Pennsic 48!

Camper ReDo and Pennsic War

I just got back from my favorite two weeks of the year, Pennsic, a medieval war amongst friends from all over the world.

Over the last few years I purchased an old camper and have been working on it.  Mostly it was safety and habitability, and there is always more to do when you do it piecemeal.  Because it is stored 300 miles away and I only see it once a year (for now)  I still have to do a lot, but I am so happy with how it is coming.

Here is where we started, along with about 50000 stink bugs.  Dead, fortunately.  I wanted the inside to be pretty light and airy looking, since I would not be hooked up to electricity or water while using it in August in western Pennsylvania.  Hot and Humid!

I wanted the outside to look plausibly medievalist, so as not to be a huge eyesore for the rest of the folks camping.  That is still ongoing, with two more years planned to get it finished.  

The inside is okay, I like it, but still needs some work.  On the whole though, I am pretty happy.  A new closet in the shower stall is planned, and some new furniture too.  I love my friends, I am so blessed to have muscle and concept help.  

Here is where we are now.

If the artist looks tired, it is because she is!

Like I said, still lots to do, but way better than when I started.  I do have valances up now, and some shelves, I resealed the roof, and ripped out some stuff.  

Next year, power washing the exterior, and painting the base coat and as much of the stones as can be done, the new closet, a new coat of paint on the ceiling, and a new chandelier.  Not wired, battery.  Or solar. A new drape for the storage area, and a new awning.  Squee!

And this is the beautiful setting where I play my game with my closest 10K friends.  

 See why I love it?

New Skills, New Stuff

So Meg needs all new clothes for Pennsic this year, and I thought I woiuld try out my embroidery machine on a couple shirts.... only my computer crapped out on me and I ended up on a Bernina 830.... oh my gosh, it is really fantastic. Anyway, many hours later, and two embroidery techniques and several software skills later, I have three shirt's necklines embroidered. I made a shirt, Meg tried it on and it is good to go, so now I will make the embroidered ones. I am feeling only a little anxious...35 days left to get ready, but only 4 weekends left I can actually sew on. Well, what happens, happens. It will be nice to have Meg along, I enjoy my alone time (as I am sure she will too) but a little company will be nice too. I will do more cooking this year since I don't want to spend as much money.... so planning the menu will come into it too. Planning is a challenge for me!

Pennsic Pretties

One of the reasons to love Pennsic is the wonderful garb, the fabulous amount of work people do on their clothing. This young woman is a late period Persian, and has paid good attention to detail. I love her coat, her veils and her shoes. In fact I love all these shoes, I just love shoes! The first two pics are getting ready for court, so lots of people are pretty well spiffed up.
The next pics are depictions of some other really good reasons to go to Pennsic...SHOPPING! It is always fun, even if you don't buy much. There are goods from around the world, amber from the Baltic, silk from Asia, cotton from Egypt, bronze bells from India, saxon artifacts from England, and so much more. Then there are the craftsmen from right here in the States and Canada, goldsmiths and silversmiths, seamstresses, smithies, basketmakers, potters, woodworkers. There are merchants of books and vendors of pies, sellers of fine shoes and those who import or make leather pouches. There are cheaper goods as well, for the less discriminating buyer, and bargain shops for those wanting just a quick fix. You can buy catnip for your cat (it is good to appease the catgods when you return home after a prolonged absence) and a gift for your catsitter too. You can buy a drinking horn of carven oxhorn with the battle of Malden engraved around the sides, or a leather drinking jack to buckle on your belt. Hand blown glass bottles can be found, and music on cd. Or the largest bodhrun and loudest hurdygurdy you could want. Have you ever heard a hurdygurdy? Sounds alot like a cat having his toes squeezed! Not a howl, but a complaint. Bells, beads and bawds, you can find them all at Pennsic. Only 344 more days til next year.....

Where Did the Magic Go......

There will be more pictures and more posts, but tonight I am trying to reassimilate to the mundane world, and it isn't easy. It is hard enough coming back from a normal vacation, where you are removed in place from your normal position and have people to meet your needs, but to be removed in both place and time, and by about 1500 years, it takes a little getting used to being back. Just a bit of a wrench.

Pennsic, Inside the Tent

I live pretty comfortably here, yes, it is outside, and it does rain. It does get hot and it does get cold, but on the whole, it isn't too bad, comfortwise. I have shade and all the things necessary to stay hydrated and fed and rested. I have entertainment....in spades! I have a fan and a wet cloth! Really, not too bad!

The night sights are pretty too, and the shopping is good. I have been taking classes and learning lots of stuff. No dancing though, too hot.

Pennsic 39 Set Up

So this is where I live.... or rather, this is the sitting area where I rest and eat and cook. Also the common area is right next door, the big yellow tent.

AND ITS OFF TO PENNSIC.....

Staging, Phase Two

See, much better! Almost all done. Just the food and toiletries, and mundane clothes to pack, the things I really can't do until tomorrow! The last minute things have been bought and picked up by my wonderful husband, who is cleaning the car tomorrow so I can pack it tomorrow after work. THEN I GET TO LEAVE!!!!!!!! No, I am not a bit excited, why do you ask?

Staging....

Looks awful, but it is actually not too bad. I have finished all the dewing except for one chiton, which entails exactly two small tailor tacks, so sewing is essentially complete. I have dragged out all clothing and the wool will be home drycleaned (tumbled in good-smelling stuff) and the cotton and linens will be refreshed in the dryer with a damp towel. Candles and other lighting stuff is packed, cooking gear ditto. Feast gear is packed and so is entertainment stuff and jewelry. The all important honeypot is ready, as is the bedding. The bath and mundane clothes will be done last minute. Foodstuffs are as ready as can be done at this stage. More to be done later. Packing will happen Tuesday night after work and Wednesday morning. Panic is actually subsiding! A little.