We arrived at Pennsic on Friday of middle weekend, with enough time to set up tent and camp before changing into garb and heading for Chalkman's bardic competition - the event that was my first real experience at my very first Pennsic and for me has become kind of the moment i realize i'm really here with a whole week to spend stretching out before me.  A favorite place, a favorite event and the cheer and good humor of the place combined with the talent and laughter just always seems to overflow.

          War week started out hot, tho not as wretchedly sticky as last year, and cooled as the days went by... to the point of chilly by Thursday night's High Brow party at the glittering Casa Bardicci....making me all the more glad for the decadent luxury of my tent heater to chase away the damp and chill.  My work schedule was lighter this year, leaving me time to wander and shop, to watch a battle and enjoy concerts... or just lay in the shade with my head on Darius' lap and enjoy the simple contentment of being there in the summer.




  Perhaps because i have known more of the groups that play and am starting to remember those i enjoy the most, or maybe because i had more time this year, it seemed like this war had more music to enjoy, bands and music setting up in various places, songs i have known and enjoyed.
    And as always, the gates and created encampments are amazing - what people can do when inspired (well, inspired and also the specific level of fantastically crazy that Pennsic engenders)!

              The day threatened rain as we gathered our little caravan and set out for Barony Wars and Bazaar V this morning... the threats continues for many hours before the sky finally mustered up the energy to do more then spit at us.  Opening court was short and sweet: an annoucement of the various contenders in this battle
(with the revelation that Concordia of the Snows would be fighting for Endless Hills, due to a lack of fighters on the field that day) and the showing of the War Chest... and all the spoils and winnings at stake.




  The fighters worked for their heavy weapons points, back and forth across the field of battle, round after round. 

To the members of the Shire of Sterlynge Vayle:

Tonight elections were held for the upcoming year. I would like to
thank Robert and Kayley for hosting and the brave souls who ventured out
onto the rather unpleasant roads, those who called or sent in proxy
votes. For the upcoming year the officers are:

Officers for the 2011-2012 year are:

Seneschal - Lady Nest ferch Gruffydd
Exchequer - Dame George Anne
Knight Marshal - Sir Magnus Tindal
Fencing Marshal - Lady Chernislava Alekseeva
Archery Marshal - Lady Mariana
Arts and Sciences - Dame George Anne
Herald - THL Robert O'Connor
Chatelaine - Lady Nest ferch Gruffydd
Minister of the Lists - Sara
Webminister - Ravyn

Thrown Weapons Marshal - vacant
Youth Marshal - vacant
Youth Minister - vacant
Chronicler - vacant
Chirurgeon - vacant

YIS,

Nest

In no particular order:

Heralds and Scribes - perking along nicely. Volunteers will be needed
for set up and clean up, as well as kitchen help. Please contact me
(Nest) to volunteer.

Barony Wars - Moving forward. The event is planned to be held at Camp
Sertoma.

Bards and Bows - due to conflict with a wedding it has been decided that
we won't be holding this event this year. There was a brief discussion
on having Bards, Bows and Banshee - but the general agreement was that
Baron Gunnar and Baroness Barbary would likely try to kill all of us.
This was not acceptable to the majority of us there, as we rather like
living, so the (joke) proposal was scrapped.

ELECTIONS - Yup, that time again folks. Elections will be at the March
meeting (see date, time, location below!). Positions open for election
are as follows: Seneschal, Chatelaine, Chronicler, Knight Marshal,
Fencing Marshal, Archery Marshal, Thrown Weapons Marshal, Chirurgeon,
Youth Marshal, Youth Officer, A&S Officer, Herald, Minister of the
Lists, Webmistress. (Basically - everything except Exchequer!)

If you are interested in one of these positions - please come to the
February meeting to state your intent to run for the position and to
speak to the current holder of the Office about any responsibilities. If
you are unable to attend the February meeting - please post your intent
across the Shire Email List.

Upcoming Shire meetings:
February Business Meeting - Thursday, February 3, 2011
March Business and Election Meeting - *SPECIAL DATE/TIME!!*
SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH FROM 4-6 PM AT ROBERT AND KAYLEY'S HOUSE. This will
be a pot luck meeting. Please bring a dish to pass. If you are in need
of directions, just let us know.

Bards and Bows - the event made a small profit. (Huzzah!)
Ouaquaga Demo - Lots of goodwill and positive feedback from some
potential new members
Walton Demo - status unknown. Nest will contact Olaf for info.
Bid for Sterlynge Schola - Autocrats - Deb Gorton (Nest) and Michelle
Yurko (Mariana) -- bid approved.
Barony Wars - still looking at potential sites.

The next business meeting will be held November 4, 2010 at 6pm at the
Keeler Gym on the Greater Binghamton Health Center Campus.

If you have any agenda items for the upcoming meeting, please send an
email to Nest at ladybriant at gmail dot com.

A beautiful day in September, the perfect backdrop for our small cozy event of Bards and Bows - heavy arms, archery and bardic entertainment, with music, stories and poetry to across the field and along with dinner... dinner which was, as always, fantastic.  New faces and old friends from near and visiting from other kingdoms...  toasts and laughter.

 A good day, yes, a good day.




- Ravyn

In attendance - Keran, Malcolum, Bob, Kayley, Nest, Mariana, Gabe,
Tindal, Sampson, and Cory. Guests included Dion and Gunnar.

Bards and Bows - things are perking along well. Dame George and Lady
Nest are going to check out the site on Friday to see what kitchen stuff
may be needed. Volunteers are still needed in all areas! Set up,
kitchen, troll, and clean up! Please see the autocrats to volunteer your
time! Remember many hands make light work. Prize scrolls are in process.

Demo in Walton is fast approaching! Please come out and support the
northern area of the shire and show some love to the Fairgrounds (see
"Event Sites")!

Event Sites - Several possibilities are in the works. 1. Walton Fair
Grounds - Bob and Olaf are working on pricing and touring the site. 2.
Broome County Fairgrounds - Kayley is working on pricing. Magpie
Meadery - Nest is going to set up a time to walk the site.

Keeler Demos - Mariana is going to contact them about the demos - offer
2 options and ask for dates. She is also going to get the process
started for the winter contract with them.

Schola - Trinity Church is reserved for Feb 6. Nest should have the
budget info ready for review in a week. Lord Perote has agreed to cook
lunch and feast again. Volunteers will be needed for set up, kitchen
help, troll, and clean up. If you are interested in Teaching a class -
please see the Co-autocrat - Mariana who is coordinating teachers.
Tokens are being looked into, and the teacher gifts are nearly done
thanks to a kind donation from Jody in the East Kingdom. (Huzzah and
Vivat to Jody!)

Kingdom Chatelaine Changes - Fru Ellisif is setting up as a special
deputy to the Society Chatelaine. There will be a small bit of
shuffling around in the office. If anyone is interested in the position
of Kingdom Chatelaine, please contact Fru Ellisif for further
information, or see the upcoming AEstel... or the Kingdom e-List.

Billy was kind enough to send some very tasty cookies for us to enjoy --
Thanks Billy! (the author particularly liked the gingerbread and the
almond cookies.)

YIS,
Nest

                Catching that first glimpse of the cars - the sea of cars with light glinting off them - and then the tents.. a city of tents...it always makes me happy.  i have no idea what it is about Pennsic - this place that appears for 2 weeks and then is gone again - that makes me so happy.  Maybe it is the aftermath of Sufi's long stories from highschool, that one strange friend who had been part of the SCA since childhood and who tried to explain to my skeptical self how Pennsic can be the focus of one's year.  While i don't have the level of some, once i saw the tents for that first time from the highway, i got a bit of what he meant.



        Pennsic this year was hot and muggy - making the cool of the nights all the more precious and the freedom of movement and comfort all the more delicious.  i was even more grateful for the job i hold and afternoon shade of Future Relics, with its Wide-Screen Pennsic TV.  i love to watch Kira and Master Simon working on the wheel, or the constant crowd of people seeking Master Simon or Master Erwillian come thru the shop - nearly as much as i like watching Maggie create, shape, polish, soder, pickle, size, and grind bits of silver into rings, brooches and pendents people swoon over, crow over, or buy for a loved one.


   Drums and music, middle eastern dance and walking, gawking, at the gates, encampments, garb and creations of the populace. 

    Casa Bardicci glowed by candlelight for the highbrow party, with entertainment by Paulo and many the glittering nobility.  i was happy to pass among them, offering trays of food, treats and snacks, fetching the occasional glass of water or even horn of whiskey.  Sitting in the yard with a glowing Villa to my left and the peaceful lake to my right, surrounded by music and laughter, i watched the shooting stars and smiled, contented.