Life - the second half of a Century: My Report of going to the Gleann Abhainn Kingdom Arts and Sciences Faire 2023

As usual, when I go to an event or exciting place, I take a lot of pictures. This was no exception so I will share them with you in more than one post.

Our plans changed at the last minute but I adjusted to it. It was supposed to be a little bit cool but then the weather said it would be in the mid to upper 80s so Dan decided we wouldn't go to Feat. That wasn't too bad but that also meant I didn't eat anything until I got back home. He didn't either so it was fair game and I had a post roast that quickly heated up in the microwave. But that is the end of the story and not the begin so let me try and not get too distracted.

The weather was nice and after some rearranging, I wore my tabard which had the Raven on it and took my fancier dress for court. Long story short...I didn't wear my fancier dress since it was hot and a velveteen long sleeve dress did not bode well for keeping one's cool. More on that later.

So Dan came over and loaded up the car. I had plenty of bottles of water to drink in the cooler. Dan had plenty of canned coffee and brought the igloo ice packs he had put in the freezer from the night before. No rain in sight but plenty of scenery. I discovered that my phone wasn't charging in his vehicle so I had to ration out my pictures....oh the HORROR of that! It did work out in the end though. This picture shows what I got to look at on the drive there. It took us a little over an hour from my place to get to the site. It is located near Memphis (the largest city near it) Tennessee. This event was the Kingdoms Arts and Sciences (A&D) Faire.

After parking the car and digging out everything we were going to take with us, pulling a wagon filled with necessities like our folding chairs and refreshments, we started the long walked to troll. That is what they call the booth or tables where you pay your fees and get a flyer on what times things are being held etc. That is also where you get your program of events. This picture was taken because I thought it was a great way to show off their groups arms, etc. It is the back of a small clipboard which was used to explain the rules and you had to sign that you understood etc.

Dan, of course, filled out the form for me since I conveniently left my glasses in the car. So he went back to get them but AFTER filling out the form. As you can see from this picture, he suffered through standing still long enough for me to get a picture of him in his garb. Doesn't he look like he is up to something? He was.

Unbeknownst to me, he and Shalom had put in a petition to the King and Queen for me to be granted an award. That award was was to be admitted into the Order of the Onyx Chalice. They said, in their petition (this is what Dan said anyway) that I had been supporting their group even before I retired and that they considered me one of the founding members since I had supported them and even donated half of the money they needed in order to form the Shire of Ravenshold. I had totally forgotten that. Then they said that when their Reeve (the individual in the group who is in charge of the money) suddenly quit and left they didn't have anybody to take over that position so I volunteered. That impressed them I guess since it isn't a position most people would volunteer for. Who knew! So my name was called to come up in front of their majesties.

Isn't that what everybody wants? After being in the same outfit and sweating for 7 hours, you get called up in front of the King and Queen. At least my tabard that I was wearing looked semi ok from the front and they didn't see how wrinkly it was from sitting down all day. The next two pictures are of my scroll that I was given and my device. The linen piece of fabric goes on my belt to show people that I am a member of the Order of the Onyx Chalice.

This also bestows upon me the title of Lady. I think my title should be lady with the wayward hair. Sigh. Still it is my first circlet, put on by the King himself. The Queen leaned in before I left the area in front of them and patted my hand and said I was brave to have taken on the reasonability of Reeve, or Exchequer as they also call the position, when being new to the SCA. I didn't dare tell her that if I had known ALL of what it would entail, I might not have done it. Some things are better left unsaid, right?

When you get called up, you are escorted up to in front of the King, Queen, Prince and Princess. Then you are to kneel on the cushions in front of them.

I didn't have to because they knew it was hard for me to get up and down. I was about to try and kneel when the King stood up and took my hand and said I didn't have to kneel. Then he and the Queen stood in front of me and announced my award and handed me the paperwork and the circlet was put on me etc. They were VERY nice and jovial throughout the entire thing. Then I turned around. Dan had been behind me throughout this (although I wasn't aware of it) and there ready to escort me back to my seat. He looked very proud and smug all at the same time. Once I got back to my chair he patted my hand (which I won't think it was condescending at all) and said he knew I would get even with him for not telling me ahead of time. He was also safe in the knowledge that Shalom couldn't make it so I get to give Shalom a bit of a hard time afterwards. Don't get me wrong. They both are great friends and as you know, great friends are also fun to tease and give a hard time. They can handle it.

Enough of seeing pictures of me and my award. Let's get on with some of the pictures from the A&S competition. When you submit something to the competition, you need to also submit detailed documentation about it. That includes historical documentation also to show that it was done in that period of time.

I didn't think I would see a submission of plants but there is a Herbal Guild which was well represented.