etienettebluet

...without a single post.  I'm so bad.

I've spent an inordinate amount of time in genealogy mode.  I haven't made any 'exciting' finds but continue building and refining what I already have; looking for available documentation can be a tedious process.

We've been out doing yardwork a couple times as weather and Leofwyna's schedule allows.  I got the potatoes into one bed but the second was still too damp and 'heavy'.  I need to deal with compost to make it sweet... and build the three replacement veggie beds for all the rest of it.  I wish my scheme for helpful labor had worked out but I'll push on through some how myself as I really need to be contributing more around here.

We brought Casey/Cassie home last work.  She is NOT interested in becoming friends with Maggie.  Maggie patiently and bewilderedly awaits an attitude adjustment.  Cassie hisses and growls and mutters.  Maggie doesn't back down but she doesn't reciprocate either so it's 99 percent Cassie's issues.  At least they don't launch at each other.  We're all trying to be patient with Cassie in hopes she will eventually adjust.  She does, at least, dote on Leofwyna and accepts me.  She wants our attention even as she continues her complaints at Maggie.

I haven't done much of anything with the rummage sorting and putting stuff away.  Spring is already here and dealing with garden and events planning has begun with the accompanying deadlines.  I've got pennants, handpies, jerky and sunshades taking high places on my to do lists now.  The rummage sale is being slid back to next fall.  In May we have JAV and Crown Tourney and then in June there's Lilies.  In July Leofwyna's household is camping out at Niobrara and we'll extend the trip a few days to go out ahead and get the 'good place' we had last year.  Then, of course, there's Cattle Raids in August.  That leaves September for the rummage sale. 

Oh, and Leofwyna had the great idea to sign me up for the scrapbooking weekend she's going to in May.  I've got a book and some paper and I need to find my photos and some cha-chis but I am NOT going to get deeply into this as I prefer quilting.  Leafwyna thinks I'll have the same problem with scrapbooking that she had with quilting but I'm made of sterner stuff than that.  I just need to prove it to her.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

I went to Shelly's both days to feed Rusty and __.    Boxed up a bunch of loose stuff from the living room loveseat.  Sorted it into linen (white or colored), whole cloth/tablecloth and so forth.  Ran across several things I'd like to get sewn up for Lilies.  Deconstructed three bedskirts for gauze veils and another bedskirt which was all cotton-linen which will probably become a camp tunic.

Turns out the kitty we thought we'd be getting to keep Maggie company isn't going to come home with us after all.  So now we have to look more vigorously to get this done before June.

SUNDAY

Helped Leofwyna go through her garb to see what she needs for Lilies this year.  She hasn't been there in a couple years and we thought we'd have to make her quite a lot.  Turns out she's better off than we thought so we'll just each make her something new and she'll be good to go with only a few repairs on her other things.  I'll add gussets to her red print undertunic so it can go too.

FRIDAY

So... upon arising today I firmly set myself to preparing for the weekend making my list and packing and taking myself off to meet up with Calien and Asa at 5pm for the drive to Standing Stones for Charlemagne's Octoberfest.  We pulled into Asa's sister's place about 11pm to spend the night.  It was a camping event but the three of us in a compact car was just enough room as it was with no camping materials nor armour for Asa. 

SATURDAY

Since both Calien and Asa were part of Her Majesty's retinue we were up early for the thirty minute drive to the event site.  Thus I was able to deliver the passports to troll before it officially opened.  The site was a lovely little park on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River.  There was a fine big pavillion for A&S during the day where the feast was served that evening.  Another large shade fly housed MoC activities.  There was of course plenty of meetings, cooking, fighting and archery.  I mostly stayed in the A&S area auditing the classes and working on my banner embroidery.

At court after various awards and event reports their Majesties were approached for the boon of inviting HL Finghuala inghean Fhearghuis to join the Order of the Laurel.  This was the same lady who had presented three of the four classes offered during the day and I was pleased with this announcement.  The vigil and ceremony will probably be at Crown Tournament in Three Rivers.

At feast I sat with Nicholas and Nina and had a most pleasant meal.  Courses were generous and tasty.  Most memorable was the delicately seasoned pork sausages with honeyed roasted vegetables and a honey-mustard sauce.  After a short session at the bardic session at the fire pit we headed back to our crash site before the real rowdiness began.

[Nina sent photos out on the Internet http://www.flickr.com/photos/31439502@N08/ The lady in the saffron yellow veil is HL Finghuala]

SUNDAY

Another early day but this one was begun with a nice stop for breakfast with Heather before getting on the road to head home.  We pulled into town around 2pm [a pleasant surprise as I'd expected not to arrive before 3pm or so].  Got home to discover Leofwyna had gone to Omaha for a movie and supper with our younger sister.  I got unloaded and unpacked and caught up with emails before going out for my own supper.  Finished the evening breaking down several more sample books and stripping paper from the poly samples.  Soon I'll be sewing up quilt tops for the ladies at home to tie off for the missions.

When I brought up that we were looking for a little lady cat to bring our residence population back up Calien thought perhaps her Summer, a Siamese mix, might suit.  They have a dog and three cats and this one isn't settling well with the others.  I'll bring it up with Leofwyna and we'll check it out.

MONDAY

It rained during the night and was promising more during the day so the proposal demo got postponed to next Monday.  Wouldn't you know, the sun broke out about 3pm and turned into a lovely clear evening.  Sure hope the weather works next week or somebody will be kicking themselves for this.

Leofwyna and I got busy this afternoon making a HUGE apple crisp and starting crockpot apple butter from Shelly's apples.  Leofwyna put together a nice tuna-noodle cassarole for lupper [mid afternoon meal instead of lunch] which we ate again for linner [a late dinner balancing a late lunch].   I stripped paper from cotton-linen samples until my hands were cramping... too much peeling and stuff in one day I guess.

When Leofwyna talked with Calien tonight we learned Summer wasn't declawed; that wouldn't be fair to Joseph so we're having second thoughts.  It would have been a good thing for Caleigh to be able to visit Summer here when she has cooking lessons with Leofwyna; what to do?