Being the online web log for the Southwestern Pennsylvania branch of the SCA, Inc.
As is traditional, we had the Baronial Arts and Sciences Championship at the Debatable Lands 12th Night event yesterday. We had 8 excellent entries, and I do not envy them having to choose their champion from among the entrants.
In the end (and after some argument), Michiharu’s Kimchi of Various Styles was chosen by the Baronage as their favorite entry, and Oyama-dono was named as their new Arts and Sciences Champion!
Baronessa Violeta and Praetoria Prima will select their next A&S Champion at the Debatable Lands Twelfth Night on January 25, 2025!
Please bring an entry that represents your journey as an artisan.
Documentation is optional but encouraged.
North Park Lodge, N Ridge Dr, Allison Park, PA 15201
Congratulations to out newest Baronial A&S Champion, Alric Smith, who won with his humble, yet beautifully-made knife, and our second, Lady Lisabetta de Rossi, with her impressive Florentine Lady’s Outfit.
The theme our Lady Elinor chose for the competition was “Pastoral”, which she chose in the hopes that it would attract more entrants with articles from everyday life. She succeeded in her goal, and we were overjoyed to see so many first-time entrants not only in the display, but in the Baronial competition, as well. You didn’t make it easy for us, and we argued back and forth for a good while before deciding on our Champion!
Alric Smith’s knife, while at first glance a simple thing, truly demonstrated the amount of time and effort that goes into the creation of such a mundane item. He smelted the iron, forged the blade and crafted the scales before assembling the final product. Lady Lisabetta’s outfit was almost entirely handsewn, and not only featured fine stitching, but clever assembly, with hidden structure in the shoulders and excellent fit. She has graciously posted the documentation for her project here.
We also had a selection of knitted mittens from Ceindrech verch Elidir, wax tablets from Oyama Michiharu, clothes and accessories from Turlough Feolain and tallow candles rendered from deer by Finé Faílaín. Vivat to all of our skilled entrants, and we look forward to having Alric Smith represent us at Seven Pearls in September.
Shortly after 12th Night, the Stellar Tournaments resumed at our winter practice. February’s tournaments were fantastic to behold, with the winner of the Sun List being Lord Dagon the Ordained and the winner of the Moon List being Don Robert MacEwin of Thornhill. We’re excited to see who the March winners of the tournament are!
We also want to take this moment to thank Brehyres Muirgheal Inghean Dubhghaill for all her service these past many years as our Baronial Seneschal. We feel extremely lucky to have began our tenure with her wisdom and guidance. Our Barony is a better place because of her hard work.
In Service,
Baronessa Violeta de Valencia & Praetoria Aurelia Argentia Prima
Here are photographs of more than a dozen entries in this year’s Debatable Lands 12th Night Arts and Sciences Display and Baronial Championship Competition (DL12NANSDBCC for short). My apologies if I missed your entry! Please contact me if that is the case. In addition to these excellent objects, many entries were accompanied by excellent research articles.
Alric Smith was the winner of the Championship competition and will represent the Barony Marche of the Debatable Lands at the 7 Pearls event. The Honorable Lady Lisabetta (“Bess”) de Rossi has agreed to second Smith if he is unable to attend that event.
Their Royal Highnesses, Arnthor Inn Sterki and Ceirech Na Hinnsi, are pleased to let it be known to all that they are looking forward to choose their Arts & Sciences Champions at the Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship to be hosted by the the Barony of Rhydderich Hael this Saturday, October 22nd.
It’s too late to set up a virtual entry, but you can register an in-person entry if you show up first thing at the event.
The event is from 9am to 5pm, and it’s just a four-point-mumble hour drive up to Sanborn, NY if you want to day-trip it. More information:
https://aethelmearc.org/event/kingdom-as-champs/
Even if you aren’t entering, this is a great event to see what others in the Kingdom are working on, and some of the best arts and research the SCA has to offer.
It’s Shakespeare Movie Night TONIGHT! We will show Henry VIII
(BBC Production) starting at 8:15pm, followed by a chat after the movie.
This showing will be online only.
He was a man of an unbounded stomach. This performance features the BBC
Production. We hope to see you there! Watch from the comfort of your living
room via the AEther.
Please contact Alaric at alaric (at) pobox (dot) com for the Zoom room
information (or see the linked document). He can also be reached via DM on
Discord (Alaric#9264). Get your information before the movie starts, if
possible, as Alaric is also watching and might not see your request to join
right away.
Just a quick reminder that both the Baronial Bardic Championship and the Baronial Arts & Sciences Championship are at 12th Night on Saturday!
Any Debatable Lander, or gentle who’s been awarded a friendship (green) Comet is eligible to win, although anyone can display/perform. The new Champions are asked to represent the Barony at the Seven Pearls Champions’ event in the Rhydderich Hael after Pennsic, and to run the Championship next year. They are also asked to display the regalia of their achievement and to stand with us in Baronial Court, if they prefer.
We can’t wait to see your arts!
In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda
And here’s a little more about each Championship:
From Lady Argentia, current Baronial A&S Champ –
Call for entries for the Baronial A&S Display! Show off your latest creations or your current study obsession. If you’re wearing it, just leave a card with what it is that says to see you. Also, it need not be a tangible thing! Are you really into early astrology and divination? Do you have impeccable table manners for an Angelo-Saxon? Can you tell us the signs farmers looked for to know it was safe to plant their seeds? Perhaps you’d just like to set a period table? If so, do a little write up and maybe bring some source materials for us to peruse. It counts! Even a work-in-progress can be put in the display. We want to see your works! Please enter by 1pm.
From Lady Beatrix, current Baronial Bard –
Calling all bards!! Join me, Beatrix, your Baronial Bardic Champion at Debatable Lands 12th night.
I will be hosting this year’s competition, but more importantly, we are going to fill the hall with music and poetry and merriment all day long. Open Bardic Circle from 10-12 and again after 2pm.
Please join me on my cushions and carpets with your favorite song book to share your talents. All are welcome to join in the singing, playing, recitation and any other performance art, regardless of skill and talent (or confidence). Let’s sing together and make a joyful noise.
If you want to participate in the competition, there will be a sign up from 10am to noon and the competition to perform for Their Excellencies will begin at 12:30. There are no particular rules, but please limit your performance to 5-7 minutes to accommodate all interested participants in the allotted time.
See you there!
Hello Debatable Lands!
Please join us in wishing a hearty GOOD LUCK! to the Baronial Champions, as they compete against the best in the Kingdom’s Baronies at the Seven Pearls Championships tomorrow!
For Heavy Weapons, THL Bors of Rouen (seconded by THL Guillaume)
For Rapier, Don Jorundr hinn Rotinn (seconded by Mistress Irene)
For Archery, Lady Kathryn Tanzel (seconded by Mistress Arianna)
For Thrown Weapons, Lord Duncan MacCoulagh (seconded by Lord Ronan)
For A&S, Lady Aurelia Argentia Prima (seconded by THL Rachel)
For Bardic, Lady Beatrix Angelsey (seconded by Brehyres Gwendolyn)
Vivant!!
In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda
For those who are joining us on the sojourn to beautiful Delftwood, some additional information from the event staff:
Schedule for Seven Pearls Championships at Wildwood, Saturday, August 31
All competitions will take place in the field to the left beyond the clubhouse, except for the A&S.
9:00-10:30 Fencing
10:30-11:30 Thrown Weapons
11:30-12:30 Heavy Weapons
12:30-1:00 A&S Judging (inside the clubhouse)
2:00-3:00 Archery
3:00-4:00 Bardic
Its the state fair weekend, so traffic gets very bad by 9am, check your route to avoid, or come early.
Full event Schedule:
Friday:
5:00 PM Site opens
6:00 PM Gate Opens
9:00 PM Gate closes
Saturday:
8:00 AM Gate reopens
9:00 AM Seven Pearls starts
9:30 AM Archery Inspections
10:00 AM Archery ranges open
11:00 AM Cash lunch opens
11:30 AM Thrown Weapons ranges open
1:00 PM Cash lunch closes
3:30 PM Gate closes
4:00 PM Ranges close and court set-up
5:00 PM Court
Feast is immediately following court
Sunday:
8:00 AM Gate reopens
10:00 AM Ranges open and Cast Iron Chef muster
11:00 AM Cast Iron Chef starts
11:15 PM Delftwood Thrown Weapons Champs
12:00 PM Gate closes
12:15 PM Delftwood Ratan Champs Tournament
1:00 PM Delftwood Archery Champs shoot
2:00 PM Cast Iron Chef ends
4:00 PM Ranges close
4:30 PM Court
Monday:
11:00 AM Site closes
Info on the Cast Iron Chef contest
There is a cash lunch and bar onsite. Please only consume alcohol purchased at the bar. They will be providing a variety of beer and wine to satisfy the SCAdian palette. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed, kept controlled over, and picked up after at all times. Please note, the site has two, very friendly dogs who roam the property.
The menu for Saturday evening feast is below. Please contact Lady Keira with any questions or allergies: sackleyperot@yahoo.com
On the table
Fine bread and GF bread
flour or GF flour, water, yeast, salt
Butter
Medicinal (honey) butter
Tudor Gherkins
water, white vinegar, salt, cucumbers, dill. thyme
Compost
celery root, parsnips, carrots, radishes, turnips, cabbage, pears, salt, vinegar, honey, anise seed, fennel seeds, saffron
Elizabethan pickled mushrooms
mushrooms, ginger, nutmeg, white grape juice, apple cider vinegar, salt, verjuice
Course the First
Beef Roast with fruit sauce
beef, dried cherries, vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg
Meat Pyes
crust or GF crust, beef or chicken, prunes, dates, raisins, vinegar, saffron
Barley Frumenty with roasted root vegetables (V)
barley, vegetable broth, turnips, carrots, sweet potato, parsnips, salt, saffron
Carrottes boyled
carrots, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt
Course the Second
Roast Chicken with Three Sauces
citrus sauce (onion, lemon peel, orange
juice, lemon juice, GF bread crumbs, apple cider vinegar, salt)
carmeline sauce (almonds, currants, cinnamon, GF breadcrumbs, verjuice)
Elizabethan mustard (mustard seeds, onion, ginger, horseradish, sugar, apple cider vinegar
Ember Day Savory Quich (V)
crust or GF crust, parsley, cheddar cheese, onions (1 pie will be made without onions), eggs, butter, safron, salt, currants, sugar, mace
A Dish of Artichokes
artichokes, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, sugar, butter, vinegar
Course the Third
Jumbles (tudor spiced cookies)
flour or GF flour, caraway seed, aniseed, mace, butter, sugar, lemon zest, egg
Dried apples with honey
apples, honey
Candie of Orange Pilles
orange peel, orange juice, sugar, rose water
Shrewsbury Shortbreads
flour or GF flour, sugar, butter, nutmeg, rose water
To Drink
Spiced Cider
apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, mace
Ice Water
Sekanjabin
honey, vinegar, mint
Hello Debatable Lands, for those of you joining us at the Seven Pearls Championships, where the Kingdom’s Baronial Champions compete in Heavy Fighting, Rapier Fighting, Archery, Thrown Weapons, A&S and Bardic, some information from Delftwood’s Baroness Amalie:
The Seven Pearls Tournament at A Shoote in the Wyldwoode
August 30 @ 5:00 pm – September 2 @ 11:00 am
Hosted By: Barony of Delftwood
Royal Progress:King Queen Prince Princess
not_wheelchair_accessible
NOTES: There are gravel roads and the rest is grass. There are steps up into the building. There will be a wheelchair accessible porta-potty onsite. Please only consume alcohol purchased at the bar. Dogs must be leashed, controlled, and cleaned up after at all times. Failure to comply could lead to the owner being asked to leave. The site has two, very friendly dogs that roam the property.
As the summer sun begins to set, please join the Barony of Delftwood for a Shoote in the Wyldwoode! There will be archery and thrown weapon’s galore, along with camping, merchants, a feast, and the Cast Iron Chef competition! Delftwood will also be hosting this year’s Seven Pearls Championship Competition. Their Excellencies, Amalie and Ixac, will be holding their archery, thrown weapons, and rattan championships on Sunday. The site opens Friday, August 30th at 5:00 PM and closes promptly at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 2nd, 2019.
There is a cash lunch and bar onsite. Please only consume alcohol purchased at the bar. They will be providing a variety of beer and wine to satisfy the SCAdian palette. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed, kept controlled over, and picked up after at all times. Failure to comply could lead to the owner being asked to leave. Please note, the site has two, very friendly dogs who roam the property.
The Event Stewards are Lady Glenna Cholmondeley (Glenna Chumbley) and Mistress Othindisa Bykona (Sarah LaMay) both of 607 Rowland St, Syracuse, NY 13204. Email: glennachumbley@yahoo.com or aebeelady@gmail.com . Phone: Glenna: 315-214-4179. Othindisa: 315-373-6842 (Sarah Jane LaMay on Facebook or text preferred).
The Head Cook is Lady Keara Caitlyn MacLeod (Suzanne Ackley-Perot). Please contact her with your allergies or any questions you have. Phone: 315-664-1588. Sackleyperot@yahoo.com
Merchant space is free, but you must pre-register. Requests can be sent to Othindisa at aebeelady@gmail.com. Please include your name, booth dimensions with ropes, and which side your booth opens up on. Only merchant tents are permitted to set-up in the merchant area. You will be asked to move if you are not selling.
Adult Registration (age 15+): $20.00
Adult Registration with member discount: $15.00
Youth (6-14): $5.00
Youth (5 and under): Free
Feast: Adult (age 15+): $8
Youth (6-14): $4
Youth (5 and under): Free
Camping for the weekend: $5 per Adult. Free for Youth. Reservations are greatly appreciated especially for feast.
The site is Wildwood Sports Center located at 5740 Fikes Rd, Memphis, NY 13112. Please note: Google maps will take you to the back of the center on Kester Road. Use Wildwood Sports Center as your destination to take you to the Fikes Road entrance or follow the directions below:
Directions to Wildwood Sports Center: For all points North, South and East find your best way to I-690 West out of central Syracuse for about 3 miles. Take I-695 (695 after about 1 mile will fork, stay to the right) and stay on the 695 to the end at Exit 6. Veer to the right towards Auburn. Merge onto Route 5 West towards Auburn. Stay on Route 5 for approximately 4 miles. Turn right onto Fikes Road. The site is less than a half mile on the right. For all points West, take I-90 to Exit 40 for Auburn/Weedsport exit. Turn right onto Route 34 towards Weedsport. Turn left onto Route 31B and take this to the end. Turn left onto Route 5 towards Elbridge. Continue through Elbridge and watch for the Ford dealership on the left. Fikes Road will be just after the dealership on the left. The site is less than a half mile on the right.
Please make the check out to “SCA NY Inc – Barony of Delftwood”. Send to Barony of Delftwood, P.O. Box 6694, Syracuse, NY 13217
Here is the 7 Pearls schedule for Saturday, along with who has agreed to marshal, and who the current 7 Pearls Champion is:
9:30-10:30 Fencing Marshal: Fergus Current Champ: Master Iago Benetiz, St. Swithin’s Bog
10:30-11:30 Thrown Weapons Marshal: Gytha Current Champ: Lord Meinulfr, Barony-Marche of Debatable Lands
11:30-12:30 Heavy Weapons Marshl: Yngvar Current Champ: THL Darri inn Valskr, Blackstone Mountain
12:30-1:00 A&S Judging Current Champ: Mistress Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen, Barony-Marche of Debatable Lands
1:00-2:00 Lunch/Sign Scrolls
2:00-3:00 Archery Marshal: Corwin Current Champ: Lady Wulflæd on Hehstaidesee, St. Swithin’s Bog
3:00-4:00 Bardic Current Champ: Lady Boudica of Thescorre, Thescorre
## THERE IS NO POTABLE WATER ON SITE FROM FAUCETS. The bar sells water, and there should be a large plastic cube that has drinkable water inside it near the site’s archery field.
Choosing Baronial Champions is always difficult, particularly for the peaceful arts. This past Saturday at 12th Night, our Artisans, Scientists and Bards came out in force, and showered the Barony with their gifts of art.
The Baronial Bardic Competition had a record 11 entrants, and had the audience in tears of both sorrow and laughter. The Arts & Sciences Display was a wonder to behold, and included beginners to Laurels, some very impressive documentation, and all the works displayed were representative of the talent of our bright A&S Community. Without further ado:
Your New Baronial Bard: Lady Beatrix of Anglesey
Seconded by: Brehyres Gwendolyn the Graceful
Your New A&S Champion: Lady Aurelia Argentia Prima
Seconded by: The Honorable Lady Rachel Dalicieux
Vivant the New Champions, seconds, outgoing Champions (Mistress Fredeburg and Mistress Arianna), and all those gentles who put themselves forth for consideration!
In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda
