Giving Thanks

To our beloved Barony:

For your warm welcomes and wide smiles;
For sharing your songs and stories around the campfire, real and figurative;
For your generosity with time, skill, and spirit;
For laughing with each other in mirth and joys;
For holding each other in hearts and minds and arms in sorrows;
For your passion and interest in everything medieval;
For challenging each other and yourselves on field and in hall;
For teaching each other;
For supporting each other;
For having forgiving and open hearts;
For standing and walking with each other;
For creating “found families”;
For seeing the very best in each other;
For creating and participating in this vibrant, generous, compassionate, and fun community we know as the Debatable Lands;

For all that and more – Thank You!

In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers!
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

Sewing Circle December Dates

There are two sewing dates in December. On Thursday December 5th the regular first Thursday sewing will be at 7:30 at 1105 Shady Ave in Point Breeze. This is a regular bring your own project and work on it sewing date. Both hand sewing and machine sewing projects are welcome as well as cutting and ironing. We have regular machines, a serger, and an embroidery machine. This is the last project sewing date this year, so if you want to finish something for the upcoming Twelfth Nights, this is a good place to sew. There are two resident cats, so medicate as needed.

On December 7th, there is a special Saturday scroll case sweatshop. It starts at 10am and will go until 6pm. The location is also 1105 Shady Avenue in Point Breeze. We have lots of cardboard blanks and lots of fabric remnants. You are welcome to bring larger fabric remnants if you have some, about 1/2 yard is the smallest useful size. I will ask that you take home your remants if we don’t use them. The goal is to use up the fabric I already have. Bring a machine or serger if you have one available. The more machines, the easier the assembly line gets. I will be providing bagels, juice, coffee & tea, tables & chairs, cardboard and fabric. You bring the sweat. We want to finish lots of scroll cases for the upcoming Twelfth Night events. Award scrolls need scroll cases.

Questions about either sewing date you can contact me by email sewing at debatablelands dot org, or send email to Hara Kikumatsu. You can find the email address in the dark pages.

Call for Letters – Seneschal

After nearly four years serving this fine Barony, it is time for me to step down as your Seneschal. I am officially calling for letters and requesting that letters be sent to me (seneschal at debatablelands.org) and the Baron (baron at debatablelands.org) and Baroness (baroness at debatablelands.org) by 28 December 2019.

The job of Seneschal is rewarding and unexpectedly difficult at times. It is a way to serve the fine populace of the Debatable Lands in a deep, meaningful way. Take time with your decision and ask many questions. There are quite a few former Seneschals in the Barony still participating (Baroness Hilda being one of them) that are your resources for the reality of the everyday job. If you are interested in becoming the Seneschal and want more information about what the job entails, please contact me directly and I will be happy to talk with you about what the needs are and how the Seneschal serves the Barony. There are also online resources such as the Seneschal’s Handbook (http://socsen.scaserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Seneschals-Handbook-January-2018.2.pdf) that you can use to inform yourself before making a decision.

I don’t have the words to truly express what an honor and a privilege it has been to serve the Barony as its Seneschal for the last several years.

My term is officially over in February, however, I want to ensure that there is enough time for people to make informed choices prior to submitting a letter. Again, remember that the deadline for letters is 28 December 2019. Thank you all for your time and for allowing me to be your Seneschal for the last four years.

~Odriana



Woodworking Guild Planning Tonight

The Woodworking Guild will be meeting as scheduled at the Panera in Oakland (3401 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15213) at 7pm to discuss our plans for the next workshop day (scheduled for December 8th), the results of recent joinery and sharpening workshops, and plans for the future.

Please join us!