So now I've been in the SCA three years.  Gulf Wars was my first event, so it's a great time to think about how my play has developed, see where I've grown, and set priorities for the next year.  Basic recap first:

We got in just at sunset Wednesday, and after setting up camp, got ourselves over (late) to the Meridian Social.  The theme this year was RagaROCKS, and since I have about as much memory of eighties' hair metal as I do blue hair, my impression may not be quite recognizable, but it was fun to pull together:

My idea was to rockify my Borum Eshoj stuff.  (Mom, the "nalbinded beret" is on its way to becoming a filk, and was very popular.  You were right, again.  Albeit roundaboutly.)  So we have here: Nalbinded beret, made by my mother with indigo yarn she dyed herself, vest and necklace from thrift stores, the infamous BE gravefind string skirt, miniskirt version of BE skirt, and new bog coat that I made at Convivium Collegialis.  Fishnets and tall boots were already a part of the Costume Box of Wonderfulness.

This year I camped again with Glynn Rhe, but now it is my home group, and felt nice to belong somewhere properly.  The wool tent did fine again, though I am now sure I want to put toggles on the door ties to make getting in and out faster.  I now have two wood benchboxes, and they are perfect for keeping camp and foodstuffs in.  The Viking's cooler was totally ample and very efficient (the ice we brought with us got to go home again).  I need to remember to pack a broom next time, and I am still playing around with lights – he's wanting a multi-wick oil lamp, like this.

We brought one too many tunics for him, but just the right amount of food – maybe the catfish was excessive, but I distributed it to people in an area of about 2 acres.  We had plenty of goodies; enough to be generous, and people are learning that I like to bake.  That Krispy Kreme bread pudding may not be period, but gosh darn is it tasty.

Camp cooking is a recent and mutual interest.  I want to be able to take care of me and mine, and have it all look nice, and work.  A friend focuses on things cooking+Roman, and she put together a beautiful Roman kitchen, winning the Period Life competition.  I'm so impressed with her setup:

But we used some of our heirloom castiron on Wendy's kitchen setup, which worked pretty darn well.  Modifications need to be made regarding being able to "turn down" the heat.  I'm not sure whether a setup where you are able to pull the fire out from under the pot, or install a trivet under the pot, or perhaps both is the best way to go.  More options to try!

Cooking pots are definitely catching on in the merchant area, with varying prices being quoted for various things.  Fire Horse Pottery had a collaborator in Gode Erthe Pottes, who'd brought all sorts of ceramic cooking things: a heat reflector, with notches for a spit, a drippings tray, a waffle iron, a chafing dish, and even a lobster trap! in addition to the bread ovens that I'd seen before.  Apparently the bread ovens work, though there's a learning curve (isn't there always?!) on how to use them.

We did most of our shopping on Thursday: I bought two wool shawls for $65, one heavier weight in iridescent twill green/red, so that I can wear each of our colors, and a wonderfully light one in charcoal and gold so I can quickly dress up for court.  The Viking says the shawls make enough of a difference that he had difficulty finding me in a crowd – I consider I've gotten a bargain, considering that's two more "clothes changes" for the price of yardage and zero sewing effort.  Plus they pack tighter.  We also bought a lot of music – 5 CDs.  Two are of Owain Phyfe, a wonderful guitarist.  Three are from Vince Conaway, who I had met at Pennsic with Heather Dale, and got to talk to both of them again here.  I was so pleased that the Viking got to meet them too – I've gushed about how impressed I was with them as people, not just as professional musicians.  He bought some elbow cops, and we got a packet of leather to use on various projects – we're thinking a bag for feastgear and a gorget for me.

Friday I hoped to get into a bookbinding workshop, but it had sold out the day before.  I did get to watch and take pictures, though.  They were making these:

I also got to do a little painting of one of the class participants:

And then I painted the dyeing setup, which is one of my favorite things about Gulf Wars though I never have the patience to hang out there and dye things:

Saturday we packed up, trying to beat a storm out.  I squeezed in one last sketching session (hopefully I'll get to watercolor that sketch soon), and a really intriguing math history class, from someone I want to find again – she seems incredibly knowledgeable, and very bright to make connections.