News, Photos, etc. (Page 1)

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Now the news, most recent at the top:

February 4, 2006: Nicolai and I are counting the days to Estrella. Due to weather over the Sierra Nevada, we missed watershed moments in several friends' lives—the Twelfth Night coronation of TRM Fabian and Eliska, as well as the Cynaguan Investiture of TH Stefana and Erik. We have cabin fever and will make a foray into the mainland of Cynagua for a Super Bowl gathering of House Schwetzingen and friends. We are already planning our drive to Estrella, and look forward to War. Long live the West!

Oh, did I mention that Nicolai and I got engaged? ;).

September 27, 2005: With deep regrets, Nicolai and I will not be able to attend October Crown. Mundanity reigns here—he must move out of his residence by the end of the month and find a place to board his feline for 10 days, I'm soon to start packing like a madwoman (which will make my own two felines nervous), and we close on our new residence next week. We just can't get everything done in time to enjoy Crown—which is a double shame, since Nicolai has been working very hard to find, buy, and or make his armor and get authorized so we could go as entrant and consort.

Ah well! Cynaguan Coronet is next month, and that should be much better timing for us. (By then, we'll be desperate for a pause in the unpacking.) For those who will attend this Crown, please enjoy yourselves for us.

I'm finally taking down the Lovely Ladies of Lyondemere pages. They were a joy to me while I lived in Lyondemere (in the Kingdom of Caid), but as I am no longer there, it is time to let them go. I have made a few efforts to pass them along to the current LLoL, but as no one has asked to host them as of yet, the pages will come down. If an LLoL would like to have them, I would be happy to pass them to her.

Thank you to the LLoL—you still hold a place in my heart.

August 20, 2005: Yeesh, over a year without updates—where to start? Just back from Pennsic (my third) with my lord Nicolai von Sachsen (his first). We had two disappointments: (1) he was unable to make his armor and get authorized to fight before the July 31 deadline, and (2) our brand new camera with over 300 Pennsic pictures went AWOL at the Pittsburgh airport. While we still hope it will be returned to us, we're a little depressed about the loss.

However, we DID have a wonderful time at Pennsic, and look forward to the next one. (Estrella is quite likely for us, too—and possibly Great Western.) The Pennsic Kingdom of the West encampment was wonderful, and I loved meeting everyone. I also saw Patricia de Lyon after far too long apart (hi P.J.!) and met some wonderful new friends.

I attended a fun sari draping class, bought three saris, and I look forward to trying some styles at future events. (Though first I'll have to make a good choli...!) I also enjoyed several belly dance and fabric classes. I'd managed to throw some t-tunics together for Nicolai before we left for War, but I look forward to making more period-appropriate garb in the future. (I do not, however, plan to abandon my sewing machine or new serger—I'm all about the practical.) My pile of fabric is growing. Next on the list are two half-circle cloaks so we can ward off the Western evening chill.

Nicolai and Fabian (Arnett von Schwetzingen) are designing the rest of Nicolai's armor and seem to be having a great time with it. Nicolai wants to finish everything in the next few weeks and get authorized so we can enter Crown in October. (It would be the first time for both of us.)

We'd like to go to Purgatorio, but mundane commitments will probably prevent us. Ducal Prize is a possibility, though—we've never been, but it's one of my friend Ysabel d'Outremer's favorite events, and sounds like fun.

August 9, 2004: Unfortunately, I was unable to go to Cynagua Investiture. In addition, a new and interesting job (huzzah) will prevent my attendance at both Pennsic and Purgatorio Coronation this year (darn). However, October Crown is on my calendar and I look forward to visiting with friends old and new! See you there—and perhaps I'll bring a guest...

June 29, 2004: Alas, no West-An Tir war for me. But it's for a good cause. I will be winging to the Midrealm to see Lady Patricia, my closest friend, whom I haven't seen since Estrella. Those of you off to War, enjoy yourselves!

In other news, Pennsic is looking dramatically less likely for me [sigh].

June 16, 2004: After a complete four-month hiatus due to mundane commitments like moving from Caid to Lake Tahoe and oh, restructuring my entire life, I went to the West's June Crown and had a wonderful time. It was my first event as a Westie, though I've been a delighted guest of the West's hospitality many times before.

My friends Ysabel and Jaraqan drove up from Caid, so we got to have a reunion of sorts. We missed Patricia de Lyon greatly, though...

Estrella War in February was lovely too. Particularly after I discovered the Thermacare self-stick heating pads that made wandering around in the frigid desert a much more pleasant experience.

I have pre-registered for Pennsic, but I'll have to see about annoying mundane speedbumps like time and finances. I hope to make it to West-An Tir war in a few weeks, though that is also a little iffy. I do plan to attend Cynagua Investiture in July, in no small part because I had the pleasure of meeting the Lord and Lady of the Swan at June Crown.

Actually, after a five-hour journey toward the site I ended up behind them for the last ten minutes. Their license plate says "Reinar", so I was pretty sure they were SCA, though I didn't recognize the name. Once through the gate, I met up with them again as they were camping with House Schwetzingen, just as I was. They quickly introduced themselves and teased me for following them "for hours", and we laughed. Later that evening, Reinar popped into the Schwetzingen pavilion, dropped his shiny, pointy hat on his head and gave me a big grin. LOL, I didn't even know they were Their Excellencies and the Heirs of my new principality. Serves me right for being out of the loop!

Anyway, I was delighted to meet more friends. Reinar reminds me of Baron Jamal of Lyondemere...both are kind and quick-witted, with ready smiles and an irrepressible joy about life. And Ellisif is a delight! She has a warm and friendly presence and a smile that lights up a pavilion, not to mention hair that any lady would die for. I look forward to seeing them step up.

It seems about time to put the earlier news on a second page, as it grew to be extensive. To read more and see other pictures, click here for Page 2.

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