etienettebluet

Thursday in spite of the chill we got the rest of the yard raked, the raised beds mulched and the compost piles topped off.  I used the broiler [for the first time since I burned the oven a year ago].  I'd gotten some nice beef at special price and served steak with sweet potatoes and broccoli.
Friday I headed over to the library to print out 2012 and 2013 tax returns.  The crock pot was put on with beef shortribs for supper.
Saturday we rode with the Doerrs and Morgana to Kris Kinder.
Sunday I dug into the paper files to find W-2s and stuff for Monday's meeting.  We finished up the short ribs with fried potatoes for supper. Sewing these last several evenings was more four-patches for a Bugs Bunny as Cowboy quilt top.

Sunday 11am to 5pm we had our Newcomers' event as a follow-up to our demo at JAV a couple weeks ago.  During the demo we have those people interested in our activities put their address on a postcard.  That allows us to collect contact information AND have a postcard ready to send out for the Newcomers' event inviting those same people to come have a more intimate, quieter visit with us to get a better idea of what we do away from the Ren Faire environment.  This has served us well the past couple years and it looks like we may have caught the attention of a few new folks.  Now we can use the contact information to send postcards as our year progresses to invite these folks to our local 'parties' this fall as well as to our kingdom level event in August.

Saturday morning I got up to the alarm clock, warmed up the bathroom and took my shower, but when it was Leofwyna's turn...  Well, let's just say she doesn't want to be more than a few steps from the bathroom today so I was on my own for Twelvth Night.  I made a run to the store to fill a list of things she thinks she'll need today while I'm gone so I was late getting out of town driving her van.  I'd looked up the directions to the event then checked a map and thought I'd cut many miles off if I took a different route through Gretna.  It turns out it was a shorter route but in passing a pretty, new Goodwill in Gretna the van turned right in to the parking lot so I thought I'd go in and check it out.  It was after two when I pulled in at the event (275 attended).  In spite of the late start and late arrival I had a good day and especially enjoyed court where Gweneth received a late Laurel scroll and our choir performed a filk of the Christmas Monkey song in her honor; Isadora received a Lily; and Alan got his AOA.

Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday I waited for paint.  There's still problems with the color and Leofwyna is working on it.  So instead I made progress on the quilt blocks when Leofwyna was on the computer and was on the computer myself when she wasn't.

Thursday Leofwyna wanted to run up to Omaha and exchange the oh-so-wrong-tiles.  Our first stop was at ProSource where we'd been told by a friend they'd done so well getting tiles for their new home at such great prices.  Our contractor got us set up to go there under his 'codes' and we'd found just what we wanted in their samples and ordered same last fall.  Turns out the stuff we picked up earlier this month was NOT what we'd ordered, although they'd told us they had what we wanted.  The bathroom floor tiles (groutless) had fake groutlines which is not what we wanted.  The kitchen tiles was the wrong cat. no. and therefore the wrong color (grey dishwater instead of the slightly coppery and grey mottled we'd ordered).  Apparently by picking up and leaving with the boxes of tiles we were no longer allowed to return or even exchange them.  NO ONE told us this at any point.  Leofwyna is very unhappy with the entire transaction.

We managed to enjoy the rest of the afternoon in Omaha stopping in a couple of thrift stores where she found a few decorating items for when our living space is finally put back together.  This included a pair of 24" topiaries with copper tubing tendrils and vines; hard to describe but potentially really cute when the moss is replaced and the tubing remounted correctly.  We also stopped in at Whole Foods before heading home. 

Friday I had my to-do list to deal with to get ready for Saturday's event.  Turned out I had to do my printing at the library twice as only one of the four pages I'd prepared actually printed.  That took a 45-minute wait to get back on the computers the second time.  Very annoying as it put me behind the rest of the afternoon. 

Saturday I was up early and going for the 8am unlocking of the doors to set up for the event.  The day went well, I had lots of help (as expected, this small group of people is good).  Turns out the spate of field courts throughout the day instead of a final great court was a good thing as the fighters were packed up and ready to go eat and cleared out without the post court chatter.  Clean up went quickly and I was out before five.  Enough before five that I was home, changed and leaving to eat before five myself. 

I was at the revel site by six waiting for that to be unlocked when PJ found me there with the report that manager had been looking for me since 2pm, thinking our meeting was then for the key.  He'd done this to PJ last month for A&S; apparently a behavior pattern we need to be careful of in the future.  During revel I stayed downstairs listening to the bards and continuing the knitting of bedsock I'd begun during the day (I've started the increases at the heel already).  Again clean up went quickly (thanks to Volkmar's squire and his wife especially who very effectively herded out the bulk of the fyrd and helped carry out trash) and the janitor arrived a little early so I was able to hand off the key and was home by midnight!  Actually the janitor was so pleased by what we'd already accomplished, compared to how other's have left the site, we didn't have to sweep up the floors.

Sunday I loafed, seriously.  I haven't even unloaded the car yet.  Leofwyna and I did get out to a movie and supper for the evening.  We saw Lincoln, which was amazing!  We initially planned to go to see Hobbit again in 3D this time but it's already gone.  I was afraid that might happen, darn it.

What a beatuful day we had Saturday for Crown Tournament.  It was very, very windy but the temps were great and skies clear.  Dongal and Catalina are the new heirs of the Calontir thrones.

With Sash as feastocrat and all his apprenti present we had a full day in the kitchen.  Leofowyna and I were tapped to serve head table which was a first for me.  Today was the first time all five apprenti were together so we spent a little time in the evening sitting together developing sibling nautiness theories.

The rain held off until night.  Of course that meant we were loading up in the wet.  Driving home I went through quite a heavy downpour with several impressive displays of lightning.

Friday I was supposed to have a visitor for Gold Key but she called late in the afternoon to cancel.  She had decided she couldn't deal with being in such a crowd of people after the week she'd had.  So I missed having supper with some friends but after receiving a phonecall from them I ended up going afterall for dessert; I had a really yummy creme brule while we talked... and talked... and talked.  Sounds like we're going to get another camp trip squeezed in along with Queen's Prize this fall. 

With all Leofwyna's renovation plans, putting furniture and boxes of stuff in the garage while the work is going on and so forth, my rummage sale is getting bumped to next year.  I have mixed feelings about this but do like the idea of the results of the renovation so I didn't balk. 

Saturday was Coronation hosted by Lonely Tower at Mount Michael in Elkhorn.  It was a nice site except... it was incredibly warm in the big hall where court was held, no air conditioning.  We had bought seats at feast which was great.  The food was good and the subtleties competition hugely entertaining.  Ingaborg's presentation of gingerbread with the teddy bears was SO CUTE!!!

Considering the heat in the hall I decided to accompany Leofwyna Saturday afternoon on her shop hop.  We had llunch at our favorite Omaha Thai restaurant and went to the Omaha and Bellevue scrapbook shops.  I even bought a few sheets; I found the Baum's Oz sheet I wanted.

I spent Sunday evening watering the yard and garden, moving the hoses and sprinklers regularly until nearly everything has had a good soaking.  I also put out some seed for the fall garden and picked tomatoes before starting the sprinkler.

Saturday I ran some Gold Key garb to Wesleyan for the event but I put off actually attending until mid-afternoon when Leofwyna got up and we went together.  Court... largess... clean-up... and crashers too (Alianora and Kendell).

Sunday, Leofwyna and I spent the afternoon in Omaha hitting several World Thrift and Goodwill stores.  I found a pair of cotton organdy curtains (veils) and a drip water system kit (next year's winter garden).  In addition we got to have lunch and dinner at our two favorite venues, Thai Pepper and Cheesecake Factory.

Monday morning when I looked out there was half an inch of snow to deal with.  Not enough to get out the snowblower but enough to have to shovel, yech!  Other than that I stayed in and so was on the computer mostly doing genealogy all day.

Friday the car showed me a low coolant light again.  It's only been a couple weeks since I put $300 into it for that very reason so Monday I'll be calling the garage about it.  I'm almost afraid to consider what else might crap out around here.

I got the things done Friday that I needed to have ready for Saturday and we spent that day at 12th Night.  We didn't get onto the feast list so a bunch of us went to Katie's Greek Restaurant for supper afterward.  Leofwyna accidently locked the keys in the van at Katie's so the whole group waited with us in the parking lot for the locksmith to come and open it.

Sunday I'd only just gotten up when a call rang in from JG about the transcription; I headed over to his place to pick up a hard-copy so I won't be limited to city library time schedule.  I'm back to keying on his wife's number 3 laptop and I'll sit up late working on this... and finish up sometime late Monday, hopefully. 

During the drive up and back Saturday, Leofwyna expanded on her summer camping plans this year.  I had to rein in some of her ideas to leave room for my rummage sale in July.  Gotta hang on to some time for prepping and to keep up in the garden.  Sounded like she was thinking about half a dozen short trips in addition to my time at Lilies.  I held her back to three I think; one in late May, one during the summer and one in mid September.   Of course, all this is subject to change if I find work.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY

Alternating cleaning and sorting in my bedroom (interrupted by dust reactive gollywobbles) and computer searches for jobs and genealogy continues.  Friday I organized my basket and change-tote for this weekend and I also located the linen tub and found two pieces that might work for bedlinens for Maude to take along for this weekend's project.

Whenever there's something I have to be up early for it's guaranteed I won't sleep so I've made a definite effort this couple days to pull my sleep schedule forward a few hours to make this weekend easier to handle.  I was moderately successful in this but still got only three-and-a-half hours rather broken sleep.  I took a Benadryl to help me catch the sleep 'wave' and missed it so took a second one.  Got to sleep that time but dreamed an alarm bell and woke myself up again.  The remaining sleep was definitely on the 'lite' side. 

SATURDAY

On the drive down to KC (and home again tonight) I drowsed, missing a great deal of syntilatting conversation between Sash, Braganza and Kat.  Once the sun came up Saturday morning I was able to rouse up, participate and start deconstructing a mid-weight linen skirt.

The event this weekend was Clothier's with five hours of classes and a Fashion Parade.  With half a dozen choices each hour it was sometimes difficult to pick just one.  Due to our time of arrival we missed out on the first set.  I went to the Italian Renaissance in the second hour... checking to see if that's what I want to do with the red-gold brocade which still seems the likeliest.  In the afternoon I went to the Chatelaines discussion and attended Sash's Garb Care class.  I also got in a good amount of friend-and-new-acquaintance visiting while I continued hemming Maude's linen sheets and started a pillow. 

I got a good seat at the end of the second row for court.  I do like to be near the front to be able to see and hear everything.  [I'll expand on court later when I find my notes.}

At the end of court the announcement was made that Mistress Luci had passed but no details were yet known.  Clothier's ended with a spontaneous and beautifully poignant Non Nobis in her honor.   If it hadn't been for Sash's apprentice weekend last year, to which she came with Marcella, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of getting to know her better myself.  At events there're just so many people in her orbit someone as new and reticent as myself doesn't get very close. 

SUNDAY

I went through some of my Rubbermaid tubs this afternoon... that's a dozen tubs holding my vintage quilts, wallhangings, wool blankets, camp bedding, camp garb and sca accessories.   And I've written this blog three times now; not because it's difficult but because this dratted system has dumped it twice.

FRIDAY

Dropped in at the bank to clear up a minor but time consuming problem, then back at home dealt with two months of bank statements... blech...

SATURDAY

Tried to go to bed early last night for an early call this morning. Naturally I had broken sleep all night and wasn't really well-rested when it was time to get ready to go. Typical daytripping phenomenon so I wasn't too surprised. Today was Coronation day and since I'm a court junky and it was close I traveled up to Lonely Tower for it.

I joined the household group for supper since I missed making a feast reservation. After a little problem with our first choice not being open we ended up at a decent chinese buffet at 72nd and Dodge. Especially interesting is that I managed driving about Omaha today without becoming totally lost... although I overshot things a bit each time I did manage. However, I did NOT attempt to find Whole Foods on the way home, again. Figured it was too close to closing time anyway.

SUNDAY

Since it was a gray day I loafed about all day. When Leofwyna woke we stirred ourselves up for a movie and went to see Inception which turned out to be a real edge of the seat experience. It was an entirely new to me premise which isn't always the case with this sort of genre.

By the time I headed to bed I had a bit of a raw throat feeling...

MONDAY

And this morning the throat was in full fledged soft palette pain. I did get out and FAX out my report and stop to put an ad in the local paper for our garage sale. Back at home when Leofwyna headed off to work I reminded her I needed the replacement seat from her closet and got that switched out. She'd stocked up on these a few months back when they were having rebates and naturally she had to take advantage of that. Just getting that done socked me out and I took a nap and I'll put off mowing for another day.