Harvest Revel – TODAY!!

Join us for a celebration of the autumn at Earl Byron and Countess Sir Ariella’s castle in Wexford (755 Stonegate Dr, Wexford, PA) – TODAY, 3 November 2019. A big thanks to them for opening their home to us again! And what better way to celebrate than thwacking, tossing, singing and PIE! That’s right, we’ll have fighting (heavy and youth), fencing, and thrown weapons. HOWEVER the pumpkin toss must be cancelled this year due to some issues with the launch area on the roof.

There will be our annual PIE contest!

And if you’ve never encountered the Debatable Lands Harvest Revel Meeting PIE contest before – just about anything counts as pie, if you can name it pie…. “Pumpkin roll? Spatially challenged pie. Cookies? Crustless mini-pies. Pork roast? Deconstructed meat pie. Deviled eggs? Cursed baby chicken pies. BRING IT ALL! Here is the link to the details about the Pie Contest (http://debatablelands.org/blog/?p=3987).

SCHEDULE
The current schedule is:
Doors Open at 11am
Thrown Weapons start at 11am
Pie contest runs from noon to 3pm
Choir concert is at 1:45-ish, with a short Court and Barony Meeting announcements to follow.
Fighting (Heavy and Youth) and Fencing will start after announcements, about 2:15ish.

Here’s the Facebook event for the meeting: https://www.facebook.com/events/566290307444855/



Harvest Revel – This Sunday

Join us for a celebration of the autumn at Earl Byron and Countess Sir Ariella’s castle in Wexford (755 Stonegate Dr, Wexford, PA) – THIS SUNDAY, 3 November 2019. A big thanks to them for opening their home to us again! And what better way to celebrate than thwacking, tossing, singing and PIE! That’s right, we’ll have fighting (heavy and youth), fencing, and thrown weapons. HOWEVER the pumpkin toss must be cancelled this year due to some issues with the launch area on the roof.

There will be our annual PIE contest!

And if you’ve never encountered the Debatable Lands Harvest Revel Meeting PIE contest before – just about anything counts as pie, if you can name it pie…. “Pumpkin roll? Spatially challenged pie. Cookies? Crustless mini-pies. Pork roast? Deconstructed meat pie. Deviled eggs? Cursed baby chicken pies. BRING IT ALL! Here is the link to the details about the Pie Contest (http://debatablelands.org/blog/?p=3987).

SCHEDULE
The current schedule is:
Doors Open at 11am
Thrown Weapons start at 11am
Pie contest runs from noon to 3pm
Choir concert is at 1:45-ish, with a short Court and Barony Meeting announcements to follow.
Fighting (Heavy and Youth) and Fencing will start after announcements, about 2:15ish.

Here’s the Facebook event for the meeting: https://www.facebook.com/events/566290307444855/

Barony Meeting TODAY

The July Barony Meeting will be held TODAY Sunday, 21 July 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Washington Blvd Practice Site. The forecast is supposed to be hot and humid. If you want to be added to the docket, please contact Maighstir Kieran MacRae (herald at debatablelands.org).

This being the last Barony Meeting pre-Pennsic (next week, y’all), there are a zillion cool things happening all at once:

Tierrany is hosting a largesse workshop both before & after the Barony meeting, starting around 12 and ending when it ends.

Nicola will be bringing materials to make medallions – cords will be needed and they are seeking someone with the knowledge and materials to make them.

Eet Yeo will be helping us create fun yet simple leather items such as medallions and bracelets.

There will also be materials for felt dragons, colored pencil arrow sets, and bead strings. Tables are needed, if you have a table that you can bring, please do so!

Baroness Constance will be running the garb swap by the usual rules — Newcomers first then everyone else. We are also being asked to bring an item to donate to Paladin’s Pantry or CareBox Pittsburgh.. This is not a sale, this is a giveaway.

Immediately following the Barony Meeting, there will be a class for new Pennsic-goers called “So, it’s your first Pennsic” and taught by Lord Ronin. This is a valuable class that will give you a better idea of what to expect and what kinds of things you can do at Pennsic. Even if you’re not able to attend this year and would like to get an idea of what Pennsic is like, this class would also be useful for you.

If I’ve forgotten something – please let me know.

Barony Meeting – THIS SUNDAY

The July Barony Meeting will be held this Sunday, 21 July 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Washington Blvd Practice Site. The forecast is supposed to be hot and humid. If you want to be added to the docket, please contact Maighstir Kieran MacRae (herald at debatablelands.org).

This being the last Barony Meeting pre-Pennsic (next week, y’all), there are a zillion cool things happening all at once:

Tierrany is hosting a largesse workshop both before & after the Barony meeting, starting around 12 and ending when it ends.

Nicola will be bringing materials to make medallions – cords will be needed and they are seeking someone with the knowledge and materials to make them.

Eet Yeo will be helping us create fun yet simple leather items such as medallions and bracelets.

There will also be materials for felt dragons, colored pencil arrow sets, and bead strings. Tables are needed, if you have a table that you can bring, please do so!

Baroness Constance will be running the garb swap by the usual rules — Newcomers first then everyone else. We are also being asked to bring an item to donate to Paladin’s Pantry or CareBox Pittsburgh.. This is not a sale, this is a giveaway.

Immediately following the Barony Meeting, there will be a class for new Pennsic-goers called “So, it’s your first Pennsic” and taught by Lord Ronin. This is a valuable class that will give you a better idea of what to expect and what kinds of things you can do at Pennsic. Even if you’re not able to attend this year and would like to get an idea of what Pennsic is like, this class would also be useful for you.

If I’ve forgotten something – please let me know.

~Odriana

Barony Meeting – THIS Sunday


The May Barony Meeting will be held THIS Sunday, 26 May 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Washington Blvd Practice Site. If you want to be added to the docket, please contact Maighstir Kieran MacRae (herald at debatablelands.org).

This is traditionally our newcomers meeting, so please, if you are new to our fine Barony and you have the time, please make it a point to join us. We would love to get to know you better and spend some time with you.

~Odriana

Harvest Revel Barony Meeting this Sunday!

Sunday, November 11th, from 11am to 4pm
755 Stonegate Dr, Wexford

Join us for a celebration of the autumn at Eorl Byron and Countess Sir Ariella’s castle in Wexford (755 Stonegate Dr, Wexford, PA). A big thanks to them for opening their home to us again! And what better way to celebrate than thwacking, tossing, singing and PIE! That’s right, we’ll have fighting (heavy and youth), thrown weapons, and archery, plus throwing pumpkins from the parapets (BYOP, no rotten ones – learned that the hard way!).
 
PIE!
The categories this this for the pie contest are (drumroll…) Period Pie, Traditional Pie and Whimsical Pie!!!
 
Make sure to bring enough or cut it small, since the judges are YOU! Yes, it’s a populace vote (tokens in a cup)! Each meeting attendee gets 3 tokens and can vote once per category. Gluten free pies always go over well if you are so inclined. The prize is GLORY (and maybe some trinket or two)!!
 
And if you’ve never encountered the Debatable Lands Harvest Revel Meeting PIE contest before – just about anything counts as pie, if you can name it pie…. “Pumpkin roll? Spatially challenged pie. Cookies? Crustless mini-pies. Pork roast? Deconstructed meat pie. Deviled eggs? Cursed baby chicken pies. BRING IT ALL!
BREWERS ROUNDTABLE
Our Brewing Guildmistress is hosting a Brewers Rountable. The goal of this roundtable is to learn about different beverages – how they taste, how they are made, and what people have learned through the process. Period is preferred, but not at all required. Some level of process documentation is preferred, but not required. Email brewing@debatablelands.org for questions/info.
There will also be a bake sale fundraiser (non-SCA funds) to benefit the local brewers, so bring cash if you are interested in delicious baked goods!
MONEYERS’ GUILD
The AEthelmearc Moneyer’s Guild will also be meeting sometime during the day.
 
SCHEDULE
The traditional schedule is:
Thrown Weapons and Archery starts at 11am.
Pie contest runs from noon to 3pm
Choir concert is at 1:45-ish, with a short Court and Barony Meeting announcements to follow.
Fighting (Heavy and Youth) will start after announcements, about 2:15ish.
Pumpkin tossing will happen at such time as feels appropriate. 🙂
 
NOTES: No garb. Some activities are weather-dependent. BRING PIE and pumpkins!
Facebook link to this Meeting: https://www.facebook.com/events/470186970138286/

A and S — Iron Comet Includes A and S

By now, you have probably heard that the Iron Comet Challenge, which is on June 23rd, requires participation in three martial categories AND the A&S competition.

You have a great A&S entry, but you wouldn’t mind making a tiny bit of effort to impress the judges, right? You can use all the help you can get, right?

Documentation!

Yep, documentation is a quick way to up your score, and I am here to tell you how to do it easily.

Idea #0

You should do this no matter what. On a nice whole clean sheet of paper or a notecard of any size, neatly print what your item is and your name. If you are a young person, write down your age too. Ask your mom or dad, they’ll know if you need this. Here’s what it might look like:

Inkle Woven Dress Decoration
made by Ima Youth (age 10)

Idea #1

If that looks a bit simple to you, you can add detail about your work, like what it is made of, or what gave you the idea to make/do that item.

Here’s what it might look like now:

Inkle Woven Dress Decoration
Pattern #75 from Inkle Weaving by Helene Bress
made by Ima Youth (age 10)

Idea #2

If you did any research about what this thing was like in period, you can include that information too. If you looked at a painting online, or read a book or two to find a recipe, tell the story – where you found the original, what it was made from, how it was made in that time period, everything you learned.

So, in addition to the basic information above, you might include something like this:

I saw a picture of an actual dress from 1410 CE that belonged to Princess Important Lady. It was online at the British Library website at www.bl.uk/princessclothes/754690. There was a beautiful woven band on the neckline of her dress. According to the website, the band was woven of silk, using a method called tablet weaving, in the colors that were right for her heraldry.

Idea #3

Is your thing exactly like the thing you were inspired by? Maybe, but probably not, but that’s OK. To make your documentation more informative, explain the differences between how the item was originally made and what you did. Most importantly, tell why you made the changes.

So, in addition to the information above, you also might include something like this:

To weave the band, I needed both red thread and blue thread. The original string was silk, but silk is very expensive and beyond my budget, so I used Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Cotton, size 10, in Bright Red and Royal Blue. I was able to buy two balls for $5.00 at Pat Catan’s and got enough to complete my project.

Even Better Ideas

If you do not know how to tablet weave, or if you are just learning to weave, that is good information to include, too. Also, if the pattern is different from the original, describe that too. You might also say where you got the loom, how long it took to make your item, and if you had to experiment or repeat your work to get it right.

Final Words of Encouragement

Any documentation is better than no documentation. Anyone (of any age) (I am looking at you, adults!) can write the documentation for a project by following the ideas above. If writing is something that you find worrisome or difficult, start before your project is due. Like, now. Use short declarative sentences to tell your story. You will probably fill up less than a third of the page, so it won’t even take weeks to write.

Even though this may sound like it is written for children, adults can follow this outline also. You might provide more detail, or use more complicated words, or describe more completely the steps it took to produce your item, but the process is the same.

Finally, if anyone of any age would like help with their documentation, type up your first draft. You can bring it to practice on Sunday, or you can email it to me, and I would be happy to offer suggestions. My email is ansminister at debatablelands.org. Don’t delay, there is only one more week to the Iron Comet Challenge!

In service,

Elss Augsburg

How Do I Get There From Here?

In the near future, there are two events that will be held at different locations — this weekend’s Barony Meeting will be at fighter practice (See http://www.debatablelands.org/martial/), and the Enhanced Archery Practice on April 22nd will be held at the Castle.

There is a good chance that if you don’t have a car, these will be difficult to get to. However, many fighters, fencers, archers, and other folks will be coming from all around the area to attend these meetings. So why not catch a ride?

If you are on Facebook, then you can subscribe to the BMDL Ride Board at https://www.facebook.com/groups/138059386320162/ and post there to see if anyone near you will be able to give you a ride. Of course, you can always post to the Unofficial Populace Discussion Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/DebatableLands/) or send an email to Sca-bmdl@lists.andrew.cmu.edu .

Give it a try, we’d love to see you!

 

12 Things to Do at 12th Night

Celebrate Twelfth Night with us in the Barony Marche of the Debatable Lands! All are Welcome on this day to enjoy music and song and dancing, good food, and good friends!

What is a Debatable Lands Twelfth Night like? Here are the top 11 things to do!

1. Bring some food to share. Our event is free, even the food! It’s a potluck. All kinds of food are welcome! (Mmmm, cheese balls)

2. Bring and/or taste some cookies! A perennial favorite, Master Urho runs our favorite cookie competition of the year. Bring some to enter, or just munch on the entries and vote for a populace choice winner!

3. Bring your A&S project to display! The event features the Debatable Lands’ Arts & Sciences Championship and Display. There are no limitations, bring your projects, old or new, finished or in progress, to display. You can even request feedback from our top artisans. And if you’re from the Debatable Lands, enter the competition!

4. Bring some beverages. Wet site. Nuff said.

5. Snowball fight! Jasmine of Clan Tarn has her elves working overtime making stuffed “snowballs” for an epic tourney for young and old alike!

6. Get ready to laugh. The Best Commedia dell’Arte troupe in the Knowne World – I Genesii – will be *cough* performing *cough* …multiple times. Don’t miss the most beloved court of Misrule.

7. Bards welcome – the Debatable Lands Bardic Championship is also taking place. Only Debatable Landers are eligible for the Championship, but all are welcome to perform. The theme is the Old and the New.

8. Speaking of performances, the Barony’s own Debatable Choir will perform at 5pm. Let their dulcet tones wash over your ears and hearts.

9. Stuff and cash, cash and stuff… our Twelfth Night Auction of Forgotten Treasures ™ will delight you with the garb, gear, stuff and do-dads available at this silent auction. Have stuff you don’t need? Bring it to donate! But wait, there’s more! We also have a few fine merchants.. peruse their artwork, chainmail, and more!

10. Courts and vigils and courts, oh my! The event features Mistress Graidhne’s vigil and induction into the Order of the Laurel, as well as many other awards, Kingdom and Baronial.

11. Stay for the dancing! After evening Court, our event always has one of the best dances of the season in the entire Kingdom. Don’t worry, we’ll teach you!

12. Bring a donation for Paladin’s Pantry! The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank needs food items, blankets, and more. Read more here!

See you there!