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Pirateslovepink
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Name: Adena
Country: United States
State: Oklahoma
Metro: Norman
Birthday: 3/2/1982
Gender: Female
Interests: The SCA-(combat, arts and sciences, waterbearing, archery, sewing, squires), reading-(anytthing), playing pool, swimming, Cedar Point, anything!
Expertise: Well, I have a degree in Anthropology (lot of good that does me)
Occupation: Other
Industry: Other
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  vujadea200
Member Since:
3/27/2005
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| First off, I owe everyone who is usually at Lilies, but wasnt able to make it this time a kick in the shin (per His RM Calontir). So expect it!!! We got to Lilies late Wed night, in just enough time to set up camp, make one trip to the Broken Harp, and then head to bed. (3 am). Thursday was an early day (as they all were for me, before 8am anyway), and it was off to watch the battles. This year, the theme was "guilds" so each of the guilds would sponser activities. That day was the bardic guild, so what they did was have bards (and me and Ky) stand on the edge and singe "song of the shield wall" and "raven Banner" and the battle would go accordingly. For examply, in "SOTSW" when you started, all with no fighting awards starting the battle. then on the second verse, at "FYRDMAN" all with AOA level fighting awards went in, "HUSCARL" was the Grant level, and in the last verse "Bastard" called in all knights! It was so great!! they fought it 3 times, so we sang our hearts out. Thursday night was the gladiator fight, and it was so cool!! they had these guys in Lion suits that woudl come out every once in a while and "eat" the fighters (or, at least once, got the crap kicked out of them by the fighters) Friday was the fire guild, so they did something with burning buildings, and then friday night was the Three Rivers party and the fireworks. THey had this one firework, that looked like it misfired (rained into the water). "awwwwwww" called the crowd from the beach. Then, suddenly, all of the "pieces" that fell into the water lit up!!! It was like 500 tealights on the water (in green the first time and red the second). it was SO cool! I had never seen anything like it. Sat was the fiber guild, and it was something to do with sheep and shepards. It was kinda funny to watch the fighting and hear "bbbbbbbaaaaaaaa" everywhere! Then was the waterbearing tourney, and a quick dip in the lake. Partying again (the big one) and then we all went to bed. the drive home was uneventful, but that is a good thing. I am now home, and my lawn is mowed, the fishtank is being cleaned. I feel dirty so I am off to shower! Love ya all! | | |
| Well, the May dip into the North sea didnt happen, and I am not going
to say that i am disappointed. Frankly, I dont do cold and wet well.
Maybe the Scots are of hardier stock them I am, but regardless of the
reason, Brena and I were not up at 4 am to watch her jump into the
North Sea.
This means that we got to sleep thoroughly and were on the 9:45 bus to
Edinburgh. (I knew that I had been spelling that wrong, but why the
heck isnt it spelled like it is said? HUH??)
We talked on the bus, and listened to my mp3 player of Don mateo (one
of our favorite SCA artists). When we got there, one of Brenas friends,
Aubry, Met us at the station and we were off to the castle. On the
way, we ducked into many little shops, including a working tartan
mill. it was really cool to see the fabric being woven, but it was all
MUCH to expensive to purchase (sorry mom). Maybe next time. (on a
positive note, I found out that my bank is giving me a MUCH better rate
then the exchange places, so the rest of the trip will be done on the
debit card. Who would have thought that?)
Then it was on to the castle.
That is where James the VI was born to Mary Queen of Scots (or James
the I of England). I got to see the Scottish Crown jewels (which were
buried for 111 years to keep them out of the hands of evil-doers), and
the stone of Scone, which for the past 700 years has been in England
under the chair that the Kings and Queens are crowned in (which I cant
remember the name of).
I got to see the oldest Church in all of Scotland (maybe the UK, I cant
remember) and the actual Room that James the VI was born in (Small,
like the size of a closet)., There was also a Prinsoners of War museum
and the largest Cannon in Scotland (Mag Maye or something like that).
Neato!!)
It is hard enough to get American history, but trying to get the rest
of these in line is hard as well. Here is what i have so far (I wonder
how much of it is actually right!!): Robert the Bruce in the
(somethingth) century (13th???) didnt want the castles to ever be used
against Scotland, so he razed them to the ground. (both Edinburgh and
Sterling, though he left that Church standing). King James re-buildt
part of Sterling castle for Marie de Guise (in the French Renaissance
style), then his Grandson James the VI became
the first King to unite Scotland and England (being the only legitimate
Stewart heir at 17 months). After that, Oliver Cromwell (in the 18th
Cent??) decided to do away with all that is good (castles) and made
them all army derricks, but because some of them were boarded over,
they remained intact (at least the important ones, like the room where
James VI was born). Then (this is funny) there was a point where
Scotland was Disarmed (not the funny part) but then someone reordered
the re-arming of Scotland (Queen Victoria maybe, because the castles
wernt pretty without cannons) and when this happened, the person
ordering the cannons ordered all Naval cannons (front end loaders). I
think that is hilarious, and apparently Scotland does too, as both
Edinburgh and Sterling only have the Naval Cannons (with the exception
of Mags Maye, but only because it was to big to be fit into the oven to
be melted down).
Anyway, Brena and Aubry were intergral in me learning any of this
(Aubry being someone who Brena knew in Tulsa and is studying in
Edinburgh for a History degree.)
WOW, it was suck a day that me and Brena napped on the bus back. We
didnt get to do the underground tour or the museums, which kinda sucks,
but I was so happy to see the castle that I am totally okay with it.
We also went shopping (big surprise). Then it was champagne in the
common room, watching a Disney movie. I did get to meet Brena's
boyfriend Aaron, who seems very nice. It was fairly quite during the
movie, so I didnt get to know him, but meeting him is nice for now. | | |
| Also not entirely as planned, but I blame the weather!!! Brena had
class from 9-3 (with a lunch break in the middle of it) and the plan
was for me to go to the castle and the cathedral at that time and then
meet with her for lunch. It was cold and raining (pretty heavy) so I
still havent been to the castle or the cathedral (which is kinda funny,
as I have been spending so much time in St Andrews). But I met her for
lunch and then went to the museum with her (where she was teaching the
second class) and went through her (and her classmates) exhibition
("Cradles, Courtship and Coffin: Lifes Milestones in Fife" I had to
ask was Fife was, but it turns out it is like a county (kinda) and is
this part of Scotland, which made sense). The exhibit was really good
and I really enjoyed it. I also went through the rest of the museum
and it was also nice. There was one part that made me laugh (it is an
Anthropological joke, and it sure was printed there in the museum. if
you want to know what it is, let me know).
We then went back through town, and to the castle gift shop (I have
been to both gift shops, as they are literally both less then one block
from brenas front door). We went through town, and I had dinner at
this great little paninni place. it was the spicy Tuna one and it was
SOOOOOO good! I think that I am in love with it.
We went to Tescos (which is the local grocery store) and got things for
lunch and dinner tomorrow in Ednibrough (as it is MUCH cheaper then
eating there). We also bought Cider for Tabelero (which we taught to a
bunch of people) and some other fun drinks (an apple mango juice, a
black current and something that I cant remember but that I have never
heard of before. Like Elderflower (that we had last night).
We then went back to the common room for (guess what) more games!!
Tabelero and others (I learned another new game today (well, 2 really;
a**hole and this game called Mexico which is played with dice. They
say that it is a gambling game which would have made it more
interesting I think.)
Tonight, at 4:30 they are doing the May Dip. back in the day, there
were 4 martyers burned her in St andrews, Patrick (not henry, but
ending with an H) harrison? or something. There is a PH on the ground
in brick where it occured and if you are a student here, it is bad luck
to step on it. If you do, on May 1st at Dawn you have to jump into the
North Sea. Brena thinks that she is going to do it, so if she does, I
will go with her to take pictures and commerate it with her.
Till tomorrow!!! | | |
| Today went entirely as planned, which was GREAT!. At 6 am, Brena and I
awoke to take showers, head to the local bakery for breakfast, and then
to the bus station to catch our 7:05 bus to Stirling. We passed the
Wallace monument, but were not able to spare the time to go up, but it
was beautiful with the morning mist setteling under it and the
mountians (rolling green hills??) behind it. Once we could see the
castle up on the hill, we remembered that we wernt quite sure where the
bus was going to let us off, so when the bus took a turn South, and the
Castle was North, we hopped off and decided to walk it. (really, who
can miss a HUGE 16th cent castle? NOT US!). We got there right as the
doors were opening, which was great, and we took the guided tour at 10
am. With that over at 10:45, we were then on our own to look around.
(btw, for anyone planning on Scotland in the next little while, I have
some information about saving money going to museums/castles. just let
me know).
So, some things that I learned while at Stirling Castle (lets see if I
get this right, as my Scottish and Brittish history isnt as great as it
could be): James the VI (of Scotland, and also known as James the I of
England) was babtised there in the castle and was crowned King (at 17
months) there in the chruch (which we saw the outside of). The oldest
part of the castle dates to the 14th century, but many of it was build
in the 17th and the 18th (for the outside parts). The main part was
buildt in the 16th (I think, early 17th?) by James the Ist for his
French Bride Marie de Guise (just a guess on the spelling there).
Because he wanted to treat her in a way that she was accoustomed, that
part has a French Reniasance look to it (heck, it could have been taken
directly from France!!) It was amazing and I have lots of pictures.
Also, very amazing is that they are reproducing the Unicorn Tapestries
( the Hunt of the Unicorn ones). All 7 of them (though they are not
sure about the 7th actually belonging and the 5 is only in pieces).
They are the ones that are in the cloisters in New York (bought by
Rockafeller and donated). They have 3 done, and one will be done
tomorrow (though that was at the tapestery weaving school, and not at
Stirling, but it will be). The 3 that are complete were hanging and
they were AMAZING!!! it took 3 weavers, working 7 hours a day 3.5
years to complete it. I couldnt beleive it. There at the castle, they
actually have the weavers and the GIANT loom (they are only 10% smaller
then the originals, which are HUGE) and you can see them working. you
arnt even allowed to talk to them. I did have some questions though,
1) why are they weaving them out of sequence? (which I didnt ask).
2) Are they going to recreate the parts of the missing number 5? ( the answer is yes, the are going to do their best).
Those are the ones that bother me least. The others ones I really question
3) they are not using silk warp threads (like the original) but
cotton. I asked why, and she said that the cotton is stronger (no
argument there) but the original ones have lasted what, 500 years and
they are still pretty okay (even after being stolen during the French
revolution and later being found in a ladies barn covering her
vegetables). So not as strong, yeah. not a durable, sure but really?
as museum pieces i find it a little odd
4) They used chemical dyes. Again, the color in the originals is still pretty good, so why not use the same that they used?
5) they arnt recreating it exactly. There are initials in every corner
of every piece, and they are going to leave them out. Granted, these
tapestries never hung in Stirling Castle (they were Belgian and then
resided in a castle in France but there were sometype of unicorn
tapestries in Stirling, and rather then just make some up, they are
recreating contemperaries.)
I dont know. Part of me feels that if you are goign to spend SO much
time to do these (all in all, while having 2 tapestries going at the
same time it will still take over 15 years for the warping, weaving and
finishing edges) and then not recreate them to the best of the
ability. I dont know, maybe im just like that.....
Anyway, it was great. Once we were back, Brena and I went to Dinner,
and then (since it is light here till almost 9) we went to the dock and
fed the ducks. It was the same beach where Chariots of Fire was
filmed. Pretty cool huh!!!
Then we went and played more cards with people in the common room.
learned a new game. Others were watching this movie called The Recruit
or something? (I dont know) but there is this part of it where they
are telling the guy " The russians have this new technology that can be
plugged into any wall socket in your house and allows it to insert a
virus into your computer" (or something like that). hearing the
Computer Science Grad students GROAN was too funny!
All for now! Off to bed!!! | | |
| Today didnt turn out as planned, and becuase of that we had to change some things around, but it was still great fun!
We had planned to be on the bus to Edinbrough by 8:15, but Brena had to
get her paper done (worth 50% of her grade). We stayed up till 2 last
night while she worked on it, but it was finally at the point that we
were so tired she was going to make a mistake, so the plan was for her
to sleep till 6 then work on it and we go into town. That didnt
happen. we were up at 7, but the editing and arranging and printing
took SO much longer that by the time we were totally done, it was
noon. Well, there was no point in taking a 2 hour bus to town, not
getting there till really 2:30 and having the castle and museums all
close at 6, and it was an icky rainy out anyway. So we decided to stay
in St Andrews.
We went to a celebratory dinner with her classmates, revelry because
the paper was turned in. it was really good, but a little pricy (as
everything here is). I have decided to spend most of my money doing
things rather then buying things, as I think that would be more fun.
I say that, but since we were in town, we went shopping. We went to
the tourist shop, and there is lots of cute things there (like stuffed
animal haggis!!) and the kilt shop and a really great little yarn
place. I will probably buy something there to nahlbind, but I am not
sure what yet. We also went to some Charity shops (like Salvation
Army) but I wasnt able to find too many things that I wanted/needed.
Brena did show me this great little jewlery shop that was selling
things made by this local artist that I now love (will post her name
when Brena is back and I know it!!).
For Dinner, I ate in her dinning hall, which is in the basement of this
really cool building (their common room is upstairs). While it is not
a castle, it really feels like one. i will try to take a picture of it
without looking too much like a dork.
I have been meeting many of Brenas friends, and so far they all seem
great. We just got in from a 2 hour session of cards with the same
guys that we went to lunch with on Sunday. (Ucher? Yucher? something
like that, resembles Hearts or bridge).
Tomorrow, we get on a bus for 3 hours to go to Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument. I am excited about those! | | |
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