Boar's Snore, February 2000

Unto the Nobles and Commons of the Barony of Coeur d'Ennui and her Canton of Axed Root, do their Excellencies, Baron Angus and Baroness Diana, send greetings this February day.

Winter has been kind to us so far. Much kinder than our Cousins from the east and west.

Baroness Meridith has challenged your Baroness to a tournament to be held at Three Rivers at the end of April. They have added insult to the stealing of our horses and kine. Sharpen your swords to put an end to their boasts.

Baron Brannoc brought armed men and women to our fair Barony and they had the gall to try to strike at us. They did no harm, but how can we let this go unanswered. Sharpen your swords to avenge this assault.

War brews in the south. Your Baron plans to travel south to aid King JoeAngus. Join with your Baron and help us gain allies. Allies whose aid we may need to call upon this summer when the Lillies War comes once more. Sharpen your swords for your King.

Salisbury Faire comes soon. Lord Murdoch, most wonderful of Stewards, (Is that part of your name?) has agreed to organize our camp and activities. Please contact him and let him know how you would like to help make this faire even more fun than before. We can use this weekend to get ready for Lillies in many ways. Try out that new pavilion. Learn a new way to fight. Cook over a fire. Sharpen your swords. (didn't think I could work that in, did you?)

With that, we must close this missive and return to our preparations for war.

Sharpening our Swords,
Angus & Diana

Greetings, One and All!

Our Barony has been a great supporter of the Salisbury Faire each May, and we are once again participating in the festival. The Salisbury House Foundation is looking forward to the great educational and entertaining presentations that you will help to provide.

The Faire Committee is already hard at work preparing for the event and would like to ask you to donate fabric and craft supplies to help make costumes, banners, and provide free children's activities for this year's Faire. All you need to do is clean out your sewing and craft rooms!

The following is a wish list of supplies that will hopefully be used to help create the colorful atmosphere, costumes and activities that make the Salisbury Faire a wonderful family event:

Fabric in 3+ yard lengths (cotton, poly-cotton or other natural washable fibers in natural colors. Please do NOT donate stretch or 100% polyester/synthetic fabrics).

Craft Sticks, Lace, Pipe Cleaners, Ribbon, Artificial flowers, String and Twine, Yarn, Crayons, Colored Paper, Tissue and Posterboard, Craft Glue, Markers, Felt, Construction Paper, Colored Pencils.

Donations should be clean and in good condition for use and can be dropped off to Countess Lenore at the March 6th A&S meeting at the Thoreau Center, or at the Salisbury House Foundation Office located at 4025 Tonawanda Drive in Des Moines (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday 515-274-1777).

If you or someone you know would like to become more involved in the preparation that goes on before the Faire, please call Kay Riemenschneider at the Salisbury House Foundation at 515-274-1777.

If you have any questions or need to arrange another donation time, please call me. Thank you in advance for your support and hard work!

Sincerely,
Her Excellency Countess Lenore de Troyes
(Kay L.M. Riemenschneider 515-222-0533)

Traveler's Report
by Herr Albrecht von Salzburg

This month finds us in the grand Kingdom of the Middle. In the Barony of Wurm Wald they hold an event called Festival of Maidens which has been going on for as long as Pennsic has been a war. My lady and I made it to the Barony the night before and stayed with friends.

The day started with three inches of snow falling and more on the way. Our hosts, Rowan and Vargas of Shattered Crystal, led us bravely to the site of the event. It was quite different to be in a foreign land and have few people know who I was. I got a glimpse of what it could be like to be visiting royalty, for all the good gentles of the Middle were very polite and seemed to go out of their way to make us feel comfortable.

Their Majesties, Sir Finn Herjolfsson and Lady Tamara Di Firenze, called a "Tournament of Chivalry." There were 120+ non-belted fighters who entered the list to fight against all of the knights of that realm in attendance. As an explanation, "Tournament of Chivalry" is a loose term for knights to meet would-be knights, squires, and unbelted fighters to fight each other. There seemed to be a high amount of nervous energy that is unparalleled, even compared to Crown Tourney.

There were eight fields to fight upon, in a 70' x 40' roped-off area for the heavy weapons fighting. The wait was the only drawback to the number and size of fields. With 20-30 minutes between bouts, I had only eight fights for the entire Tourney, and the fighting went from 12:30 to 4:30. I met some chivalrous fighters, and some stout hitting beginners, but for the most part I had a wonderful time being the only noticeable Calontiri there. (I had my purple and gold tabard on the entire time, but Sir Eric and Fyrdman Aubrey of Three Rivers were in amongst the fighters.)

Court was after the Tourney, and Sir Geovanni Allegri was bestowed the peerage. Countess Kenna (former War Queen of the Middle) spoke on his behalf, as his late knight, Jafar Al Safa could not. It was a tear-filled court as his accolade was made, the King of the Middle striking him one last unanswered time. During the congratulations from his brother knights, he was struck again, though he laid a hard blow against the offending knight, with a hardy hug and laughter afterward. It was quite spontaneous and touching.

We attended the dancing after cleaning up and eating dinner. The hour was quite late, and we had time for only a few dances before they were calling all in attendance to pack up and leave. I promised myself that I would make up for the lost dance time at another event.

Baronial Spotlight
Get to know one of the people who make our Barony what it is.
SCA Name: Contesse Lenore de Troyes
Phonetic Pronunciation: Very much like it sounds, but with a French accent!

Personal Info: My persona is late 12th century. A daughter of a landed noble who traveled to the Holy Land with her father and brother on the Third Crusade. After the death of her father and brother, Lenore remained in the Holy Land rather than return to France where she would become the ward of the King and be required to marry. She eventually married a noble German crusader whom she met at Acre, and they remained among the Crusader kingdoms.

How long have you been in the SCA? Over 9 years.

Please give an overview of your SCA timeline, awards, and titles: AOA - simple (November 1991); Torse (November 1992); Golden Calon Swan (April 1993); Golden Calon Swan (March 1994); Queen's Endorsement of Distinction (March 1994); Queen's Endorsement of Distinction (September 1994); Torse (May 1995); Cross of Calontir (October 1996); Leather Mallet (July 1997); Countess (April 1999); Order of the Rose (April 1999).
I was coronated as Queen of Calontir by the hand of Luther Ambossfaust in September 1998. I have served as Minister of Arts and Sciences and as Chatelaine in Coeur d'Ennui, and I have served on several Royal Retinues as a Lady in Waiting.

What is your personal highlight moment in the SCA? I am not sure that I have had just one moment in the SCA that is a personal highlight. Rather, it has been a long series of many moments, when I have seen and felt things that have taken me far back in time and closer to my SCA friends. There have been so many special times -- days and nights filled with laughter, duty, ceremony, singing, moonlight, pride, sunshine, tears and joy. I think the continuation of the string of moments that continue to happen is what keeps me interested in the SCA.

What are your areas of interest? What isn't? I am pretty much willing to learn anything that anyone is willing to teach me! I love herbalism, sewing, cooking, and gardening the best.

What is your current project? Sewing for Estrella War, soapmaking and herbal medicine.

Treasurer's Report

Greetings unto the members of the populace of the Barony of Coeur d'Ennui, do I, Lord Edward Blythe, Baronial Treasurer, send greeting and wishes for your continued good health.

The Baronial funds are in good standings, but at the last officers meeting, it was agreed that at our next Baronial event, the Barony will have a merchant table where we will sell items donated by the populace to raise money for the Barony. (Kind of like a church bake sale.) I challenge the artisans to make items for this sale. I also ask for someone to volunteer to coordinate this sale and arrange for people to man the table. If any of you wish to accept these challenges, please let me know.

Unfortunately, the Barony cannot sell alcoholic beverages (even in pretty bottles) so I must turn down these tasty items now before you go through the effort of brewing them.

In service to Crown and Coronet,
Lord Edward Blythe

Heralds Point
by Jacqueline de Meux,
Baronial Herald

As you may know, there are new required forms for submissions of device. I would be willing to transfer any information or artwork from an old form to a new one for your ease in submitting a device. Come see me, and I'll be glad to help.

In service,
Jacqueline

Upcoming Demo
On Thursday, March 9 there will be a Boy Scout Demo at 6:30 p.m. at Rex Mathes Elementary School in West Des Moines. The demo will consist of an Arts and Sciences display and a fighting demonstration. It will last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Please call Syr Luther at 515-222-0533 if you are available and would like to participate.

Greetings, good gentles of Coeur d'Ennui from the Baronial Minister of Arts & Sciences

So far, being the new A&S guy hasn't been as difficult as I had feared. Many people have helped with suggestions, ideas and guidance. I would like to thank Lord Simon for his continued advice.

The March A&S night will be shoe patterns and some basic construction techniques by Lord Albrecht. In April we will be looking at some heraldic display ideas with Lady Jacqueline.

I am still in need of ideas and people for future A&S nights. Please sign up, or sign up a friend. I also need volunteers to help organize the SCA part of Salisbury Faire. I would like idea people as well as coordinators for the various activities. Please speak to me about helping out. This is the largest demo we do, and it will take the work of everyone to make it a success.
Murdoch

Greetings
from the Baronial Knights Marshal

Please let it be known that I am seeking a deputy to take over the job of Knights Marshal when I step down at the end of this year.

Starting in April there will be a new procedure to use the loaner armor. If you need to use the armor for a practice, please call me at 251-8622 and I will bring it. If I do not get any calls requesting armor, it will not be brought to the practice.

In Service,
Thomas FitzRodrick

Greetings from the Seneschal of Coeur d'Ennui

As the winter begins to dwindle, I am reminded of my ever-growing need for a deputy. Any gentle wishing to become a deputy seneschal should contact me as soon as possible. It is a great way to be involved in your Barony.

In Service,
Brihtwynn

Olde Fart's Soapbox #45: Beware the Gypsies

One of the most popular of Coeur d'Ennui's early events were the Gypsies events. Yes, there were several. Most all of them were held in the Altoona United Methodist/Catholic Church. S-s-s-creach! Beep-beep-beep (back-up alarm). United Methodist/Catholic Church? Yep. Altoona's Catholic people didn't have a building at the time and were renting space from the Methodists. (I'm sure the Pope wasn't informed.)

The Gypsies events had to be stopped and cleaned up by a certain time Saturday evening for about an hour or so, (the fighters went to local homes and showered and everyone else got into court garb) and then they returned for feast and court. I always wondered about those who studied the teachings of Cathol.

The daytime activities were pretty normal, tournament, art and science competitions, farbling. The tournaments were usually a holmgang style because of the limited space. A holmgang was a piece of carpeting in the list. The fighters must stay on the carpet. You step off once, you lose your legs. You step off again, you're dead. Some of these fights came down to a pushing match. Advantage: us big guys.

The feasts were something completely different. That is when the gypsies started their shenanigans. You see, the gypsies were the feast servers. Gypsies are rumored to steal. Anything. People discovered feast gear missing. Articles of clothing missing. Children missing. The King who was deep into conversation with the person next to him was oblivious to the fact his entire serving set, side arm and other accouterments were missing. The rest of the crowd was roaring with laughter and he was still oblivious. The serving set and side arm were returned and he was still oblivious. The crowd roared even more. He almost lost his brass hat. The gypsy chickened out at the last second. Everything that was "stolen" was returned before feast was over. If you turned your head to talk to your neighbor, you held on to whatever you held dear.

The Battle of Many Weapons happened at a Gypsies event. The Shire becoming a Baronage happened at a Gypsies event. Roger received his "Unique award" at a Gypsies event. Pavel received his O.A.F. award at a Gypsies. I was first authorized as a fighter at a Gypsies. The Gypsies was a very important part of the kingdom's history. (At least of the parts I remembered.)

"Paradise is wherever I am." -- Voltaire
"When the sun comes up, I have morals again." -- Elayne Boosler
"It is the function of vice to keep virtue within reasonable bounds." -- Samuel Butler
"If I have wasted my days in voluptuousness, Ah! ye gods, give them back to me so I can waste them again." -- La Mettrie
Caoimhin McKee

Important Schedule Change
Coeur d'Ennui DANCE PRACTICE HAS MOVED!!!!
Beginning March 13th
NEW SITE: Thoreau Center (Where we have Court & Arts & Sciences)
NEW DAY: 7 p.m., 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month (Opposite Court and Arts & Sciences)
NEW PRICE: FREE FREE FREE (Donations are encouraged and will be gleefully accepted)
That's right! Dance Practice has moved from Thursdays to Mondays into our tried and true site of choice, the Thoreau Center. I can't wait to see you there for the fun spring program.
Remember: Salisbury Faire is coming up, and dance is an excellent crowd pleaser.
Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or experienced dancer, this class has much to offer. So come out and show your support. See you there.

Lady Tsire Tuzevo
Chronicler, Dance Instructor

On the Web
SCA Order of Precedence for Calontir -- find out what Kingdom awards you have received http://12.10.121.250/opweb/index.htm

Canton of Axed Root (Ames, IA) http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/sca/

Shire of Deodar (Cedar Rapids, IA) http://www.netins.net/showcase/mcdowell/main.html

Shire of Heralds Hill (Mason City, IA) http://www.netins.net/showcase/moridin/heraldshill/

College of No Mountain (Grinnell, IA) http://www.grinnell.edu/groups/sca

Shire of Shadowdale (Iowa City, IA) http://www.uiowa.edu/~shadowda/index.htm

Using Tea as a Dyeing Agent http://www.homeworkcentral.com/knowledge/ vsl_files.htp?fileid=107961&flt=CAB

Calligraphy Compilation http://www.dsuper.net/~cynthia/#Handwriting

Songs of and About Elizabethan Times http://www.renfaire.com/Language/songs.html

Instructions for Bulgarian Folk Dancing -- in case you ever find yourself at a Bulgarian wedding, this site will have you well prepared http://www.homeworkcentral.com/knowledge/ vsl_files.htp?fileid=44891&tg=ARTS&flt=CAB

Queen Elizabeth's Influence on Elizabethan Fashion learn about the role Elizabeth played in defining the fashion of an era http://www.homeworkcentral.com/knowledge/ vsl_files.htp?fileid=108093&flt=CAB

Wrapping a Toga http://www.homeworkcentral.com/knowledge/vsl_files.htp?fileid=115261&flt=CAB

1000 Illuminations from the Age of King Charles V http://www.homeworkcentral.com/knowledge/vsl_files.htp?fileid=80757&tg=REGION&flt=CAB

Images from French manuscripts (1330 - 1380) http://www.homeworkcentral.com/knowledge/vsl_files.htp?fileid=41874&tg=LITERA&flt=CAB

A Thousand Years of English Dresses http://www.homeworkcentral.com/knowledge/vsl_files.htp?fileid=116822&tg=HIST&flt=CAB

Court Notes
compiled by James the Musician

From the January Baronial Court