Over the summer, I spent time collecting beads and working on creating several new Paternosters. More and more, I’m finding enjoyment and meaning in working with prayer beads.

At the An Tir/West War, I was truly fortunate to participate in a Paternoster class taught by Chris Laning, the author of Paternoster Row. It was really quite the thing to be able to see and hold many of her amazing Paternosters in person.

I made these two Paternosters for friends. The top one was made for Baroness Kara and the bottom one, a ‘Tenner’ was made for Baron Godric. These beads reflect the colors of their Arms, black and gold. (I chose bone beads which were closer in color to yellow than white.) I used glass beads (of black) and bone beads for the gauds. The cross on the end of each Paternoster is a pewter Maltese cross, which is the device image for the Company of St. Ulrich.

~ Cristiana

This year was the first time that I had attended July Coronation. I was extremely honored to be invested as the Dean of the Northern River’s Region of the newly chartered Accademia dei Studiosi. Many people worked hard to bring this new educational institution into being, and it will be exciting to be a part of its beginning.

~ Cristiana

This was an incredible event.  All the fighting you could want in weather that didn’t fry you in the process.  I have no idea who “won” the war and it doesn’t matter.  I enjoyed spending time with my family watching our girls play “boffer” with the kids camped next to us.  I also enjoyed spending time with  Godric and Kara, the Baron and Baronness of Glymm Mere, and Ragnar, Godric’s squire.  We spent many hours gathered around the fire at night talking and getting to know each other better.

I also owe Ragnar a thank you for teaching me how to light a fire using flint and steel.  I only cut one knuckle in the process and it has healed nicely since then.

~ Gerald

This was a great year for the Shire of River’sBend Defender’s Tournament and War. Spread over 4 days, there was warm weather, delicious food, and plenty of fighting. Gerald was able to fight in the Defender’s Tournament, while Mirella took part in Dame Arwen’s Juggling class.

Elyscia de Fairford camped next to us with her beautiful new round tent. There was a small issue with her new tent polls, but luckily she was able to work things out for the event.

~ Cristiana

Honey War was Family de Huntington’s first camping event of the year and what a thrilling adventure it was. This was also our first event camping with our new medieval tent. We camped with the Company of Saint Ulrich and were thus fortunate to have had many friends to help us determine the best method of raising this tent.

Elysia de Fairford camped with us, using our modern, though very plain, kitchen tent as her home away from home. This was exciting as it was her first SCA camping event and her first event camping as an adult.

Our goal for the summer tournament/war season is to have one new item in our encampment each time we camp. At Honey War our new item was the tent – and the tent inner red walls, which were hemmed, but pinned at the top to check them for length.

Molly Watches the War

Mirella Sleeps Through Court

The girls had great fun at the Water War and playing with their new boffers. Gerald had great fun throwing his spear and fighting in the war.

~ Cristiana

My two favorite memories of this event were when the bees, real honey bees, swarmed onto the war field and all of us fighter types let them have it and when Baron Aleksii suggested that people bring him bottles of Mead and he, with the help of a few chosen friends, would choose a winner of a mead making contest.  Now that was smooth, Baron!

~ Gerald

Last week Family de Huntington attended The Grand Thing. We didn’t camp, but we did set up a tent so that we would have a ‘home base’ for the weekend. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we all got a bit of sun.

Elyscia de Fairford joined us for the weekend and Her Ladyship Serena daytripped with us on Sunday.

Gerald won the thrown weapons competition for the weekend and Mirella discovered the joys of boffer weapons. Molly developed a serious Gatorade smile by the end of the day on Sunday.

~ Cristiana

That’s me with the red and blue shield at Glymm Mere’s Sergentry trials.  I fought well most of the day but in the mini tournament we had I ended up legging everyone I faced and getting killed by everyone I faced.  I think I need to keep my focus even after I’ve cut my opponents leg off.

~ Gerald

This last weekend found the de Huntington family in the Barony of Vulcanfeldt, attending “Hopping Phules” ~ The Baroness War.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful weekend for an event. We stayed in a hotel, not far from the site, which had a wonderful swimming pool that our entire family enjoyed. This was a great option for us, as it is still exceedingly cold at night. After driving over a snowy pass on our journey, we were thrilled for a Saturday with clear and warm skies.

I was quite pleased with Molly’s new wool tunic. Although they are not obvious in this picture, there are gores inserted into the skirt section of this tunic which gave it a nice fullness and swing. And most importantly, it served its purpose by allowing her to run and play while keeping her warm.

Mirella and Molly enjoyed playing with the other children, both at the established play areas and at the river which ran through the park.

Gerald spent the day at war – and he could not have been happier.

~Cristiana

Molly’s circle cloak is finally finished, just in time for the Baroness War. What a relief!

After the appliqué of the crescent was completed, I sewed the wool to the red linen lining. Then the An Tir badge trim was added with hand sewing. This took approximately 4-5 hours, much of which was accomplished while crossing White Pass on the way to the Baroness War. The final detail was to add a small clasp.

It feels great to have this project finished. Now I just have to finish Mirella’s cloak.

~ Cristiana