Clinton War 2008 & SCA

Once again, over the August long weekend, I went to my annual medieval event in British Columbia. I have been playing in the SCA (Society of Creative Anachronism) since 1996. This was my 6th time at the Clinton War in British Columbia. It is a mid-sized SCA event as far as events go. In Oregon I used to go to much larger ones such as Shrewsbury, Acorn War and belonged to Dragon's Mist and Three Mountains Baronies, but as with the others, Clinton War has a distinct charm of its own. Approximately 1,800 people descend upon the private ranch where this event has been held for nearly 30 years.

I had many people in my household this year. Tighearnán Ruairc of Bréifne, Gillychrist MacInnis, Astrid, Elizabeth and myself, Mergret Dyer, along with 'Simon" the kitten who couldn't stay home. Other friends I have known within the society for many many years also came to share in food, fun, music and friendship around our encampment's bonfires. No, these are not our real mundane names, they are our Society names and all these people at the events who have known me for years, know me by Mergret only . Most of them I only know by their medieval names as well. I know it may seem strange to you, but it helps with the illusion and dream.

The SCA is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our "Known World" consists of 19 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which may feature tournaments, arts exhibits, classes, workshops, dancing, feasts, and more. Our "royalty" hold courts at which they recognize and honor members for their contributions to the group.

What do we do for the weekend? We do everything that one might do in the Middle Ages on a normal day. We wear what passes for clothing from whatever era and culture you chose to be. We cook foods over a fire. We work on skills such as weaving or...

Something is always happening at the event.. There are arts and classes to take or teach. Opening, night and closing courts are held by the Baron or Baroness or visiting royalty. There are contests. A bake house with constantly working earthen ovens, a blacksmithing forge and of course the WAR!!! The war is between the Barony of Lions Gate and the Shire of Coill Mhor and starts on Friday. Excuses for the war have been everything imagined under the sky. Last year was due to Coill Mhor stealing the seneschal of Lion's Gate (albeit it was marriage), this year it was over...well it was a lame excuse, but he is a new Baron after all.... After the war Sunday evening, we all shake hands say it was a misunderstanding and 'become friends again'.. but then something happens... and we proclaim "WAR" at the same time, same place next year..

War points are allotted to each side. I give all of any points I earn to the Shire of Coill Mhor as I have no loyalties to either side, but I feel it is foolish to give them to the side where I have to go through another's lands!! (Lion's Gate lays to the south of Coill Mhor and I am north of Coill Mhor). Points are won for contests, different battles, archery and sometimes for just picking up garbage. Whichever side gets the most points over the weekend is whom 'won' the war.

Some of us in the household have been rather busy making garb, making wooden trenchers for eating from, carving wooden spoons and other articles. We had a merchant tent this year on North Road where we sold jewelry, incense, healing wands and of course the magazine. There are usually 40-60 merchant stores and 5 restraunts on North Road.

Astrid also has been working on one of my inkle looms for the last couple of months and she has surpassed her teacher.. WAY TO GO!!! During Clinton War, she taught me how to do the fancier patterns for garb trims.

If that was not enough, this obsessive hand carver Astrid, also carved healing wands, which are gorgeous pieces of art to sell and find new homes for. Each of her wands are very different and each is lovingly made and cared for. It takes her about six weeks to make each one.

There are many many many encampments at the event. Our household was no different. We have our tents and pavilions set where it is semi-private.. like a 'house with many rooms' with our bonfires set in the middle. We cook medieval type foods on the fire and eat our meals at a wooden table and wooden stools... the menu is better than you might think..
We have the creature comforts, such as a wooden table and stools. I also have a large tourney rope bed I made and try to take each year. It is based on what was used for beds in the 15th century. I try to add a few new things for my encampment, garb and such each year. I did not get a dress done which I had hoped to, but there is always next year. This year I added the wooden kitchen chest, a wooden table to seat 6 and 4 wooden stools and the kitchen/dining pavilion. As well as a gift of a braiser and other cooking items.

Tighearnán Ruairc of Bréifne was also building himself a wooden chest for his garb, but he ran out of time as well. I know that 'lack of time' thing all too well in this past year. After seeing some of the things in the whole camp, his mind has been set to work on things already for next year.

For those of you who think this is an expensive hobby.. well.. I started with a $60 garb set I made (with real hemp too!) and over the years have amassed alot more clothing from work clothes to fancy dresses. Many times I prefer my work garb and they are so comfortable that it would not be a hardship to wear them 365 days a year. It is not uncommon for a family within the SCA to have a wife who is from 1528 England, married to a 1400's Viking, who have kids whom are Mongolians from somewhere in-between. That is just one of the oddities of being in the SCA. Usually families or a household (which consists of either family, great longtime friends or a combination) have somewhat of the same 'heritage' and time. Such as one household may be 1400's Irish or Scottish clan..... or a pirate guild!!

Tighearnán & Gillychrist's new garb sets I made/found for them this year...consisting of 3 cotton/linen shirts, 2 real wool tunics, a lord's shirt with leather ties, a kilt, a leather belt, REAL leather boots, 2 pairs of leather pants, a couple hats and cowls and the total cost me $35CA. You just need to know what to look for, where to get it, and not be afraid to do a little digging. I even found a wooden trunk for our kitchen needs at the event. I did not have time nor the funds to make him a real wool cloak, but that can always be on next years list.

We took games such as Nine Man Morris and a Tablero de Gucci board I made out of found teakwood. All you hear from many encampments all through the night are cries of "Long live the Queen!" and "Set 'em up and Knock 'em down!!"... it is not too difficult to find a Tablero de Gucci game at Clinton. At all...

Music is usually everywhere as well. My friend Redbear came to our camp and played on his Bodhrán. I just love the sound of that celtic drum. Redbear also builds drums and teaches at a reknown college, so he is quite the good player. He is teaching me how to play, there are also classes on it held during the event. Djembe drums are also what keeps the beat for the belly dancers to dance to at the Dew Drop, in as well as the Duck & Bunny Tavern. I took my djembe. Private parties also are everywhere. One year Wolfpack's brewer people made hundreds (they said 1,000) bottles of different types of meads, beers and whatall. EVERYONE wanted to be invited into their household party that year. I went, but I do not drink.. so I did not partake. I did make mead with Redbear this year when he visited my home, but the mead is still working months later, so I could not bottle it up for this event. It could take a year for the mead to quit working so it is safe to bottle up.

July 10,2008 I made a score today. I was dropping recycling off at the dump as a lady pulled in with a wooden table and chairs which I made into stools. They went directly from her truck to mine. They will make dining fine at the event. A table setting for 6. Even though I have not had alot of time, little things like this make it up.

July 29, 2008 Picked up my pavilion 'roof' from the upholsters where I had to get 2 mouse holes repaired from when I leant it to someone for Saturday Market last year. Set it up and waterproofed it. It said to dry for 12 hours, so of course it thundered, hailed and monsooned.

July 30, 2008 Went and started to chuck everything on the livingroom floor to remember to pack them. I actually started to do this about 2 weeks ago, but went in full force today. Remembered where I have another trunk. I will have to haul it out of the shop.

Elizabeth and I were up until midnight last night finishing up 5 sewing projects and packing. I was not able to find time before then to do so with my busy work schedual. And in reality, my friend/"little sister" was taking orders from me to do this and to do that while I worked. I had two days to get my weekly work project done and sent. I work today as well. As soon as I am done and the newspaper is sent to out to the production guy via email, I am on a 3 day weekend.

Before I settled on the couch to work, we re-built and put the rack on my truck, loaded up 3-4 days worth of firewood, loaded the pavilion, folded tarps, packed the inkle looms, packed and re-packed. The trunks, chests and bedding will be loaded in the afternoon just before we head out. Checked the weather report for Clinton and it looks like it will be a wet war this year.

This morning started at 6 am and all the animals had to be cared for so they were done when the house sitter arrived. Thankfully I sent the list for supplies down via email to Tighearnan and Gillychrist and they did all the food shopping. They were up late as well packing all of that. They detoured from my shopping list and it sounds as though we will be eating finer than royalty. As always I hope I do not forget anything.

We made it down about 9 pm last night and set up camp in the dark. Friends whom I have not seen in a year came and greeted us, gave big hugs and helped us to set up. They had been waiting for our arrival. The event officially starts tomorrow at noon with opening court. People have been on site working on the ongoing site preparation for up to 2 weeks already now. Redbear went down 2 days ago and Astrid yesterday. I will do my 4 hours of gate duty as did my other housemates, but not today. Today I rest. I will take numerous naps to recharge.

August 2, 2008 It is still raining. This must be the soggiest event here ever. Actually it isn't, but it was the coldest last Wednesday. It has snowed in years past when I have been there, but this time it was -3C without snow. Thankfully my waterproofing held up or I would have had a swimming pool for a bed I think.

Elizabeth and I did not do gate duty today but volunteered work for other things which needed to be done. We helped put all the work week tools away into their 'hiding spot'. There must have been 1,000 pails, buckets and quarts of paint. Elizabeth then went and worked in the bakery. Gillychrist went and picked up debris from the war field before the games started. We then all attended the heavy fighting on the war field. Somehow I never made it to the archery field, which I had wanted to do and had the loan of a bow for the asking.

'Simon" the kitten is a little sweetheart. He is the least troublesome animal to take anywhere. Because he is the smallest kitten and had some issues, he had to come along instead of a housesitter watching him.

I knew I forgot something. I put the guys in charge of bath towels and they did not read that part of my email. Ooh well. Dish towels work. I was saddened that we had no showers at the event this year. We did have the baths however. There was a committee which evidently did not talk to Master of the Baths, Abbula or any of the 'bath boys' who have been doing the bathhouse for at least 12 years. The committee made a new stand for the water tanks for the hot water after they are heated by the wood fires. Unfortunately, although the new stands looked great, they were unusable as the stands were three feet too high for the pumps to work, so the bath boys had to put pail by pail into the tanks to heat. Thank you to Scrub, Bucket, Meadbomb and the rest of the boys!!!

The other thing I was disappointed in was the lack of choices for classes this year. Next year it sounds like there will be many. I hope so.

August 3, 2008 No rain today!!! We had a few friends over for dinner and a friend played and

taught some of us how to use a bodhran. All the cooking was done over the campfires and tonight it was 'Compost Soup' (no, it really was called that back in the middle ages, a soup made from roots and such, I did not make it up) accompanying meat & cheese and chicken & herb pasties. After dark, at the "Dew Drop Inn" the saber dancer was back again. She is so amazing balancing the sword on her head and hips, dancing to basically laying on the ground and then getting back up again without it falling. We stood

there for a long time the last couple nights watching the dancers and drummers. Astrid even in her Viking garb, jumped right in with a little encouragement and belly danced as well. None of us knew she had belly danced for years, although it has been awhile. She could still do belly rolls however. She was pretty impressive.

August 4, 2008 Time to pack up and say goodbye (and lots of hugs) to friends new and old until next year, where we will descend upon this wonderful place again, bringing yet more newcomers (apparently 4 more) to this amazing and strange 'hobby'. We shall soon see a family from this event soon as they are coming to take the last kitten who needs a family. I am happy she is going to them. On the way home, we stopped for a lunch at a cafe' just to spend a little more time together. All-in-all, it was a wonderful Clinton.