-lvi-february-2022/foods-from-the-norse-viking-era/wheat-frumenty-with-cheese/

Dancing with the Duchess

Mimed Branles – These dances include gestures that mimic the gestures of people. They are named accordingly. The Washerwoman’s branle includes the scolding of partners, the Pease branle has a flirtation, the Hermits’ branle crosses their arms and bow their heads. The others mimic the taping of clogs, horses hooves, etc. Dances:• Washerwoman’s Branle• Pease Branle• Hermits’ Branle• Torch Branle• Clog Branle• Horses’ Branle• Montard Branle• Hay Branle• Official Branle

Miscellaneous pix

This house is associated with the legend of Dr. Faust, with whom the devil flew through the roof when Dr. Faust wasn’t ready to die and destroyed parts of the house in the process, leaving the magical talking statues and all the books in place …. says the legend. historian František Kruml – The Fausto House, actually mladotovský palace (Prague 1-New City, Karl Square 502/40) has not disappeared, but has a little different form today. The house is at the heart of gothic, rebuilt in the renaissance style around 1618 and twice baroque adjusted around 1740 and 1770. Other adjustments took place in 1820 and 1857 and also after world War II. There was a pagan obětiště at the place of the faust house. For the first time there is a mentioned house held by Jan Duke Opavského in the 1378. Records in 1432 he is listed as the holder of Peter’s house, reeve from the house of Because he was a supporter of the “sirotčího army”, his house became one of the objectives of the attack of the master’s unity on 6. The house went through repairs. About 1501, he became the property of jaroslava capon of svojkova, who was beheaded in 1537 for a capital crime. The house was seized, and in 1542, the jaroslavovu was a relative of the relative kapounovi of svojkova, who sold it in 1543 Around 1587, the English Alchemist and Mystic Edward Kelley acquired the house. Before his fall, Kelley transferred the house to his sister-in – The house had a number of other owners. In 1721, Ferdinand Antonín Mladota of solopysk, who was interested in physics and alchemy, bought it. (the first owner of the house with interest in alchemy was václav duke opava, the second was Edward Kelley, the court alchemist of Emperor Rudolf II. . The period in which the house was owned by mladotů is seen as the beginning of the reputation of Dr. Faust, who developed the romantic literature of the 19. th century The last of mladotů Francis fell into debt, and in 1800, the creditors acquired the house. In 1838, the house belonged to a private institute for deaf. In 1856, it was designed to tear down ground objects on the east and south side and build new ones in their place. The construction was carried out in 1857. In 1902, purchased by a general hospital house. In February 1945, the house was damaged during an air raid.

Ukieology Fashion and Decor Inc. – Motankas are ancient Ukrainian family talismans. They are the symbol of prosperity, goodness and hope. Then first knotted dolls appeared about 5,000 years ago, and represented the unity of the family and deep connection between multiple generations.

The name “motanka” comes from the word “motaty” (to wind) ie to make a knotted doll out of fabric, without using a needle and scissors. Motanka served as a talisman of human destiny and our ancestors believed that destiny cannot be pierced or cut. Generally dolls were in the shape of a human figure, usually a woman or a child, and were made from pieces of fabric from old clothes of family members connected by knots.

Each doll was unique and made with only good intentions and sincerity as it was believed that it has power and will act as a protector of a household and it’s inhabitants.

Motankas differ from ordinary dolls by “empty” faces. Our ancestors believed that giving the doll a face could tie a person’s soul to it. Therefore faces have no facial features and instead the Motanka dolls have multicoloured threads laid out in a cross shape across the face instead. The cross is a pagan symbol of the Sun where horizontal lines meant feminine, and vertical – masculine.

Motanka dolls can be divided into three categories: ceremonial (obryadova), guardian (berehynya) and children’s play dolls. The ceremonial doll was made for certain holidays and so was named accordingly: Kolyada, Vesilna, Vesnyanka, Paschalna, Kupavka, etc. Guardian motankas were created with a specific purpose in mind, such as successful pregnancy and health, well-being and wealth, harmony, success and happiness. In the middle of such dolls it was common to place healing herbs and coins.

Play dolls for children helped to develop fine motor skills, as well as future caretaking skills in girls.

Because dolls had specific purposes they were named accordingly. For example:

Ochysna (cleansing) doll was to get rid of bad energy in the house;

Ten-handed (Desyatyruchka) doll always helped the hostess in household chores;

To get married successfully, a Cabbage (Kapustka) doll was displayed in the window;

Princess (Knyahynya) was the most popular female talisman that helped with family affairs;

Inseparable dolls (Nerozluchnyki) were often gifted at the wedding so that they would preserve unity and fidelity of the couple;

The most beautiful doll was the Bride (Narechena) as she looked like a young girl with a long braid – a symbol of a long married life;

Fertility (Rodyuchistʹ) Motanka was gifted with a wish of many children to be born to the family;

Traveler doll (Podorozhnytsya) guaranteed the owner a happy return home, and helped to stay warm and full while travelling;

To protect the baby from illnesses, the mother would put a Swaddle (Pelenashka) doll into the crib. Sometimes breadcrumbs were wrapped into these dolls and they also acted as pacifiers. For additional protection from diseases, 12 small motankas were made from healing herbs and given to the child to play with. Each doll absorbed the disease and after they performed this protective function they were burned;

Guardian Motanka or Berehynya was associated with the Mother – a symbol of care, love and prosperity. Therefore, she was always depicted with her head covered, large breasts and a cross on her face.

Colors also played an important role in the making of the motanka doll:

red – symbolised protection against diseases and evil spirits;

yellow – the personification of the life-giving power of the Sun;

green – a symbol of rebirth, health, youth and Mother Nature;

blue and navy – the continuous movement of the healing water;

brown was associated with Mother Earth and fertility;

white – divine heaven, purity and harmony.

Lastly, much meaning was given to when and how Motanka was created. The process of making such dolls is called “kutannya” or swaddling as it is very similar to swaddling a baby. Motankas were made by women using the lunar calendar. On the full moon the doll was created for protection; on the descending moon- to protect from diseases and failures; Motanks made during the ascending moon were for achieving a good result in any business.

Additionally, it was forbidden to make dolls on Friday and Sunday, because these days belong to the goddess of women’s diligence and needlework, Makosha. A doll had to be made in one day using natural fabrics and threads. The winding of the doll was to be carried out only clockwise, always accompanied by positive thoughts.

During the Soviet times, traditions associated with making Motanka dolls were somewhat lost. However, more recently these dolls have made a come back and many households in Ukraine and overseas have acquired Motanka dolls as traditional Ukrainian oberihs.

We have been very fortunate to partner up with a local artist (originally from Ukraine now living in Saskatoon, Canada), Natalia Garmasar, who makes wonderful Motanka dolls for us. She follows traditional ways of making these dolls and each is done with love and care.

As each Motanka doll is unique, no two dolls are alike. Pictures on our site are for reference, and some variations in clothing/accessories is possible.

www.Ukieology.com

#motanka #motankadoll #ukrainian #shoplocal

 

Music – Renaissance Music Choir Josquin Des Prez Mass In Te Domine Speravi – Early Music in a Different Way 😉 – This is my version of In te Domine Speravi from Josquin Des Prez (1450 or 1455-1521). A Jewel choir of Renaissance music played with a viol viola da gamba consort. Early Music Mass.

Palestrina Choral Music Beautiful Choral – Weslei Santos de Andrade – Full playlist on the youtube link!

Links

The Last Wild Lions of Europe – https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/lions-europe/

You’ll Love This Café Right Away (more about the Certovka mill!) – https://www.ourbeautifulprague.com/youll-love-this-cafe-right-away/

Video Links

Hernando De Soto: Dark Legacy Of The Medieval Explorer | Death March Of De Soto | Chronicle – Chronicle – Medieval History Documentaries – Romantic visions of the explorer Hernando de Soto continue to celebrate the conquistador’s arrival in North America 500 years ago as one of the most important events in the history of mankind. But archaeology tells a darker story. – As they chart the conquistador’s trail of death and human destruction from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the mouth of the Mississippi, archeologists are not only discovering lost Native American cultures, but their excavations are also confirming the frightening truth of just how these people perished. More info on the youtube link.

New and Updated Pages

Foods from the Norse, viking-era – https://housecapuchin.com/winter-feast/winter-feast-norse-feast-as-lvi-february-2022/foods-from-the-norse-viking-era/

Wheat Frumenty with Cheese – https://housecapuchin.com/winter-feast/winter-feast-norse-feast-as-lvi-february-2022/foods-from-the-norse-viking-era/wheat-frumenty-with-cheese/

Funnies