The Cats

In honor of yesterday being the one year anniversary of getting the cats, I took their pictures today.  

Nanni, the brown tabby.

Winston, the orange tabby.

The cats and the following are my happy things for today:

• Keziah finally got the contract for the SCA event she is running in March.  The contract negotiations went on for a while, partially because of the holidays.  I'm happy that part is over and now she can move on to the rest of the planning.  She is calling it the Aisles of Marche.
• Part of that planning is a budget.  Keziah claims that she always breaks spreadsheets.  She put together the budget and the spreadsheet didn't break on her.  I generally love working with spreadsheets and only helped a little.
• Yesterday I forgot to practice DuoLingo.  It has been a very long time since I have missed a day.  I'm thankful for the streak freeze that the game offers and I practiced a little more to make up for missing a day.  The streak stands at 1090 days.

☮

Currently listening to: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, as told to Jeff Guinn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

My Birthday

 It was a rough day.  Here are some happy highlights:

• First thing this morning I went outside with Aesop, our dog, for his morning quick walk.  I love the freshly fallen snow and Aesop seems to as well.

• It has been one year since we got our cats Nanni and Winston.  Of course I didn't have my camera when they were being cute this morning.
• I forced myself out of the house in the afternoon for a nice walk with Aesop.  Despite having a cold I really wanted to have more of a real walk in the snow.

Turkey footprints.

• Keziah colored Gideon's hair and he is super happy with it.  It looks great on him.

Christmas green!

• Keziah and I held an online court today where we officially gave out three awards.  After, we kept the Google Meet open and got to virtually visit with many friends from the Barony that we haven't seen in a while.
• Getting love and support from --K and other friends and family.
• The sun shone and now the Christmas tree is lit up.

• I took some coughing, sneezing, stuffy head, fall down on the floor and go boom medicine...

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Currently listening to: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, as told to Jeff Guinn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Plans

 Knowing that I was going to tour the mall store again today and knowing that we were going to measure it, I should have been more mentally prepared for the amount of time it would take.  The plan is to rent this abandoned mall store for an SCA event in March.  Plans are coming together and I think it is going to be a really great event.  Other happy things for today:

• The moon is out during the day now.  It is hard to see in the picture, but it was pretty.

It is just over the tree to the left of the light pole.

• Eggnog.
• Finding real maple syrup on sale at Ocean State Job Lot.  My love for sugar is huge.  Maple syrup is a glorious food that I never want to run out of.  There were other items on my list that I didn't find and I may go back for more later this week.

☮

Currently reading:  The Middle Ages: A Graphic History, by Eleanor Janega and Neil Max Emmanuel.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

The Top of the Mound

 Next week Keziah and I are holding a short virtual SCA court to hand out a few awards and hopefully hang out online with some people after.  Today we gave out and recorded two of them.  It was really great to see people we haven't seen in a while and to recognize them for the wonderful things they have been doing.  We have one more to do to prepare for this tiny event.  Other happy things from today:

• Yesterday I wrote about the comfy sack and that Aesop, the dog, hadn't found a way up it yet since being fluffed.  While I was doing dishes I heard some noises in the living room.  I thought Aesop was letting out an occasional bark at the cats and decided to let them figure it out.  When I came out to check on him I found him at the top of the comfy sack.  yay!  '

• Christmas lights are set up at other people's homes.  Here is a a yard near where we gave out an award.

☮

Currently reading: The Middle Ages: A Graphic History, by Eleanor Janega and Neil Max Emmanuel.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

If Cats Could Talk

 Gideon, Keziah, and I met some friends at a local cafe this morning to write and work on upcoming SCA things.  I added some words to one of my NaNoWriMo stories and worked on organizing a Yule event.  The food was good and the company, better.  Other happy things for today:

• There are things that we have been letting collect in the driveway because they needed the ladder set up to put them away.  Today we set up the ladder and put them away.  There are a few more things that need to be put away before the snow falls and we need to plow, but we are closer.  Yay!
• Keziah and Zed wanted a fire tonight.  I helped by building the foundation.  Then I went inside and had my accountability meeting with TF and then I made dinner.  I never made it out to see the fire.  I'm okay with that.  I took a picture of the indoor one to share instead.

• Before bed I still didn't have my steps for the day so I got ready to take Aesop for a walk.  Nanni was wanting attention.  After petting her for a few minutes she gave me this look:

What I think she is saying is, "Sure, just leave me here and go walk that dog!  I won't be here when you get back."   And she wasn't.  🤪

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Getting Real

 Four hundred people. That is how many people were supposed to be at the Crown Tournament SCA event today.  Thankfully it was in a large open field during the day where people mostly spread out; we were required to show proof of vaccinations or neg covid test to attend; and many people left before the final court of the day that was inside.  The East Kingdom has a new pair of heirs to the throne. Other happy things for today:

• Leaving before dawn, the stars shone bright against the dark skies. I am so happy with how the pictures

Orion

Big Dipper

• Spending time with friends that I haven't seen in quite some time.
• Being there to see people get awards.
• Seeing a falling star.
• That feeling of getting home after the long drive and taking off my shoes.

Some pictures.

☮

Currently reading: Mount Washington A Guide and Short History, by Peter E. Randall.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Just Some Boxes

After all the boxes I went through over Lent this year I expected (wanted?) it to be easier to get rid of things. I shouldn't have stopped going through boxes because the momentum has passed. That said, Keziah and I (mostly Keziah), went through some boxes today and got rid of things. 

I wish I could say this is the end...

Having worked last night, my energy levels are low. After more sleep, I hope for better results-and less boxes.  Here are some happy things for today:

• Let us start with some foliage.  There are some beautiful colors in New England now.

The backyard.

• One of the things found is my doll, Betsy.  I'm ready to say goodbye.  Before throwing her into the donation pile, I asked the friend I gave one of my dolls to over Lent if her granddaughter might want another friend.  She said yes.  This doll is a bit loved, she may change her mind when she sees it.  

Bye, bye, Betsy!

• We also found a newspaper clipping. I don't remember this... but my picture is there.

That is me, third from the left, holding baby Keziah.

• Aesop was nice enough to sleep during most of the Spiderman movie we watched.

As long as he is comfy.  🤪

• Mostly, I want to thank Keziah for putting up with me and all my stuff.  Some days it is easier to get rid of things than others.  Today I was just exhausted.  

☮

Currently reading: Mount Washington A Guide and Short History, by Peter E. Randall.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Baronial Birthday Oops

 Keziah and I visited a local park with Aesop, the dog, this morning.  It was for walking with a little bit of training.  From some of Aesop's behaviors, we think that the hunting/bird dog part of whatever mixed breed he is, is strong.  He really wants to chase ducks, geese, or turkeys.  

Aesop and some ducks.

It was a nice walk in the park.  Aesop is responding a little better to some of the training we are trying to give him.  Other happy things for today:

• There are huge Asian aquatic lotus in the pond at the park.  Although they are pretty, according to a Google search, they are also invasive.  I'm glad I got to see them before they go away.

• Today I went on three walks.  The one at the park, one by myself, and one with Aesop.  Outside can be a good place.

I'm noticing more foliage.

• For the last few days I have been thinking that the birthday of the Barony was on October 3rd.  Yesterday I looked it up and saw October 4th.  This morning Keziah and I made Facebook posts about the birthday of the founding of the Barony and then someone corrected us, it is really the 3rd.  Then Facebook went down and I have not been able to respond.  So I got a lesson in checking my sources.  I looked at the wrong site to check a date and assumed that my memory must have been off a day.  Guess what?  My memory was correct and that makes me happy!  Yesterday the Barony of Stonemarche turned 34 years old.  Happy Birthday a day late!  In less troubled times, we would have had a small event to celebrate.  I will have to remember to update the site that is wrong over the next few days or find someone else to.

More colors.

☮

Currently reading: Mount Washington A Guide and Short History, by Peter E. Randall.

   -- It is believed that the first people summited Mount Washington in 1642 because the mountain was sacred to the Native Americans and they wouldn't climb it.   

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Rhizomes and Tubers and Pips, Oh, My!

 There is a large-ish section by the driveway that has flowers growing there that I have wanted to thin.  The plants came in very crowded and I had no way of knowing when the last time they were thinned.  My plan was to do the section with the irises, daylilies, and lily-of-the-valley.  I haven't measured, but I'd guess around an eight by three or four foot section between the driveway, roses, wall, and shed.  I have managed to pull just about everything out of a section from the roses that is about two feet or so wide to the wall.  Things were VERY rootbound.  I'm thrilled that I got this much done and have decided that this section is enough for this year.  Here are some things I am happy about concerning the thinning:

• I learned a bit about rhizomes, tubers, and pips.  The rhizomes are parts of the irises and can be partially uncovered from the soil.  The daylillies have tubers that look vaguely like carrots.  The lily-of-the-valley have pips and they have so many roots that grow from them and tangle together.
• I set a limit as to how far to go with thinning.  I did this before becoming completely overwhelmed.  
• Once I set that limit as to how much to thin, I realized that if I totally mess up this thinning process, all is not lost, there is still the rest of the section that is overrun with rhizomes and tubers and pips, oh, my!

Rhizomes... and at least one pip.

Tubers

The cleared section.

Other things I am happy about today:

• Yesterday the case for my phone arrived and I put it on the phone.  Today after working in the dirt of the garden and being outside a bunch it was dirty.  It was the coolest thing to be able to take the phone in its case and rinse it off to remove the debri.  Waterproof phone case, yay!
• Plans are under way to invite people into our SCA household.  I hope they say yes.
• Turkeys in the yard!

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

What is Sleep?

Disclaimer:  I am writing this without sleep for over 24 hours.  I tried to nap and failed.  Please forgive ramblings and mistakes.

At work the goal to reach is moving 300 packages an hour. I have been hovering just below there and today during the first hour I reached that goal. I wasn't able to maintain that through the work day, but I reached it. Other happy things from today:

• It was so good to watch the fighting tonight. So many people showed up. Being unable to be together for about a year and a half is a long time. Last weekend was the Crown Tournament finals where the next SCA royalty were decided with a heavy combat tourney. The winner becomes the next Prince and Princess and eventually King and Queen (they may choose alternate honorific or titles depending on their time period or with same sex couples). The time as Monarchs usually lasts about six months with time as prince/princess about five months. The pandemic has messed with our calendar but normally there is a crown tourney about every six months. Anyhow, we had two fighters from Stonemarche and one that used to live here competing. They didn't win, but one of them earned the right to hold the Shield of Chivalry by being, you know, chivalrous and chosen by a large group of people. This same person also received a token from one of the former Queens (a Rose) that was there. All this is to say that Keziah and I went to fighter practice to present the shield to them officially because they had to leave the event early due to a scheduling conflict. A member of the Rose came up to pass the token on to him. We surprised him.

• After I ducked out for a few minutes with a friend to find a geocache. It was a micro cache so it took a little time to find the small capsule.

Photo by Dan, the guy I geocache with.

• It was really great to see so many people out having fun.

• There is a lot of beauty in the world.

☮

I started a book today that I am not sure if it will be my next read or not.  It is about backpacking.  I left it downstairs so I don't have the title and all handy.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Crown Feeder

 With my new schedule and need for sleep I have been keeping the cats out of my room.  Last night I decided to prop the door open for them and Nanni decided that she wanted all the attention.  She even woke me up at some point for more petting.  Perhaps I picked the wrong night since I had to get up early this morning to go to the Crown Feeder Tournament.  This was the first live SCA event that we have gone to since things closed down at the beginning of the pandemic.  This event was thankfully limited to 150 people and was specific to narrow down the prospective contenders for the next Crowns of the East.  More sleep might have been nice.  Here are other happy things from today:

• Getting to see people that I haven't seen in a very long time and being able to hug.
• Keziah did all the driving and we were able to provide a ride for a friend too.  Good company!
• Seeing the fighters be honorable and safe as they fought today.                                                                                     

• From this event, eight couples are advancing to the finals which happen in two weeks.  Two of those couples are from the Barony of Stonemarche and one lived in the Barony until just a few years ago.  It is exciting to think that the next crown may be from the Barony. There was another feeder tournament held further south with another eight couples to compete in the finals.
• Towards the end of the event I was peopled out.  I took a peaceful walk around the grounds of the event site and found a pond and a path through the woods by a river.  It is a beautiful area.

• After the event a bunch of us met for ice cream and got to visit.
• My garb today was fourteenth century and I had to braid my hair in the front to achieve the right look.  

All dressed up.

Before taking it all down.

WIthout the cap and veil.
Very silly by today's standards.

• My door is open again tonight.  Nanni seems a bit more tired this time.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Thanks for reading, stay safe.

Some more pictures from the event.

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