Greetings Lords and Ladies!

The House of Blackwolf was most honoured to be able to participate this past Saturday in the Veteran Parade in Staunton, VA.  As my husband, brother, father, uncle, great uncle and many others served in the United States military I hold dear those who serve to protect and defend.

Two years past my husband, Sir Blackwolf, had a wonderful idea of taking Veterans Day one step forward or should I say a step into the past.  With a banner stating "Honouring Veteran Heroes of All Ages" we invite one and all to don their finest garb to join us in honouring the United States Veterans as well as the Veterans of our ancestry. 

This year we were delighted to have with us a young lady, whose husband joined the Air Force just a month ago, to carry the American Flag. I am certain that seeing all those that came out to support the Veterans gave her reassurance that people do truly appreciate the scarifies made by the soldiers abroad as well as the families at home.  Seeing her smile throughout the parade was a special moment indeed.

Our presence in the parade was met with cheers and clapping, smiles and waves and a thousand cameras flashing at once.  Young children with their eyes in amazement shouted there's a Knight and the elder Veterans smiled and nodded in approval. 

It was a most wondrous time to show our respect and praise to those that served with such dignity and courage. 

Hail to the Veterans of all Ages and to those that support them as well!!!    

I fear I have been absent many moons from this wondrous gathering.  Life has kept me quite busy and upon travels both far and near.  Since I last posted our family has presented Living History and Education Programs to a wide range of  young and young at heart as well we conducting two of our four Faires in the state of Virginia.  

It is now time for us to take our breath and gather our thoughts while preparing for the remaining of our Faire Season as well as our Fall Educational Season. 

I must take a moment and be extremely grateful that we have been blessed with success this year and look forward to great things to come.  This success has been marked by many things such as the addition of a Carousel Pavilion and the Longship but the most valuable being our ever expanding Ren Family and Fans who without their support there would be no Faire. 

So what of this Carousel and Longship you ask?  The Carousel Pavilion was a gift of sorts.  One of our Merchants had purchased the Carousel for her shop however throughout the past two years she began working as our Shoppe Keeper and therefore no longer found need for it and decided she would rather us be able to use it than to leave it in storage.  As our daughters are growing quickly and had outgrown the Viking Wedge tent we purchased the Carousel for their new sleeping tent thus creating what is now referred as the "MFC Castle".

So with the addition of the Carousel Pavilion to our other six tents we found that our "Wagon" (10 foot trailer) was no longer suitable for tranports therefore the need for the "Longship" (16 foot trailer) .  

The most memorable Events this season has been the special additions to our Faires.  During our home Faire Stone Tower Glenn Renaissance Faire we were graced with a most beautiful wedding ceremony upon the grounds conducted by a dear friend for a staff member and his Lady who he met while traveling with us last year. 

And then at the Gloucester Renaissance Faire we were Honoured to celebrate Master Leigh's 16th Birthday with his family and friends by request of his Lady Mother.  Along with a  birthday certificate with his family's coat of arms he was presented a Battle Knight banner as well as the Flag of England.  

After returning from Gloucester Renaissance Festival we had one day before departing for a Education Program for Discovery Oaks Child Care where we presented a program for 40 children between the ages of 3 to 8.  Quite a contrast from Faire to say the least.  :)

So where are we off to now? 

The Enchantment Faire at Foamhenge Sept 6-7 and The Green Hill Medieval Faire Sept 27-28.  

Hope to see many of your there!!!

As ever at your service,

Lady Dagrny

My result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test ...

The Paladin

You scored 24% Cardinal, 38% Monk, 53% Lady, and 62% Knight!

You are highly moral but also don't shy away from using force if your lord commands it. You are honourable to the point that you would readily sacrifice yourself for a noble cause. Your name will be the subject of tales and song for generations, however their concentration will be less on your deeds in life as on your martyrdom.

You scored high as both the Knight and the Lady. You can try again to get a more precise description of the Knight or the Lady, or you can be happy that you're an individual.

Take The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test at HelloQuizzy

Per request by one of our fellow Merchants I would like to share with everyone another adventure we had just a couple weeks ago.  One April 25th our family prepared to attend the Sedalia Celtic Festival.  This was to be our third year attending and we were look forward to it with great anticipation as it marks the first outdoor Festival of the Spring.  This was also going to be the first Faire for our youngest since we was able to walk and our oldest was not traveling with us as she was attending her Prom on Saturday evening of the Festival.  

The weather looked good for set up and we were off to the Faire.  After the typical refueling (yes, diesel fuel is expensive) and lunch stop we arrived on site around 1 p.m. As we were already aware of where they wanted us to set up we pulled in the lower valley area adjacent to the wooden Park of Poems and then walked up to the offices to let them know we had arrived.  As we crested the hill our youngest noticed that there was a wooden play structure and immediately the word "PLAY" was announced.  As you could probably guess our girls, ages 2 1/2 and nearly 11, spent most of the time on the play structure swinging, sliding and climbing.  What a wonderful diversion!!!

Set up began...  As every Faire ground is different so seems our set up to be therefore there is quite a bit of planning prior to driving stakes and tying ropes.  At this particular Event we set up almost all of our tents which include sleeping tents (Regent and Viking Wedge), Shoppe tent and Games tent.  We did decide not to set up the Period Privy as the Sedalia Center has very nice facilities available.  We had to chuckle as we unloaded the trailer and truck that it appearance that we have exploded due to the amount of space everything takes up when it is laying on the ground.  Our newest addition at this Event was the modification of our Shoppe and Games tents.  As you might remember from the last Festival with the 60 mph winds our Shoppe Tent had been taken down by the wind.  To ensure stability we added four more poles with ropes and center cleats to each tent.  It was a wonderful addition however took two additional hours to grommet all the sides and to add the cleats.

As we finished setting up the tents, preparing the games and began getting things in place the spring rains rolled into the valley. We hurried to get everything undercover however missed the two things that were hanging on the far side of the trailer.  Our rain jackets, Oops!  The rain was not hard but it was steady and ongoing.  We had no option but to prepare dinner in the rain.  Keeping coals burning in the brazier was definitely interesting.  Basically it involved keeping the coals dry by keeping the pots and pans over the heated coals.   

With dinner accomplished we focused on trying to get the interior of the tents set up while keeping as much dry as possible.  Well that was definitely going to be a trick since when we opened the doors to our tent we found 3 inches of standing water.  We bailed out the tent floor but as soon as we were finished it filled back up.  So we decided just to work around it.  Now on as for the girls' Viking Wedge it was completely dry including the floor.  I stated that if a tent was going to be wet I would much prefer it be ours to the girls. 

It was still raining at 10 p.m. so there was no point in setting up the Shoppe and get everything wet so we decided to retire for the night.  I hate to say but it wasn't a pleasant evening.  To my knowledge there were two other encampments.  One was on higher ground and the other in a field behind our encampment.  We are quite accustom to people walking about and continuing to set up tents late into the night and at this particular Event there is even a sound check that can last until midnight.  The issue however was first when people stood outside the girls' tent talking and began moving our game components and then there was yelling profanities till nearly 2 a.m.  When all was said and done our youngest finally was able to sleep at 2 a.m. and I slept for 3 hours on the girls' tent floor before getting up at 5 a.m. to complete the Shoppe setup for the opening of the Festival at 10 a.m.  

 The day looked wonderful. The sun was rising and most of the rain that had pooled the night before was drying up.  With the sun rolled in Merchants, Performers and our new Staff member Rob dressed most appropriately in a traditional kilt and period shoes. Rob volunteered to help with games and did an amazing job both with the games as well as helping with set up and take down.  Even though the gates didn't opened until 10 a.m. there were Patrons on the ground beginning at 9 a.m. which shorted our preparation time and unfortunately I was the last one ready.  The morning warmed quickly and people began saying it was too warm but I replied it was much better than the day before with the rain.  The day was so busy that I only made it out of our encampment once. I had hopes to visit with the other Merchants and Performers but Celina, our 2 year old, had other interests so I was only able to make one very quick trip around the circle basically running and then returned to the Shoppe so Sir Blackwolf could begin the first of three Human Chess games scheduled for that day.  During the Human Chess game our youngest strolled in and out through the participants until one young lady stopped her and declared to Sir Blackwolf that she was a lost little girl, to which he replied "she is my daughter".   Not missing a beat the little lady asked "Can I play with her then?" 

One of the most memorable Patrons was a gentleman who inquired about a Scandinavian Flag for his motorcycle.  Sir Blackwolf showed him that I had the Scandinavian Flag as my standard displayed outside our tent and that he could purchase a similar one online.  Well I guess he was taken by the flag because he came back an hour or so later and asked to purchase the one I had onsite. After speaking with him for some time and realizing this Viking kinsman's true desire to show his Scandinavian heritage I was honoured to sell him my flag and we made an agreement that he would return at the end of the Event.  

We had heard forecasts that rain was predicted to begin at 3 p.m.  Well it must have been watching the clock because right at the stroke of 3 the clouds, thunder, lighting and rain rolled in.  Many Merchants who had nothing but EZ ups scrambled to hold down merchandise as well as their tentage.  We were fortunate as we were able to put up several walls around the Shoppe to provide shelter for our staff and Patrons.  The rain poured!!! 

We heard announcements over the PA of how far the storm was from our location and updates on the severity.  Our children including my niece and nephews took shelter on the other side of our encampment and we heard giggles and screams with each lighting strike that seem to be surrounding us.  We kept an eye on our tents and they held firm.  We did have an occasional pocket of water that we would push off the edge of the shelter but the ropes and poles held tight.  Sir Blackwolf pointed out that water was running down the hill directly towards the Shoppe as though it was a waterfall but right before our tent it turned right and I'm afraid soaked our friends set up beside us.  There was literally a lake under their Merchant tent.  As the wind swirled we feared a tornado but instead the hail began.  Yes you ready right HAIL!  It was marble size hail hitting with immense force.  I watched and prayed as the canvas was pelted time and time again.  As the skies lighten and the hail stopped I was thrilled and relieved that there was no damage.  And with the breaking of the clouds came of cheer from the other side of our encampment and then a huge cheer from all that who had taken refuse from the storm in the bandstand area. 

As the weather cleared walls were taken down and the Festival resumed with an overwhelming energy of surviving a battle.  Patrons bought new clothes and cloaks and Warpipe began playing. As the bagpipes filled the air the children ran about with new face painting and toy swords in hand.  The festivities continued until after 8 p.m. with a final encore of Hunting McCleod.

We shall always enjoy attending Sedalia for you never know just what the Spring might bring!! 

And now onto Stone Tower Glenn Renaissance Faire, June 21-22, 2008!

www.medievalfantasiesco.com/StoneTowerGlenn.htm

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, or at least that is what they keep telling me. 

Everyone has their own way of making sense of things.  Some say it's a clue or other's that it is the Divine, well whichever way you look at it I think there could have been a kinder way to send the message.

Two weekends ago Sir Blackwolf and I decided to set up a Merchant booth at the East Coast Champions in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.  We were quite excited to support a new Event and make contacts with the Jousting Troupes while there.  We would be camping out both Friday and Saturday night in 20-30 degree weather but we had been in similar weather before, or so we thought. It began with a cool spring morning and all was going well.  The wagon (trailer) was packed and this would be the first journey for the Red Dragon (our new Ford F350). 

A little over half way there it began raining.  Not a hard rain but just enough to make driving around DC that much more difficult in Friday afternoon traffic.  After maneuvering through the bypass, we arrived on site but could not locate any of the organizers of the Event.  We were directed to one of the staff members of the Equestrian Center who told us we could set up on the blacktop road near the horse ring.  We explained we had a Medieval Pavilion 20'x40' and that we didn't think they wanted us to drive 18" iron spikes into the blacktop.  So they suggestion the sand area between the rings....  Now any of your who have set up a tent know that sand does not hold spikes.  So after some discussion it was decided that we could set up anywhere we found suitable.  Upon locating the only grassy flat spot near the tournament area we began setting up around 4 p.m. in what was now pouring rain.  Knowing that the temperatures were going to be in the 30's we had made arrangements for our girls (15, 11 and 2) to stay with relatives and we were very glad we did.

After two hours we had all the tentage set up.  We decided to go inside the observation room, which was left unlock for us, to visit the restroom and warm up bit. That was when I found that my brand new buck skin leather gloves had turned my hands a bright sunshiny yellow that would not wash off.  All I could do was laugh.  We continued in the rain for two more hours before stopping for supper. We had brought chicken and potato salad but the plates and utensils were still buried in the trailer.  Choosing to make the best of it we were on our way inside to eat. AS we entered Wolf asked me to look in the box next to the door to see if there were any forks.  Now please understand this is a black plastic tote with the words "Electrical Cords" written on it. So I opened it up and stopped. In with the electrical cord there lay a container of plastic forks.  You can image the look on my face.  "Neat trick" I said.  So with supper accomplished, still pouring down rain and our energy spent, we returned to our tent, got into dry clothes and went to sleep. 

The next morning seemed promising.  We awoke and started a small fire (in the rain) for breakfast and began preparing for the day.  By 10 a.m. the Gyfte Shoppe was set, horse trailers were pulling in the sky was clearing.  With the forecast calling for 10-20 mph wind we felt assured that things would dry up nicely.  We were mistaken.  Sand with draft horses running about turns into a swamp.  A lovely yellowish gold swamp that you can lose your shoes in. 

As noon approached we visited with friends who had arrived from Virginia and even found time to sit and share a noon repasts.  However that was when the winds decided to pick up and with it, it was picking up the 18' iron stakes out of the rain saturated ground, only one leg at any given time so we were able to keep a hand on the issue.  The clouds cleared and it became a beautiful day for about one hour.  It gave us a chance to see some the Jousters competing in Knight Skills and a few of the horse running the track.  Then around 3 p.m. Disaster!  What was reported as a 60 mph wind came out of the East and flattened our Merchant tent.  It was liked watching something in slow motion.  The wind came in the walls blew out and when the walls blew back in the stakes pulled out of the ground.  That was the sign, the clue - we were packing up and not staying another night.  As Wolf retrieved the Red Dragon and wagon I began secure everything in sight for the wind had not stopped and the canvas was trying to fly away.  Even the totes were blowing away before we could get product into them.  It was crazy like trying to hold sand in your hand. 

So here we are running about as it begins to rain again and just then people start stopping by to "chat".  Now call me silly  but when someone is running about trying to save their tentage and shop inventory I don't think it is really the time to "chat".  Anyways, I maintained being polite while still packing boxes and filling the front of the Red Dragon with anything that was not weather resistant. 

As things were finally getting under hand our friends returned from watching the remaining Jousting and help immensely by rolling flags, moving boxes and loading poles. 

While still light at nearly 6:30 p.m. we were completely packed up and ready to leave.  We made sure to give our thanks to the host for allowing us to participate and exchanged contact information.   So now completely exhausted, dehydrated and wet we were on the road.  Finding the first IHOP we could we got out of the truck to find that it was 20 degrees with 40 mph winds.  IT WAS FREEZING!  Okay so I guess we weren't suppose to be camping that night after all. 

The remainder of the drive home was a continuous struggle to keep the rubber to the road as we watched tractor trailers being blown off the road in front of us.  We arrive home around midnight, locked up the Red Dragon and hurried inside to sit by the fire so thankful we were home and not out in the weather anymore.

Okay so we got the message but did it have to hit so hard. :)