Life in a Medieval village

I am celebrating 10 years in the Society for Creative Anachronism, SCA for short. In my tenure in this group I have been part of retinue for 2 different Baron and Baroness couples and an officer in this group. Through it all I have met the whole cross section of humanity from the lowest of scum to the most honorable of personalities. I have taught classes, volunteered to do TONS of activities, been in charge of the 2 biggest events in our local barony and met 2 husbands here. Sounds like a lifetime of adventures in just 10 years time!

us at a Ren Faire

us during our handfasting 2 years ago

For the uninitiated, SCA is the study and recreation of life in Medieval times, pre-17th century. We create costumes, arts and crafts, combat styles, weapons, cooking, sciences, and whatever existed during that time. Our studies of such things are usually showcased in events devoted to the arts and sciences of the period and on a weekly basis there are fighter practices, group studies for particular arts, and meetings for the populous. Each local group usually hosts 1-5 events per year with feasts and fighting and A&S(arts and sciences) showcases and classes on such. Each local group is usually headed by a baron and baroness unless they’re a smaller group which is usually an independent shire or college group. We travel to participate in other groups events and have friends far and wide that we meet up with at these events.

The kingdom I live in is the Outlands and includes southern Wyoming, all of Colorado, New Mexico, parts of Nebraska and Texas. Twice a year we hold Crown Tournaments that decide who the king and queen will be for the next 6 months and we have a coronation usually 2 months after the crown tourney so the Prince and Princess have a period of adjustment before they step up to King and Queen. During coronation we retire the current king and queen and the new crowns step up. Lots of pomp and ceremony go into such events and they are usually stunning to watch. This coming weekend is a Coronation for the Outlands but Hubby and I won’t be attending since we are still trying to catch up on doing stuff around the house and getting ready for our big camping event Memorial Day weekend. Events are camping events during the Summer months and indoor event during the Winter months. some are day events and some are 2-5 days long.

In the SCA I am Solveig from 11th century Norway. My garb and accessories reflect my personae as do much of the things I teach. I have taught many classes, most in fiber related subjects, and co-taught some with friends. I have done lots of things in the SCA and met lots of people as I mentioned above. My BFF is from the SCA as is Hubby and #3 although luckily #3 doesn’t play much anymore. I have wonderful friends whom I cherish and hated enemies who I try to avoid like the Plague!

The reason I’m writing about my SCA life right now is that we’re making the transition for the camping season and I’m sewing like crazy right now! I am officially the Mistress of the Robes for their excellencies, Baron Otto and Baroness Elise and I have been sewing lots of new garb for them over the past 6 months since they stepped up as the new B&Bs of our barony. I sew for Hubby and I too as well as teaching BFF how to sew. We also helped BFF and her hubby make the wood poles for their new canvas tent they just got! There are tons of canvas tent makers out there and when you buy one it doesn’t usually come with poles, ropes or stakes so you end up fabricating such items.

our home away from home

Also, we host one of the biggest camping events in the Outlands so we went out and participated in a clean up of the county park we use for the event. We’re actually clearing more brush and tree limbs this year since we’re using a different part of the park this year and the county wanted our help. We have a great working relationship with the county commission and in return for us helping clean up the park each year it’s exclusively ours for that weekend. Saturday, Hubby, myself and about 3 dozen other people went out to the park for the 2nd clean up of the season. Our big camping event for the year happens starting the Thursday before Memorial day and goes though to that Monday. It’s filled with archery, heavy weapons tourneys, light weapons(fencing) tourneys, classes and all kinds of fun. It’s based on the idea of the Medieval village as it would have been back then. That’s where the Anachronisms come from, as it might have been if they had had some of the advantages we do today. I don’t hand sew the garb I make but try to make it look as if some pieces are with hand-sewn details. Most people camp using "mundane" tents, regular nylon tents. The mundane world is how we refer to all things in the modern "real" world and when we’re "playing", that’s our SCA or known world.

I am looking forward to seeing old friends and catching up with them and taking new classes and watching the tourneys but I always miss the comforts of home whenever we’re at a camping event. The dogs are allowed to be with us, on leash only, so it’s hard to have them with us too. Cooking is a challenge but I have mastered many good eats for camping. We sleep on a futon mattress on a spring bed frame so we sleep comfy. We have a camp shower and solar shower bags so it’s not too difficult to get clean. It’s just, well, it’s not home and I love my sleep number bed and my kitchen and bathroom! Oh well, maybe I’m getting too old for camping! LOL

Life in the Medieval village is challenging but I think I’m up for the challenge!

J