"It's the good girls who keep diaries; the bad girls never have the time."

To all our faithful subjects Ioannes, by grace and strength King of the East and soverign in Tir Mara, with Honig, Queen, greeting. Be it known to you that we have granted and by this present charter confirmed to all our Barons, Dukes, Earls, Chaelaines, Sherrifs, and to all our Ministers and Faithful Subjects that on this 3rd day of June, being the year LII anno socitatis that we do elevate our very noble and faithful subject Jamilia al-Suba al-Hadid min Bhakail, Mistress of the Pelican, Companion of the Flame of Bhakail and of the Salamander, and Baroness at our Court, to the rank of Baroness of Bhakail, with the assent and free will of those citizens our subjects who do there dwell, and further do we give unto her the right to hold all liberties and free customs pertaining to a Barony, and to display those marks of rank that she does rightly hold as tenant in chief of these our lands, to hold freely and quietly, so long as such taxes yearly which have by custom been due are paid. Let all men and women who dwell within the wards and boundries of this region, and those who frequent the market, do unto her such obsequiences as are traditional and are her due. Further do we grant unto her the right to make such improvements as she can within this liberty, without hindrance or claim on the part of ourselves or our heirs or ballifs, saving aside that which ought rightfully pertain to ourselves and to our subjects, and thus do we charge her also to provide her council to us, and to in turn take wise council from all those her tennants and free citizens without regard to rank, and further do we charge her concering pleas to dispense justice fairly knowing that in all things she does speak and act in our name. Done by our hand and seal upon the date and place of her elevation in our Barony of Bhakail.


To all our faithful subjects Ioannes, by grace and strength King of the East and soverign in Tir Mara, with Honig, Queen, greeting. Be it known to you that we have granted and by this present charter confirmed to all our Barons, Dukes, Earls, Chaelaines, Sherrifs, and to all our Ministers and Faithful Subjects that on this 3rd day of June, being the year LII anno socitatis that we do elevate our very noble and faithful subject Rowen Cloteworthy, Master of the Pelican, Herald Extraordinaire, Companion of the Flame of Bhakail and of the Salamander, and Baron at our Court, to the rank of Baron of Bhakail, with the assent and free will of those citizens our subjects who do there dwell, and further do we give unto him the right to hold all liberties and free customs pertaining to a Barony, and to display those marks of rank that he does rightly hold as tenant in chief of these our lands, to hold freely and quietly, so long as such taxes yearly which have by custom been due are paid. Let all men and women who dwell within the wards and boundries of this region, and those who frequent the market, do unto him such obsequiences as are traditional and are his due. Further do we grant unto him the right to make such improvements as he can within this liberty, without hindrance or claim on the part of ourselves or our heirs or ballifs, saving aside that which ought rightfully pertain to ourselves and to our subjects, and thus do we charge him also to provide his council to us, and to in turn take wise council from all those his tennants and free citizens without regard to rank, and further do we charge him concering pleas to dispense justice fairly knowing that in all things he does speak and act in our name. Done by our hand and seal upon the date and place of his elevation in our Barony of Bhakail.

To the honorable Masters and Mistresses of our Order of the Laurel, greetings.

Seeing that, for want of good rule, many mischiefs and defaults may be committed by scriveners who have no knowledge of the customs, franchises and usages of our Court, and further proceeding in the knowledge that the honor of a good man can be found in his craft, and that it is our duty and obligation to publicly provide just reward to those who work diligently for the common good and for the glory and honor of our court and our Kingdom,

We, Ioness and Honig, by strength and grace ordained and acknowledged King and Queen of all the Eastern Lands, wishing to prevent all such matters which due to wrong work or deceit could be avoided, and bound by our duty to ensure that the business of our Kingdom and its provinces and shires be recorded faithfully and in good order, do instruct and command you, firmly enjoining you, our Order of the Laurel, together and individually, in the virtue of obedience and caution which we know that you do serve to therefore raise our very faithful and careful subject Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre, Grand Master Bowman, Lieutenant in Woolfe's Privateers, Companion of the Orders of the Sagittarius and also of the Maunche, to the rank of Master of your Order, and to invest him with all the outward signs and tokens of this great estate, newly tendered under him. Furthermore do we command our college of heralds to register and bestow upon him these arms by letters patent, to whit: ----------------------------,

Further do we give him license that he may hang out his own sign and keep shop at place convenient to him, in order that he may, with due diligence and care, continue to record those documents and chronicles, and those fealts that he shall make to be sealed, such as do make up the record of our Kingdom, including grants, charters, rents, wills, tenements, and all other like documents touching the business of our realm;

Further we do give him leave to exercise the right and obligation to take students and train them, taking care that he chooses them with great regard of their reputed ability and expected diligence, and their care for the general good and credit of the society, teaching them carefully in expectation that they will in their turn be admitted in faith to this same company to which the aforesaid Alexandre is now committed, and that they shall loyally be ruled and governed in all things as are appropriate for good men and women of the said craft and for the common advantage for the people;

Further we do charge him, by special oath and upon his honor, to be loyal in the office and craft of being a writer of the court letter, that the deeds which he will make to be sealed will be well and loyally made. And especially that he will not write, nor allow to be written by any of yours, any kind of deed or writing to be sealed, whereby any falseness can be perceived, nor any copy of a deed sealed without careful examination, word by word. And that for no haste or avarice will he take it upon himself to make any other deed of great charge of which he is not aware without good advice and information of counsel, nor a false charter, nor any other deed or letter sealed that is in any way false or done for the purpose of mischief or villainy or the promotion of any altercation or discord.

Given under our seal in our barony of Dragonship Haven upon the occasion of our consecration as the rightful Monarchs of the East AS 1 April LII.

At head of Tyger's Hall sits
Brennan, konugr, oath taker,
ring-strewer, wielder of wound-flame,
latest leader from legendary linage.
Monumental man, mirthful and merry.

Caoilfhionn adorns his right hand,
regal companion, fierce flower,
from whose fair fingers fine favors fall.
Warrior Queen, weaver of all inspiration,
bright shield whose echoed gleam drives darkness down.

This highborn king of heroes
silences the singing hall.
True Thane's thoughts turn toward those oaths they swore.
Hear now the heart song of great Brennan and Caoilfhionn,
from whose hearth and hands all high honors hail.

Bring us Brita, Sven's Daughter
wise woman, rare warrior,
mother of worlds end. She who planted
the first stone of the great shining tower which stands
below the lode-star's bright and stalwart light.

courage and integrity
and all nine noble virtues
flow forth from this great and gentle woman,
guiding compass for those who fight and bear the badge
of golden sword thru cabossed Tyger's head.

We lift you up, Sven's Daughter,
enlarge your worth and word fame,
augment those arms you bear augustly.
For what more far-flung fame can be found in this world
than that bestowed fairly by fine princes.

Here at Birka's Market fair
nine and thirty growing days
since dawns ebbing winter solstice turned
when fifty years have passed since birthing of the world.
Stonemarche is where these noble things occurred.

Darius Aurelius, by right King of the East, in consort with Etheldreda, our most noble and worthy Queen.

Make known to all, present and future, in any of our territories, principalities, Baronies, shires, cantons and colleges, and any lands held under our Crown, that we, in response to the humble supplications of our beloved and renowned Masters of Defense (now few in number but mighty in voice), and further mindful that when we were called to the headship of this state we cherished the purpose of putting an end to injustice and disorder, in so doing we aimed to adorn this our realm with all the ornaments appropriate to this most storied and illustrious of kingdoms, which we mean to accomplish chiefly and most fully by the elevation of our most worthy and accomplished subjects to the peerages appropriate to their skills and attainments, it having at last been permitted that all our people should enjoy dignity and title in the form and matter which best becomes their service.

Thus, do we recognize and elevate our most dear and most beloved brother and ally Jean Xavier Boullier, Peer of our Realm, Baron of our Court, holder of the Queen's Order of Courtesy, Companion of the Silver Crescent and the Golden Rapier, Companion of the Silvanus Doke and the Silver Feather, beloved servant to our ancestor Queen Brenwen long departed, to the status and dignity of MASTER OF DEFENSE;

Further do We again confirm, award, grant, and bestow his right to bear arms by issuance of these Letters Patent, to whit Vert, a saltire between in fess two suns Or; overall a sword proper, as has been his lawful and honest right and privilege for some years yet past;

Further do we also confirm and command his right and duty to display the badge of the Masters of Defense, three rapiers in pall inverted tips crossed, upon his person and upon all manner of goods, and all of them, in such form and manner that any lord, baron, chatelaine, serf, count, viscount, king or subject of any realm known or unknown may at all times and in all places recognize him as a member of this said order, cloaked as he is in its dignity;

Further it is our pleasure that he will for now and always possess and enjoy such honors, authorities, prerogatives, pre-eminences, franchises, liberties and other immunities that have traditionally accompanied any such title and dignity, and that those estates, incomes, and licenses which he does now possess or shall possess in future will be protected by us and our heirs and successors to such extent as we are able and is just, so that he may continue to maintain the style, titles, and dignities of the peerage, that he may be at all times and in all places accepted and recognized as the equal of any peer of this or any realm known;

Thus do we, by our special favor, power, and royal authority, issue, authorize and approve these letters, issued on this date and duly registered as the law requires, signed by our hands, and further bearing witness that the said Jean Xavier Boullier has been duly and joyfully received by the order as is customary by our peers of the realm, given at (place) upon the (date) day of (month), being Anno Societatis L in the common reckoning.

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I believe you should be able to see a photo of the finished scroll here. Words turned into an actual physical object by Mistress Nataliia Anastasiia Evgenova Sviatoslavina vnuchka.

To all present and to come who these present letters shall see or hear do we Edward Gray of Lochleven and Thyra Eiriksdottir, King and Queen of this Kingdom of the East greetings and love with humble recommendation. Equity will and right ordains that virtuous men and women of noble courage and true heart be by their merits and renown rewarded that they shall in all places have great honour perpetually before others, shining by certain signs and demonstrations of honour and courtesy. To wit we know them by they tokens they wear in order that by their example others again will force themselves perseveringly to use their days in deeds of service and virtuous works to gain the renown and for this end We, Royal Sovereigns of the East, not only by common renown but also by report and witness of other noble men worthy of credence truly advertise and certify that our very noble and stalwart Lord, Thomas de Winterwode of the Shire of Hadchester gentleman who has for a long time served us with diligence and also in his other affairs has carried himself valiantly and governed honourably has truly deserved and is worthy that henceforward perpetually he will in all places honourably admitted, renowned, accounted, numbered and received in the number and in the company of other courteous and noble men and women as a companion of the Order of the Silver Crescent, and for this, we do command him to wear the badge of the order, to wit In pale a crescent inverted argent and an Eastern crown Or so that may serve for the remembrance of his courtesy and virtue to all. Therefore in witness of this we have signed with our hand and sealed with our seal these presents. Made and given at Stonemarche the twentieth fourth day of January during the Market Day at Birka in the forty ninth year since the founding of our Society.

E started a week (4 days) at The Telling Room today. After breakfast, he confided in me, in a very grownup way, that he was scared to go "somewhere new" (basically because of his awful experience at Camp Ketcha last year). I hugged him and promised him that if it was anything like Ketcha (which it won't be) that I would pull him out immediately. Then I told him about times I was scared doing new things, and praised him mightily for talking to me about the way he feels.

At lunch I got a nice note from the Executive Director telling me that E was settling in well. So, that's reassuring. We'll see what the end of the day brings.

Ten days until he turns 8. For his birthday, I very much wanted to build him a simple outdoor playhouse, and we pulled together a $500 budget to build it ... which turns out to be not nearly enough. Josh is lobbying hard for us not to do it at all, on the theory that we'll never be able to finish it and it will set there, unused and unfinished forever. He's been quietly, but firmly, completely negative about this project from start to finish, and it's starting to grate on me. Our back yard is tiny, and a wasteland (no room for a swingset, for example, because there isn't enough arc for the swing), so its no wonder that E never wants to be outside. But, I have to clearly admit that he's probably right. I have to make up my mind today, though, so we can get the materials together to build on Sunday, if build we are indeed going to do.

I got nothing that was "on the list" accomplished (ok, maybe one thing) this weekend, but nevertheless I feel like I had a pretty successful weekend -- and that, even though I slept and read and slept for a large part of Sunday (and thanks to my amazing husband for letting me do that).

E's had a tough week, so I set up a playdate for him on Saturday. This child (O) is a year behind him, but they've become friends at the afterschool program, and we really like his parents (we're quietly trying to recruit them for SCA stuff, actually). So O came over and the boys ran together all afternoon -- including getting out the microscopes and doing SCIENCE! together. At 5, another friend dropped off her three girls (11, 9, and almost 2) for the evening so she could go out, and then at 5:30 O's parents came to get him and ended up staying for a while as we made make-your-own pizzas and the kids all ran around like crazy children.


SCIENCE!

While the boys were playing in the afternoon I got important things done like the bedding packed for Panteria and the upstairs bathroom cleaned, and about 8 loads of laundry. I'm still not where I should be for Panteria, but I'm somewhere that I'm not really stressed about it.

Sunday, Josh's dad came over and they FINALLY began repairing the big hole in our living room ceiling from the New Year's Eve waterfall. Josh also cut the grass, which normally takes a lot of nagging because getting out the mower for the first time in the spring is a big production.

E has declared this past weekend "the best weekend of my life so far" so I count that as a win.

Sometimes -- sometimes! -- things actually fire on all cylanders, and I feel like my life at least a little closer to the life I picture in my head.

Now, I just have to get the kitchen stuff ready for Panteria, and our garb packed, and figure out the food things. But I may be able to take off Thursday (provided I get a bunch of work done in the next three days) .... and then, the weekend. Camping! Relaxing in Vermont!

Where did I leave off?

Oh yes ... well. We lived through the last of the Insane Travel (at least for a while) - actually it was a delightful day with friends (and music!) and an even more delightful trip home ... a post-event dinner at a large table where we laughed and laughed. An SCA experience that I had, honestly, totally forgotten about - those moments where you cement friendships over plates of cheese fries and linger to long at the table before the long drive home.

Last week, though, was a total loss. We were all sick, and grouchy. Saturday night I woke up about 2 am because E (who was asleep next to me, but really sort of across me) kicked me squarely in the face. I wish I knew what he struggles so steadfastly against in his sleep.

Yesterday I got to watch my very silly child alternate moments of complete disregard for the fact there are other people in the world with moments of unexpected responsibility and maturity. I know that's what being 7almost8 is all about, but it was on full display.

On Friday, J brought home a job posting he's actually both interested in and qualified for - so now we need to rush around and write him a resume. I want -- desperately -- to paint the kitchen and front hall but I'm having a lot of trouble getting motivated to do the awful work necessary (like, stripping down wallpaper and moving furniture) to actually achieve those goals.

Spring inspires action in all different ways, I guess.

The end of our day today involved going to E's parent teacher conference, which turned into a sort of a mini IEP meeting. They've been working with different ways to get him to author his own thoughts, since writing by hand is such a terrible chore for him.

Here is his 'opinion' essay about Dinosaurs:

I think dinosaurs are the most amazing creatures that ever lived on Earth.

First of all, they have amazing features to hep them survive. Like spikes, teeth, and armor.

Next up, their self-defense is very good. It is better than normal. Like their claws and jaws are strong enough to crush bone.

Then to top it all off, you might think that dinosaurs are ferocious eat eaters but most are plant eaters. Think about it.

They have so many features that NO mammals have which what sets them apart from other animals on Earth.

His writing tutor says he has a "voice". He sure does.

Well. Sometimes I am unexpectedly reminded of the amazing kindness of my friends.

I'm sorry I haven't been writing here much; I do read every single day, but so much stuff pulls for my time and attention -- G+, Facebook, Metafilter, trying to keep my Etsy shop going; Instant Portland ... it's hard, sometimes, to just sit down and write about what's new or what I'm thinking about.

So, anyhow, thank you very much to whomever just renewed my LJ account for another year. I shall endeavour to be worthy of your gift simply by remembering why LJ is important to me in the first place, and writing more. Maybe not every single day, but more.

I promise.