B&B: You honor us all in that shining moment

We come from celebrating Ceilidh, a time of reflecting on the ending of our old year, and the start of a new year filled with potential, promise and possibility. We encourage everyone to try something new this year. Make it an opportunity to engage your creative self, meet new people, get to know people better. Find someone who knows about your new thing and learn from them, then share with someone something you’ve learned. It is the way. Your baron & baroness tried this with the Ceilidh feast tokens. We’ve not worked with pewter before and wanted to try something new, so your new “current-cies” did what new leaders did in the past, make new currency. The tokens weren’t perfect by far, but were the result of many hours of different attempts in ways to make them. We did a thing, with the help of a friend, Irene, based on what we perceived as the best way and we learned some new things in the process.

I often find my mind shares pictures with me, images that sum up a thing or feeling, encapsulate a concept. I don’t paint, but I imagine some painters have a similar experience, where they capture a moment and share it with others. It’s hard to capture in text, but I’ll try, and hope that I can translate just part of the nature of the image, impart a moment, like capturing a snowflake at its creation, as it journeys downward singularly amid a swarm of other snowflakes. We can capture that second of individual sweet excellence then and never again. So here goes:

At Ceilidh high table, Olivia handed Emerson an exquisitely crafted small marzipan crabapple with a bite out of it (Aife made the apple). The playfulness of the Snow White image (who Olivia has portrayed at Pennsic, in documentable garb) with apple, was delightful. The look of genuine joy and appreciation on Emerson’s face for the artwork was priceless. Such moments are worth remembering.

I was spotted admiring the detailed painted sugar leaves on the impressive subtlety at the end of the Ceilidh feast. Young Saorise, on the stairs by the head table, bright-eyed and helpful, cheerfully proclaimed, “I made that!” I will forever treasure that moment. It reminds me that even our youngest are on our Scadian journey of learning, sharing, and growing.

Our heavy champ, Joachim came up to us in court to request he give his featly at sword point. His deep passion for the game and his chivalry overcame us in that moment. How can I describe this, but as excruciatingly lovely? And then, next court, we got from him and our bardic and fencing champ, Bobby, absolute hilarity! Where else can these things be so easily comingled? It is sparkling treasure!

Happy new year everyone! Go out and share your sparkling treasure with others.

Your Baroness,
Janna