I'M NOBILITY, HOMES!

This weekend was Highland River Melees. As a group, the Barony of Highland Foorde has been BUSTING OUR ASSES. It's been a lot of fun. The autocrat kicked its ass and that's after we had tents break.

Friday we had STORMS. We had tornadoes, we had rains, we had winds. It was... EPIC. I know the word is over used, but seriously?? Shit was out of a movie. Anyways, a lot of the barony went up on Friday (and some even Thursday) to set shit up. Friday I get a phone call from my loving boyfriend saying our wall tent has bit it. Then he clarifies that the stakes are ripped out and the tarp is wet. I'm like "Didja set it back up? Ya did. Cool. Need another tarp? I'll hit up WallyWorld." Tent was fine. The new stake loops I sewed in it just the other day though? NOT SO MUCH. I'm gonna reinforce them tomorrow or Tuesday. Also, it KILLED 2 of our wedge tents that were going to be used as day shades. Sixty MPH winds will do that. Oh, and a grill made out of an oil tanker (like for a house) was flipped. While filled with charcoal. All of this happened in MAYBE 5 minutes. It wrecked everything than was done. Fucking nuts.

I land at 12:30 or so, I had work earlier, then we all sit around and start drinking. Well, they had a helluva head start on me, and Andrew got MIGHTILY drunk. Then, Their Magesties Bryan & Brianna show up from haulin' ass from North California. We're like "we're up, let's help." Andrew manages to NOT act drunk in some amazing manner, and we help them unload their Tardis-like minivan. Around 3 or so, we think it's a good idea to go to bed. At 4 we actually go to bed. I pee 3 times between 4 and 5:30. I am cranky. I am tired. I throw my capelet on over my side of the blankets figuring I might as well be WARM when I do the port-a-castle run, and BAM. I sleep till 8:45 or so. I was apparently half a degree cold or something. Gr.

Saturday. I can't even say what happened. Chaos reigned. But like, a controlled chaos. Before morning court, the Barun & Baronessa were wandering around holding mini-courts because they knew the day would be CUHRAZY. And they were right. So in that morning court session, Fink got a Lark (A&S award) and Erica got a Hart (Service award). I think Steve & Amanda got Golden Hawks (fighting award) too? Something like that. Wee!

Then during official morning court, Steve got inducted to the Sergeants of St. Aiden's and the Barun and another fellow got sent to vigil for their Pelicans. Basically, they had to have council in tents all day. So the household guarded them in hour shifts. It was cool :) Then Glynis became a court baroness, so we keep gushing over her. She's a great lady, I couldn't be more pleased for her :D

I ran around like a lunatic. I sat for court, then as deputy scribe, I needed to draft up sign in sheets for Barun Siegfried, then I had to go water bear for the kids. I had juiced up this beet/apple/carrot concoction that I called "the blood of mine enemies" since, hellooo beet juice! And they ADORED it. They said that it really helped keep them going. I figure with all that fructose and vitamin overdosing, they should be fine. I ran around a lot doing that and during one of the longer breaks, we had a mini "on the field" court, again, with the theme of breaking it up.

First, they call Fink. Well, he wasn't fighting today because of some shit, and his girlfriend, Steffany, needed someone to watch her kid while she fought (she's new, so the more practice the merrier), so he was on Gregory duty. I bolt to go get him, and Dee finds him first and points me in the right direction, but of COURSE I'm halfway in the diagonal direction and I get him. The exchange:

What?
They called you!
So?
NO! THEIR MAJESTIES CALLED YOU.
FUCK WHAT.

He throws Gregory over his shoulder and HAULS ASS to the list field.

Not kidding. Baby over shoulder, giggling insanely.



And there he is given his AoA! (That means Award of Arms, and now you are nobility. He is now Lord Fridrich and can wear a circlet.)

The queen was all atwitter at him dragging the baby, and cooed over him and King Brian was like "Normally I'm unhappy about having to wait, but when I see a man taking care of his family I can't help but be honored he has chosen to do that instead of fight." There's something about the way His Majesty phrases things that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. It's hard to explain.

Seriously, how cute is this shit.



So then, apparently while I bolted off to get Fink, they called Andrew, and Vels ran to take over. Andrew had been injured JUST before this and as court was being called I was actually going to get him an ice pack, but Baroness Glynis was like "YOU GO NO WHERE." So. I stayed. I figured with the kids on the field, I should prolly stay and pass around water bottles cause sitting in the sun with their lids off makes them roast. And Andrew was sent to guard the vigil tent, so Vels took his place and sent Andrew forward under the "Hey, you should be in court." So after Mike got his AoA, we were all twittery and giddy and they call Andrew! And he's like, on it like a champ. The king says his praises about Andrew and how it's long overdue and he thinks it is bittersweet, but he is glad to be the one giving him his honor.

That's right. This one is mine. <3


I'm nearly teary and I lean to Steff and say "We're never living this down." Cause our boys are Lords. Heh. So after they release him, I skid around backside of the small crowd and smoosh on him and tell him how proud I am and right in the middle, they call MY name. And I literally go "Oh! That's ME?" And everyone laughed. I am always entertaining.

Here I am. I nearly tipped over twice. Getting up was an effort cause my thighs were on fire.



After mine, Tim got his AoA, and then Gene got inducted into the Order of the Silver Osprey (fighting awards), and I THINK that was it. For now.

So we fight. I water them. I run around for other people. I check over the vigil tent. I give more paper (the Barun is popular.). I have a general good time. I squat FAR TOO OFTEN (my thighs are on FIRE today). After we go around and collect people and parts and we change our clothes and grab some hot dogs (Cause HUNGER.) and head to Baronial court. I get hauled up to hand out a scroll and confer what's actually going on with some of them, and what's backlogged and Thyra is just like "stay here, it's easier." and so I got to hang out. Which was neat! Cause I HEARD COURT. lolz.

Oh look. Here I am.



Afterwards, during Kingdom Court, Erica got HER AoA and Amanda got awarded an Opal. HELLZ YEAH! Seriously, the entire household seemed to get awards today. It was baller.

After court we got to FEAST. Deliciousness. SO GOOD. Worth way more than the $8.

Then after that, we did some medieval dancing! I got to dance with the master of the dance. He was awesome, and I was spastic, but he kept laughing that I was laughing. So fun!!

Then we all bs'ed. And in true SCA style most people passed out around 11:30. Aaah. Heavy fighting days.

Today was packdown day. HOORAAAAY. We all busted our asses. I am so tired. Andrew is the color of boiled lobsters. We all creak when we move. But it was an amazing event. I am so pleased to have been a part of it.

*giddy*

Lady Synn, y'all. They had to say it, too. Taire said I sounded like a porn star name and Gene said I had a new dominatrix name. HAHA. :D

Lastly, another resounding shout out to Urban Decay. My eye make up didn't melt off. Impressive considering I was sweating like a beast.