House Capuchin Shield2*Marzipan was the big thing this week. People are working on various projects, but being in-process there isn’t as much to say! Lots of cookery links this week, not as many classes, although the Salon of the Italies has a bunch of new classes up. There’s a link to the series below. 

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!

When will we be able to do these in person? We’ll probably keep right on with the virtual ones side-by-side with the actual. 

  • 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 – 4/18, 5/16, 6/20 
  • No Winter Feast in 2021. We’ll revisit for one in 2022 sometime in the next two months.

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 – Taran Daestingr – from Facebook 4/29/21 – Used with permission

To those who feel unwelcome in the SCA:
The key to understanding the SCA is realizing that most of the folks in it are socially awkward to some degree, and a lot of the stuff that looks like snobbery is actually a lack of awareness. Many of us struggle to see how our words and actions appear to others, especially people who don’t know us. Sad but true.
Folks are excited to see their friends! (And maybe don’t notice/think to include the newbie)
Folks are obsessed with this strange rabbit hole of research! (And fail to realize that their explanation can sound like a lecture on how you’re doing it wrong)
Folks are proud of the new thing they just made and want to show it off! (And don’t see how that can make the newcomer feel like their hand me downs are inadequate)
Believe me, I do know the feels. I had THREE false starts in the SCA and two of them were because I didn’t feel welcome, which is really hard to get past as an introvert!
I eventually teamed up with another friend to drag our entire household into the SCA, and having my comfort zone with me was really helpful. I wouldn’t have made it without them, so I deeply understand how coming in solo can be very hard.
My friends and I showed up in garb made to theatrical standards (wrong fabrics, machine sewn everything, no clue how to construct things historically, no matching ensembles or proper layers… just whatever I could throw together inexpensively) and most of everything else was just our modern camp stuff. We didn’t know anybody. We knew very little about the SCA. For the most part no one even talked to us the first few months.
It took a while to notice that we weren’t being judged, we were simply being overlooked by people with busy lives and other things on their minds. That doesn’t make it any easier to break in, but the perspective can be helpful in battling brain weasels.
If anyone is *intentionally* making you feel unwelcome let me at them and I’ll set them straight. If there’s anything else I can do to help you, let me know. At this point all I can promise is answering questions and throwing costume resources at you, but if that helps, I can do it.
To those who have been doing this a while:
Look, I know you’re excited to see your friends and show off the new thing you’ve made/ acquired/learned… but look around. Is there a newcomer you could be including in the conversation? What can you add to their understanding of what’s going on in front of them? Are there terms you can use mundane friendly substitutes for (or explain) instead of making what you say very confusing?
Instead of just jumping into the “correct” way to do a thing, could you maybe start with “we’re all using [insert convenient/inexpensive modern hack] but I’ve been researching [historic thing] which is NOT the expectation we’ll hold anyone to.” Make it clear that your gushing about the exciting new thing is not a lecture on the inadequacies of those around you.
It’s hard when you’re excited to think of such things, I know, but just try. It’ll help you be more aware of when you’re accidentally excluding people.
If you notice someone looking worried or self conscious as you talk, take a minute to tell them where you started. If you’ve been lecturing about your new project using wool from exactly the right kind of sheep in your hand woven twill that you dyed with a period recipe before hand stitching the garment based on some extant find you examined in a museum in France, tell the newcomers that you spent your first year wearing flannel pj pants and that’s a perfectly valid beginning. We all know what a slippery slope A&S can be in this society of craft enablers, but the new folks only see the massive amount of effort that you’ve expended as an insurmountable chasm that separates them from being worthy.
We all tend to forget that those who come after do not know our humble beginnings. Yes, I still feel like that awkward weirdo who first showed up to an event in a royal purple synthetic velvet “princess” dress and didn’t know anything about historical clothing… but what the new folks see (hand sewing, tailoring, natural fibers, laborious embellishment, period styles heavily see researched) is the result of years of research, practice, and learning that looks intimidating to someone who doesn’t even know what questions to ask or search terms to use in order to get started! My garb is NOT the bar. I always tell people that I figure “the bar” for garb is set somewhere around B movie extra from the crowded marketplace scene. If you’re blending in well enough in the background of pictures that you’re less shockingly moden than a bright blue biffy that’s ALL you need to start. They need to be assured of this, but they need to hear that from the people who are well dressed especially.
We all start somewhere. Anyone who isn’t a jerk accepts that newbies are gonna come in with lots to learn. We don’t judge them, and we think that’s enough. I would like to challenge the notion that simply not judging them is enough.
It isn’t.
Not if we want to grow the society. Not if we want to make the shy newcomers (like I once was) feel welcome. We need to EXPRESS our lack of judgement by engaging with them, and by giving them context of our journey so they understand that where they are on the path is a perfectly fine beginning.
We need to let them know that we appreciate their presence and hope they return. A simple introduction, welcome, and the words “Do you have any questions?” or “What questions do you have?” make such a difference! Active question words are key. Please do NOT say “let me know if you have any questions… this puts the effort to engage back onto the person you’re trying to encourage, and I guarantee you the shy introvert won’t do it. You need to make the offer to ask immediate, subtly assure them you’re prepared to answer now. Sounds weird, I know, but I have seen the difference in language work magic with new folks.
A lot of feelings of exclusion are the result of unintentional acts. If we examine our actions and strive to make intentionally inclusive choices we’ll see people who might never have returned instead become the next generation of the SCA, welcoming new members with the warmth they think of as normal because it is how they were recieved. I can tell you that watching this take place is a treasured memory of mine. We can change and build a culture of inclusion, but only by acting with intention.
I know this one was a bit of a read, but I hope it helps someone. A big part of my personal mission is to do what I can to keep as many people as possible from feeling the same exclusion that drove me away (twice) in the beginning.
Both the folks who ignored/dismissed me and the people who were kind and took the time to welcome me in the beginning have made a lasting impact on me and the way I approach new folks.
Think of which you are to new people. Look beyond your intentions and look at their perception of you.
Are you the paragon of nobility and accomplishment making someone feel valued?
Or are you the snobby cliquish judgey individual who is the reason that person never came back?
The choice is yours. Choose wisely.

 Other Good Stuff

Knowne Worlde Entertainment Guide – KWEG – Entertainment List – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xEZAwCca4IQham3TpxfWnonQscG668mmYgIMA18YZ-E/edit?fbclid=IwAR3UAXblIOd9u-N5IKtJNLzLFS52KPibZEAuwoDHjWzFoCtN_gDHETI9iCo&fbclid=IwAR2rPB-dkaGPgC11XOEHxYuA5AXE5MWSaRXCW2I-D1YCs-oWwB1Co0xwzKc#gid=0

Happy 56th Birthday, SCA!

Classes – The Salon of the Italies was this week. They have far too many classes to post here. This is the Ren Village page for their videos!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1Izj92BXlpjlCZbykKqVA/videos

Chalice Covers in History | Goblet Cover for a Cup – Lynne Fairchild – Need historical ideas for a cover for your cup or drinking vessel? The drinking vessel may be a goblet, a chalice, a cup, or a mug. Learn about the differences between a pall and a veil, as well as what type of fabrics and embroidery were used in different centuries. I am looking at historical examples of cup covers to help me decide how to design my next cup cover. These covers were used to help keep insects and dirt out of drinks inside cups.

Shopping with the Contessa: Medieval Eating Kit – Rachel Lorenz – 15th Century Eating Kit by Tod Cutler If you like this content, you can receive a host of perks by supporting the Creative Contessa via her Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thecreativeco…​. The Creative Contessa unboxes a 15th century eating kit. The knife is based on a find from the River Thames. The spoon and knife steel are based on common finds from around Europe. The three-part piece is based on conjecture about what could have been and is not based on an extent find. The items were purchased from Tod Cutler at http://www.todcutler.com. The Creative Contessa has purchased several items from this merchant and has been immensely satisfied with the quality and beauty of the pieces purchased. The music is Principessa by Gaita; it can be found on their music release “The Queen of Measures” and is available via Spotify, their website at http://www.gaita.co.uk or by email at info@gaita.co.uk The Creative Contessa can be found on Facebook at The Creative Contessa: https://www.facebook.com/TheCreativeC…​.

Early Week – Marzipan and some embroidery is all….. Oh, and plants…. 

Cookery – Lots of marzipan! So far that’s 13 pounds made, although some is going to have to go back into the food processor because it’s overly dry. A lot of trial runs on the really fancy candies (think gold leaf), and a start on the regular fancies (marzipan stuffed with ginger or dipped in chocolate). This is quite a project! (whole project page here: https://housecapuchin.com/projects-over-period…/marzipan/)

Duck pie! – https://kirielskitchen.blogspot.com/2013/06/renaissance-duck-pies.html

Sprinkle on a little spicy magic – (powder douce) – https://modernmedievalcuisine.com/2019/05/31/sprinkle-on-a-little-spicy-magic/

What is powder fort? – https://modernmedievalcuisine.com/2019/05/31/what-is-powder-fort/

A simnel [not to be confused with simnel bread]. The shape is based on the 1608 evidence in Volume 50 “Bread” of Food and Cookery in Elizabethan and Early Stuart England which also talks of them being boiled. For reference the plate is 12” diameter.
Simnel breads are larger costing 2d and one gentleman took 4 meals to eat one, spread from buying it on Monday to the last in a meal on Saturday. Breads were coped or domed in the center and could contain currants.

Crustard of Erbes on a Fysche Day (Tart of Salmon and Greens) – Monk’s Modern Medieval Cuisine – Dr Monk not only shows you how to make his modern-medieval version of Richard II’s ‘custard tart’ for a non-meat day, but delves into the language, history and manuscripts of the period to give you the background to this delicious dish.

Bazzoffia | TASTE OF THE MIDDLE AGES – Regia Medievalis (Projekt Lazarus Sicilia) – Directed by Medievalis Projekt Lazarus – Hello to all the friends of Regia Medievalis, today’s medieval recipe is a soup called Bazzoffia. This dish belongs to the long and varied list of “energy soups” that the canteens of European convents made available to pilgrims, tired from the long journey and in need of substantial and invigorating meals to better face the next journey. The bazzoffia is nothing more than a tasty soup made from legumes, vegetables and vegetables, very simple to make and for which only “poor” ingredients, that is inexpensive, are needed; “A recipe for recovery and against any waste, which made it possible to make stale bread tasty and use many seasonal vegetables. It is also called” soup of love “because it is considered aphrodisiac:

Apothermum – Ancient Roman Spelt Cakes – Historical Italian Cooking

Today we prepare apothermum, ancient Roman spelt cakes from De Re Coquinaria.

 Ingredients

 For more info about this recipe check out our blog: https://historicalitaliancooking.home…

Ancient Roman Honeyed Pork – Tasting History with Max Miller

 

Sewing – Anja got the embroidery finished on the seam ripper case and then started stitching it up. She started sewing it, but didn’t finish until Tuesday….. 

gothic fitted gown – part 1 – Eleanor Bolton – Intro to sewing a gothic fitted gown (coteharde) in a weekend.

Dublin Dragons of Drachenwald – Elewys of Finchingefeld – You can’t escape the Vikings. Remastered. I just cleaned up the audio from the earlier version. This 10th century skip hole pattern was found in Dublin, Ireland, made during the Norse occupation of several coastal towns. The original is a brocade, with a ground weave of silk and gold brocade over the top. The pattern I’m showing you here is a threaded in, skip hole version of that pattern. Blog link with pattern:  http://ladyelewys.carpevinumpdx.com/2021/04/02/weave-along-with-elewys-ep-16-dublin-dragons-of-drachenwald/

 

Herb Bunch – A bunch of planting/tending happened on Tuesday/Wednesday. Nasturtium seeds went in and a lot of vegetable ends. 

Project Day – 

Arlys was first, before we were even started! “For Project Day: Gonna be up to my eyes this afternoon, but thought this little wren might be fun to try. He’s from a painted stained glass window in an English medieval cathedral. Fierce spider hunter!”

 

Amy brought in some more cords during the week. Those will replace the ones that went onto the bottle openers. 

Anja was trying to get more of the marzipan stuff into galleries on that new page, but wordpress was fighting here. Much cussing ensued…. https://housecapuchin.com/projects-over-period…/marzipan/

Miscellaneous pix

Music –

Carmina Burana XII century – Musica Medievale

Links

Microscopic identification of feathers from 7th century boat burials at Valsgärde in Central Sweden: Specialized long-distance feather trade or local bird use? – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X21000407

New and Updated Pages

Marzipan – https://housecapuchin.com/projects-over-period…/marzipan/

Funnies 

divider black grey greek key

  • ASXLVII = 24
  • ASXLVIII = 88
  • ASXLIX = 794
  • ASL = 2138
  • ASLI = 731
  • ASLII = 304
  • ASLIII = 146
  • ASLIV & ASLV = 230
  • ASLVI = plus 4 puppets, 4 powder fort, 8 cheese spice and 9 powder douce packets, 1 kiss-lock pouch, 9 tiny bobs, 7 pincushions, 3 pins, 3 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, 48 key bottle openers

Total as a Household = 4061 handed off

moving writing pen motif

In ministerio autem Somnium! Anja, graeca doctrina servus to House Capuchin
Page Created 4/27/21 & published 5/5/21 (C)M. Bartlett
Last updated 5/5/21