House Capuchin Shield2

The shop wasn’t quite so crazy this week, but Anja and Loren are still trying to catch up and they’re also starting to stock up for the holiday season…if we get one. We’ll see.

WordPress is doing something strange. They’ve shifted over to a block format and it’s difficult to figure out, especially pictures, so some things are a little clunky this week. Hopefully, your scribe will do better next week. 

We’re hoping for more “harvest” stuff this week, but also to do a cheese (maybe the cheese for fried cheese?) and more prep of dried herbs. I even have a large amount of thyme that I had forgotten about.

All meetings are on hold for the moment, although Project Day and the Monthly Potluck are being held in the Virtual Realm. We’re also doing mini-potlucks, just Anja & Loren and one other “pod” at a time. Let us know if you’re interested!

  • Herb Bunch – At Ancient Light, Saturdays, 11am-1pm
  • Sewing Time – At Ancient Light, Saturdays, 3-5pm
  • Project Day – At Ancient Light, Sundays, Noon to 6pm
  • Cheese and Wine happens irregularly, usually announced with little notice on our Facebook group.
  • Next Virtual Potluck – 10/18
  • Next Winter Feast tentative Date is 2/15/21, Probably not being held….

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/

I asked Sadb how they’re doing, since they were in the worst of the fire/smoke areas. This is her response (used with permission).

“We’re ok. Ended up being in a hotel 10 days. We have renter’s insurance, so the hotel was completely covered and our neighborhood was spared. My life mostly revolves around Keith’s unpredictable behavior. I haven’t been doing any sewing/art/crafts. When Keith gets angry, he specifically targets my things to throw or stomp, so it honestly just doesn’t feel safe. I have been doing a lot of writing/editing work, and that helps a lot. My husband and I have gotten involved with a meditation community, and that practice allows me refuge. I am proud that our little shire has become a barony, even if i feel like a stranger here. Most of the folks I played with don’t participate any more. So, maybe a little self-pity creeping in here and there, but really, overall very calm and satisfied. ❤“

I reminded her, as I remind all of you, of my father’s famous saying, “It’s perfectly fine to sit on the pity pot now and then. Just remember to flush!” 🙂

Misc – Tudor Medicine with Historian Seamus O’Caellaigh

Kendryth Filia Gerald – Collected on Facebook 10/1/20 – Used with permission.
WARNING: Long Post (Duh), but I guarantee no photos of the Plague Mullet
So my buddy, Ana De la Sara , posted something really intriguing recently: Historically Adequate vs. Historically Accurate. I have a lot of thoughts on this, as you can probably imagine, and I didn’t want to take up all of her bandwidth in the comments.
For those of you not familiar, the term “Historically Adequate” is basically “The 10-foot Rule,” “Reasonable Attempt,” and “The ‘C’ in ‘SCA’” all rolled into one. It’s an umbrella term for all of the non-period short cuts, replacements, alternatives, etc. that a lot of us – particularly newcomers – take in our garb, in our camping, in our accessories and utensils. It’s the Pier One dishes; it’s the moccasin boots; it’s the pickle barrel armor; it’s the fabric blends, etc. “Historically Accurate,” of course, is just that. It is doing something exactly the way they would have done during whatever historical era you favor. It’s growing the flax, weaving the linen, and then hand-sewing your underwear. It’s forging your own armor and weaponry. It’s the stuff of which Laurels are made.
In the SCA, we tell folks that we have room for both Adequate and Accurate, but, at least for as long as I’ve been playing, there has always been an unspoken understanding that Accurate is the goal that everyone should be striving for, and Adequate should be a phase out of which one should grow. That unspoken understanding, over the decades, has formed the basis for some pretty cruel behavior: Tent-shaming, for instance. Unrequested seam-checking. Unrequested shoe checking. The rise of the term, “Invested,” as a way to determine someone’s worth to the game. To be clear, not everyone who strives for Accuracy engages in these things. There are plenty of people who strive for absolute historical authenticity who are inclusive, non-judgmental, and just excited to share their passions with others (my buddy, Sharon Rose , being just one example). But they are few in an overarching culture that tells its members that Adequacy must be excused while Accuracy should be exalted. We are, after all, a historical club, and to embrace Adequacy is a slippery slope to folks showing up to events in elf ears and Tolkien names, or in modified Starfleet tunics. And, at that point, we will have lost all that is good and right in the SCA.
I am going to be honest, I have a lot of problems with this idea. Yes, Accuracy is great. Yes, it is educational. Yes, it contributes to the wealth of experience the SCA provides, and it is the reason why the SCA went from being considered an amusing pastime by historians to a surprisingly reliable source of information on experimental archaeology. SCAdians are now being taken seriously by members of the historical and archaeological fields, and that is entirely due to those who invest their time, their talents, and their money into trying to achieve absolute historical accuracy. But Adequacy has an important role to play in the SCA as well, and not just as a training-wheels phase for Newcomers. (And not, to be clear, to replace Accuracy.) While the SCA is a historical club, and the folks who join and stay do so because they are interested in history, not every SCAdian has dreams of becoming a Laurel. Nor should that be the default expectation. Some of us want to get into Heavies fighting, which is something SCAdians invented on our own. Some of us want to live our Braveheart/13th Warrior/Game of Thrones/LOTR/Pirate fantasies with our friends, maybe take some classes, maybe discover that we’re also interested in 6th century Byzantium, maybe read some books, but mostly pay our site fee and sing songs around a campfire (when safe to do so). And some of us want to Run Everything, which, after several years of intense experimentation, I have discovered one can do just as effectively in a T-tunic and sweats as one can in full 14th-century rig. Sometimes more effectively, because you don’t have to worry about damaging your T-tunic. Sometimes, too, we just want to have a little irreverent fun. Like Disney-bounding garb.
I think when folks hear “Historical Accuracy vs. Historical Adequacy,” they imagine one day having to sit around and judge Who Wore the Torrid Polyester Send-Up of Arwen’s Coronation Dress Best. And that’s not it at all. There is never going to be a time when Historical Accuracy isn’t going to be a goal in the SCA – to try to do so would mean tossing out an entire branch of our society, one that has been around practically since the formation of our group. It just isn’t – and shouldn’t be – the only goal. What those of us who embrace Adequacy (of which I proudly consider myself a member) are asking for is not to be treated as if we haven’t fully developed into our SCA selves, or that our presence is, somehow, holding the SCA back. Accuracy just isn’t our thing. But our thing still contributes to making the SCA awesome.
I’ve done a few things in my SCA career. Ran or volunteered at a few events; held some officer positions; raised a bit of money; interviewed some folks; taught or organized some classes; ran some online contests; hosted a few online shows; acted as an visiting ambassador to a couple outside Kingdoms, and then, using Chronicler-speak, soundly kicked their asses. I’ve organized some largesse-creating projects and I’ve made some largesse on my own. I’ve worked to orient newcomers into the fundamentals of what the SCA is, introduce them to members of our group that will be able to guide and inspire them, and try to inspire them myself to becoming volunteers, artisans, fighters, or wherever their interests lead them. I doubt I would have had the time or the energy to do these things if I was also trying to make the Most Absolutely Correct Scythian Jacket. Some other folks might; I just know my limits. Still, for all of my stubborn refusal to hand-sew garb – or even develop a persona – I think I bring something important to the SCA. At least as important as the aforementioned Scythian Jacket. But even if all I was doing was just paying my site fee regularly, that should be enough to grant me welcome in our group.
A couple years ago, I was granted an art award from Ana and Jose, and I was visibly confused as to why. Ana explained it was because I made pretty things. Now, the things I make are not historically accurate. Not by a long shot. They are referential, not actual. But to Their Excellencies, it was enough that they served to decorate the site environment and brought happiness to those who saw them. It was clear to Them what I was getting at, even though the items were crafted from household disposables and modern paint. The award I received wasn’t Peerage-level; no one was confusing, for instance, lanterns made from glass yogurt containers and base metal chain with Moroccan chandeliers. But They thought it was nice to have something Adequate that was pretty to look at than, for the lack of Accurate decorations, nothing at all. And they appreciated the fact that someone took time and energy to make things less dull. I think if we were to embrace that viewpoint a bit more in our club, not only would we have a more beautiful and colorful environment to play in, but a happier one, too.

Educational events and info.

Classes – There are a bunch of new videos up on University of the MidRealm – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyPzZuaj1u2KSL67wWgLvXA

Needles in History | History of Sewing Needles and More

Edward the Elder (Anglo Saxon King)

Early Week – Not much going on. Collecting pieces for various project and putting them away so they’re findable was the most of it. Anja started back in on another pattern on the sampler, after finishing off a couple of other bits on it, mostly ends, but at least one pattern.

Cookery – A set of pickles from cukes and summer squash got set up early in the week.

To Make Leavened Bread” | 16th Century Tudor Puff Pastry | SCA Baking

Un plato que nos acompaña desde la Edad Media (with english subtitles) – A dish that has accompanied us since the Middle Ages (stewed rabbit in sauce)

Precedella | 1500’s Pretzels made with Wine

Medieval Pizza – The Origin of Pizza

Herb Bunch – Some of the outdoor plants are getting raggy from dry and the alkaline smoke that we had for weeks. We got some of them tended on Friday and some on Sunday. On Sunday a bunch of jade plant starts got pulled and replanted. We also planted the biggest of the fig trees. This one is a white fig. The others aren’t looking as happy, so we’re going to give them a little longer. We did some rearranging, too.

Project Day – Loren and Anja did a lot on plants today, described above.

Arlys says, “Assisi bits for pincushions for me! Assuming that I take a break from the break I am currently taking from doing chores I needed a break from.”

Peggy says – “So my Barony’s scribal group has a couple of projects going. First is a 5 scroll exchange with a neighboring Barony. Second is scrolls for Kingdom where we make as many scrolls as we can (blank, with or without calligraphy) in about a 4 month period. The scroll posted here is part of the 5 scroll exchange. For the Barony of Tir Ysgithr, Boar Purpure – All Around Participation by a Long-Time Member.”

Music – Le Roman de Fauvel (historically accurate version)

Links

Video Links

Between Two Peers: Episode 10 – Viscount Seamus – Streamed live on Jun 19, 2020 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB9TEoqxy-I

Why Was 536 A.D The Worst Year In History? | Catastrophe | Timeline

The Ghost Ship Of Henry VIII | Mary Rose | Timeline

Bodiam Castle

Percival – An Arthurian short film

What We Got Wrong About The Dark Ages | King Arthur’s Britain | Timeline

Funnies 

divider black grey greek key

Largesse Item Count – (includes gifts, prizes, auction items, etc.)

  • ASXLVII = 24
  • ASXLVIII = 88
  • ASXLIX = 794
  • ASL = 2138
  • ASLI = 731
  • ASLII = 304
  • ASLIII – 146
  • ASLIV – 222 plus 4 puppets, 3 hippocras mix, 4 powder fort, 8 cheese spice and 9 powder douce packets, 1 kiss-lock pouch, 10 tiny bobs, 7 pincushions, 3 pins, 4 snip case w/snips, lucet cords, 25 pouches for block-printing, 1 medium pouch, 4 small pouches, 12 bookmarkers, 14 unfinished pincushions, 1 sewing kit (except for bone needle), varnished stuff (124), 2 emery strawberries,1 woolen spool-knit cord

Total as a Household = 4053 handed off

moving writing pen motif

In ministerio autem Somnium! Anja, graeca doctrina servus to House Capuchin
Page Created 9/28/20 & published 10/5/20 (C)M. Bartlett
Last updated 10/5/20