Persona of The Month - Master Efenwealt

At the beginning of July, I picked up the Quill for the first time and realized that I had not just picked up a newsletter. I was given a chance to share stories, news, findings, all of it with the populace and the Knowne World. Upon this realization, I asked myself a question: Why limit myself to just press and words? And with this, came a wonderful epiphany and a way to adapt modern technology once again to something that we do and love.

With that being said, how do you feel about Efenwealt's words? Anything you want to ask or do you have any comments? Please comment below or you can email me directly at tristangwalchmai -at- gmail.com

In Service To The Barony, The Kingdom, And The Dream
Tristan the Wanderer
Chronicler, Nottinghill Coill

Missives To The Populace

Konnichiwa & Greetings to the Populace,

SAVE OUR PEEPS!
We look forward to seeing the Goode Gentles of Our Barony at War of the Wings X!. Nottinghill Coill is one of the four Principle Baronies at this years WoW. We are Allied with Hidden Mountain against Black Diamond & Highland Forde.

M'Lady.Kaete McDavid (Kathleen Harris) is Our Baronial Land Agent this year and has done a Wonderful job with Our Baronial Camp. Please contact her and see what needs to be done in the Baronial Camp. Also, thank her when you see her. : )

Fall Crown Tourney,11/6-8/2015, will be held at Camp Sandy Ridge. Our Barony will be Co-Hosting this Event with Hidden Mountain. Kingdom Twelfth Night, 1/8-10/2016, will be held at Table Rock Wesleyan Camp, the Yule Toy Tourney site, Nottinghill Coill is Hosting this Event. Lady Caitriona inghean Ghiolla Phadraig is the Autocrat for both of these Kingdom level Events.

Yule Toy Tourney X will be held on 12/11-13/2015 at the Table Rock Wesleyan Camp, Please come out and support the Toy drive for Country Santa.

We also turn Our eyes to Our retirement as the Baronage. Please pay heed to the missives of Dame Morwenna, the Baronial Seneschal, the Polling process has begun. Nottinghill Coill's Baronial Birthday and Investiture will be 1/29-31/2016.

As always We remain,
In Service to the Dream,
Takeda & Ariel

From The Seneschal's Pen

To the Populace of the Barony of Nottinghill Coill - Greetings!

Their Excellencies Takeda and Ariel will be stepping down at the end of their current term, January 30, 2016. So it is time to begin the process of selecting Their successors.

In accordance with the requirements found in the Seneschal's Handbook, those who wish to be considered as candidates must submit their Letters Of Intent (LOIs) to me (the Baronial Seneschal) at the following email address: bwahaha -at- spiritcom.net. The LOIs must be received no later than Saturday October 10, 2015. These letters should include, at a minimum, the following information for each candidate:
-- Full modern and SCA names, with title
-- Mailing address
-- Email address
-- Phone number
-- Membership number and expiration date
-- Statement of Intent

All letters received by the due date will be published in the Baronial newsletter, The Quill. The actual polling will take place in the second half of November.

Yours in service to the continued good health of The Dream and the Barony,
Dame Morwenna Trevethan
Baronial Seneschal - Nottinghill Coill

Missives From The Baronage

Konnichiwa & Greetings to the Populace,

We look forward to seeing the Populace at the WOPP:"The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring" to be held in St. Georges on Saturday, August 15th. Our very own Cave Troll, Lady Janna, is autocratting. This is always a FUN Event!

Nottinghill Coill is one of the four Principle Baronies at this years WoW X! We are Allied with Hidden Mountain against Black Diamond & Highland Forde. Please plan to attend and support the activities at WoW X. M'Lady.Kaete McDavid (Kathleen Harris) is Our Baronial Land Agent this year. Please register soon and watch for activities and ideas to enhance our Baronial Camp.

As always We remain,
In Service to the Dream,
Takeda & Ariel

From The Pen Of Your Baronial Seneschal

Greetings to the Barony and all of her friends.

As I write this, my departure for Pennsic is imminent. But...so is Collegium. There is an exceptional collection of classes on the schedule, and I hope to see many of you there. But the end of Pennsic does not mean the end of the summer fun. We have the annual favorite, War Orphan’s Pity Party, also known as WOPP, to look forward to on August 15 hosted by the Canton of Saint Georges. This year’s theme is “Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.” Even though I won’t be there (still recovering from Pennsic), this always is a fun time for the participants. [Link Opens In New Window]. Once WOPP is behind us, the next in-barony event is Southern War Practice, hosted by the Canton of Ritterwald. [Link Opens In New Window]

And what War are we practicing for? War of the Wings, of course! This year, Nottinghill Coill is one of the principals in the fight; Hidden Mountain and us against Black Diamond and Highland Foorde. Historically we’ve done very well in showing our prowess in so many areas, martial as well as service and A&S. Let’s not make this year any different.

If an issue arises between now and Monday August 10, my return from Pennsic, which honestly can’t wait, either call me via cell phone (8033977767) or talk to Their Excellencies, both of whom will be defending our lands here at home.

Until then, stay comfortable and Stay Hydrated!
Morwenna
Baronial Seneschal

Decision Regarding The Chirurgeonate

The decision has been made to close the Office of the Chirurgeonate as of August 10th, 2015. The board and corporate officers want to extend their gratitude for ALL who have served our organization in this capacity in the past. To those who have provided feedback, questions, and worked to explore options for scopes of the office that would allow our organization to retain the office and maintain insurance coverage for the officers and our organization, many thanks as well.

To clarify some of the concerns that have been raised during the many discussions of this change, the board and corporate officers want to provide the following information:

-The Society Seneschal has been directed to remove references to the Chirurgeonate from the Record Retention Policy. Existing records should be retained for 2 years for adults, 21 years for minors, then shredded to ensure any Personally Identifying Information is destroyed. Local groups should sort records into Adult, Minor and Destroy categories and ship (paid for by the local group) records to the corporate office. The corporate office will retain records and handle the shredding.

-Each Kingdom has thirty business days to transport these records to the corporate office.
Event Coordinators/Stewards/Autocrats are still responsible for arranging for EMS on site if that is required by municipal/county/state requirements. This most often will apply to large events projecting an attendance greater than the threshold set by the applicable modern agency. It is recommended to include information regarding distance from site to medical care in event
announcements, particularly for camping events.

-The marshallate will still be responsible for reporting injuries on the field. Seneschals will still be responsible for reporting injuries (particularly requiring transport) as currently directed.

-Tangible assets owned by SCA branches that are specific to the Office of the Chirurgeon may be retained or donated or sold, in accordance with applicable financial policies.

-Over the counter medications may not be purchased by SCA branches to distribute or make available to event attendees.

-The badge of the fleam will remain available for those individual volunteers (not affiliated with the SCA, Inc. and its Kingdoms and local groups) willing to provide basic first aid.

-Should additional questions or concerns regarding this change arise, please direct them to the SCA President, at president@sca.org

Our thanks again, to all the volunteers that have helped keep our organization going for 50 years!
Leslie Vaughn
President, SCA, Inc

A.J. Pongratz
Vice President of Operations, SCA, Inc.

Housesitter - A Story by Lord Séamus Blær de Maxwell

Once there was a mousy little woman who lived in Garland. She came to believe Garland to be a suburb of a particularly cheerless hell. So she got a better job, saved her money, and found a little house in the magic land of Lakewood. Lakewood is part of that broad urban belt that girds the tiny downtown of Dallas, Texas from the subhuman suburbs. The house she found was a cozy little dwelling with pale brick walls, witchy meadows instead of lawns, a red Spanish tile roof, and a round green door like the door of Bag End.

Missives From The Baronage To The Populace

Konnichiwa & Greetings to the Populace,
We look forward to seeing the Populace at the Collegium to be held in Cyddlain Downs on Saturday, July 17th. This is always a FUN Event! There will be a Court during the Lunch break, that's right, a Food Court!

Nottinghill Coill is one of the four Principle Baronies at this years WoW X! We are Allied with Hidden Mountain against Black Diamond & Highland Forde. Please plan to attend and support the activities at WoW X. M'Lady.Kaete McDavid (Kathleen Harris) is Our Baronial Land Agent this year. Please register soon and watch for activities and ideas to enhance our Baronial Camp.

As always We remain, In Service to the Dream,
Takeda & Ariel
Baron & Baroness of Nottinghill Coill

Flight Of The Falcon - August 22

Flight of the Falcon, a Newcomers' Event
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Hosted by the Canton of Aire Faucon in the Barony of Sacred Stone, Kingdom of Atlantia, SCA, Inc.

Tournament Day in a Medieval Town

Persona of the Month: Cian Mac Ceallachain Uí Dubhlaich

Being a card carrying member of the SCA is always fun. It's even better when you hear stories about people that you have yet to meet. One of the first people I was fortunate to meet was Lord Cian Mac Ceallachain Uí Dubhlaich from Nottinghill Coill. Cian is our current Triton Herald, the head of the Kingdom's College of Heralds that supervises both field and court heraldry, along with making sure names and devices are processed in a timely manner. To start a new series of articles, I had asked Cian about his SCA career and a few other questions. This month's Persona of the Month goes to Cian!

A New Theater Group Emerges!

I've caught word that Gavin Reynes has started a group to encourage the study and/or practice of period theater in the Barony, including our Cousins from Hidden Mountain and other baronies and branches of the SCA that might be interested.

With all aspects of medieval theater up for discussion, there's also encouragement of the actual practice of theater, perhaps presenting plays at events in Nottinghill Coill and possibly across our borders. He has also created a Facebook group to help coordinate, post research, and share the love of an art.  [Link opens in new window]

I would like to encourage everyone to take a look and absorb what they can from this, thus expanding the large spectrum that the SCA offers.

-Tristan The Wanderer

From The Pen Of Your New Seneschal

Greetings to the Barony and all of Her Friends. I am Dame Morwenna Trevethan and, as of July 1, I have the privilege and honor to begin serving as Nottinghill Coill's latest Baronial Seneschal.  My thanks go first to Their Excellencies, Takeda and Ariel, for allowing me to take on this office.  Next, thanks to Lord Olaf who quietly and competently has overseen the administration of the barony for the past several years.

One thing I would like to bring about is more interaction among the cantons and their officers.  We are fortunate to have five thriving cantons which do a good job of promoting and running themselves.  I will do whatever I can to ensure that this continues and even improves.  However, we also have a challenge, and that challenge is distance.  Nottinghill Coill is one of the largest baronies in the kingdom, in terms of area.  That fact alone makes it difficult (but not impossible) to hold inter-canton gatherings.  We also have a challenge of navigation:  a lack of highways that easily connect our cantons. If you live in Cyddlan Downs it's not hard to get to any of the other cantons.  But trying to get to Brockore Abbey from St. Georges, for instance . . . it's a very long trek.  I can't change these two facts, but I'm willing to consider all sorts of ideas to foster more group contact, especially (but not exclusively) among the officers of the Barony and the cantons.

If ever you have a comment, suggestion, gripe or grievance, please call me or send me an email. The only issue that I can't help resolve is the one I don't know about. I look forward to meeting many of you at Nottinghill Coill's Collegium, Southern War Practice, or War of the Wings. Until then I remain

Yours in Service to the continued good Health of The Dream,

Dame Morwenna Trevethan

Recipes From The Wooden Spoon

Cous Cous is to Turkey as rice is to Asia. Long have they used cous cous, as it is easy to pick up and eat with the hands, and holds flavor well; it is also less expensive than rice (being a pasta).  According to the anonymous thirteenth-century Hispano-Muslim cookery book "Kitab al-tabikh fi al-Maghrib wa'l-Andalus, “Cous cous is a staple food in the Maghrib that requires very little in the way of utensils for its preparation. It is an ideal food for both nomadic and agricultural peoples. The preparation of couscous is one that symbolizes "happiness and abundance…" * This recipe is based off a traditional Moroccan recipe (sans the nuts) and a chicken cous cous dish that I grew up with.

Tavuk Cous Cous ile Sebze (Chicken couscous with vegetables)

1 c French couscous

3-4 thighs, de-boned and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 carrots minced

½ c chopped spinach, (if using frozen) thawed and drained

½ c sweet peas

1 small onion, minced

2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped

½ c golden raisins

½ chopped dried apricots

Spices = ¼ to ½ tsp each to taste

            Grains of paradise, ground

Cinnamon, ground

            Celery seed, ground

            Caraway seed (opt) ground

Lemon rind, julienne (opt)

Chicken stock/broth, about 2 cups

Salt and pepper, to taste

Olive oil

Heat a dutch oven and add 1 Tbsp olive oil and quickly sauté onions, garlic, carrots and a pinch of salt until lightly browned. Remove and set aside. Add 2 Tbsps olive oil and reduce heat to medium. Meanwhile mix the spices, salt and pepper with the chicken and brown the pieces in the dutch oven. Remove and add about ½ cup of the stock to deglaze the pan, then return the chicken, chickpeas, peas, spinach, ½ the golden raisins, ½ the apricots and the onion mixture. Stir to combine, cook 10 minutes and add 1 cup of chicken stock (or broth). Bring to a boil and pour cous cous over the top of the mixture as well as the remaining raisins and apricots. Cover tightly and reduce head to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes (no peeking). Cous cous is done when it is puffed up (about double it’s original size). Fluff the cous cous and serve. Grilled pita goes well with this.

What Brought You In?

Now that I've had a chance to sit down and hash some things out, I surely hope the new face of the Quill is as appealing as it was before if not even moreso.  Times have changed and while a good deal of most posting happens on the Facebook pages,  That aside, I rather enjoy having a place where they can all go together without too much hassle of being drowned out in the various posts that happen on the Baronial or Canton pages.  Be honest, sometimes it's hard trying to find that thing that someone sent you.  That's what this is for.  To find that thing that they sent to you, and a rather nice collection of things it is.

That being said, I'm going to take your time a bit longer and give a question to ask yourself:  Why'd you join up with the SCA?  It's one of the questions for the Persona of the Month column and sometimes a very common question to be asked by Newcomers or new friends.  I myself ask it every now and then, which usually ends up with some fascinating stories proving that there's never a dull moment in what we do.

There's an upcoming event towards the end of August that's going to be riddled with Newcomers and I expect to have a good number of questions asked and answered.  What we do seems new and strange to the mundanes and it's up to us to show that the SCA isn't just some silly game of dress-up and fighting.  There's plenty to do, from heraldry and fiber arts to wood-burning and metal casting. There is literally something for everyone in what we do.  And the worst thing you could do is not try it.  So if you plan on going to Flight of the Falcon, I hope to see you there.  And think about those stories that always start out with "Seriously, there I was..."  Because it was stories like that that brought me into the SCA

In Service,
Tristan The Wanderer

Letters to the Populace

Konnichiwa & Greetings to the Populace,

As of the end of June, we will have a NEW Baronial Seneschal, Dame Morwenna.  We thank Lord Olaf for his Service over the last three years as Seneschal.

In other news, Nottinghill Coill is one of the four Principle Baronies for WoW X!  We are allied with Hidden Mountain against Black Diamond & Highland Forde.  Please plan to attend and support the activities at WoW X.

M'Lady Kaete McDavid [Kathleen Harris] is Our Baronial Land Agent this year.  Please register soon and watch for activities and ideas to enhance our Baronial Camp.

As always, We remain,
In Service to the Dream
Takeda & Ariel
Baron & Baroness of Nottinghill Coill

Changing of the Pen

To the Populace of Nottinghill Coill does Tristan the Wanderer bring Peace and Greeting!

As some of you may know, the Barony has a monthly newsletter called the Quill.  And as such, I will be stepping up to the position of Baronial Chronicler.  While I will embrace this new office like a cuddly baby goat that I did not steal, I cannot fulfill my duties to their greatest without your help.  If you have a story, a poem, something for sale, or words of praise and recognition for someone please send me a message through Facebook or by email at daterr2i87[at]gmail.com with "Nottinghill Quill" in the subject line.

I ask you, the Populace, to assist me in praising others, sending word out about events or get-togethers, war stories, anything.  Keep in mind that all submissions and such must reach me no later than the 25th of each month to ensure it gets put into that issue of the Quill

In Service to the Dream, The Kingdom, and the Barony
Tristan the Wanderer
mka David Terry

Greetings to the Populace

As stated at Baronial Birthday on Saturday 2/21/2015, We will be stepping down as Baronage at Baronial Birthday 2016. We thank you for the opportunity and the honor of serving the Barony, especially being able to recognize all the good works and talents of the populace.

In the upcoming months look for announcements from the Baronial Seneschal about the polling for a NEW Baronage.

As always, We remain,
In Service to the Dream,
Takeda & Ariel Baron & Baroness, Nottinghill Coill

Unto the Populous and nobility of the Barony of Nottinghill-coill

After a long hiatus due to illness, I plan on restarting my interest group, The Wooden Spoon. To facilitate this, I have updated the Yahoogroup and made a page on Facebook. 

As it mentions in the description, this is ‘A place to discuss, share recipes, cooking techniques, and ask questions about medieval culinary practices; mostly focusing on the cuisines researched in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA, Inc.).’ We already have 50 members on Facebook as so far, and I’m hoping to start physical “meet-ups” after the first of the year here at my home in Elgin.

Feel free to check out the Wooden Spoon Page for more information on various culinary projects and eventual meeting schedules. You can also contact me, Sandi Rust (Marie Hélène) via email (feo2mouse [AT}yahoo.com) or by phone (803) 729-4186.

Classifieds

Deputy Chronicler Wanted

Seeking someone fairly active to be the Baronial Chronicler's "boots on the ground." Contact Dulcy at  quill(AT)nottinghillcoill.org or paintedwheel {AT} Hotmail.com if interested.  Put "Chronicler" in subject line.

A Wake at the Wheel seeking Musicians

The Cyddlain Downs-based folk band A Wake at the Wheel would  like to expand our group. You need not be a member of Painted Wheel to play with us. We practice usually once a week, and play a blend of Traditional Irish, Contemporary Irish, Folk, and original songs (and sometimes in private, rock or metal or country just because it’s fun.). No minimum skill level required, and no requirement of period instruments. Singing ability a plus, but not required. 


Of late, we are in the process of adding traditional tunes to our playlist with the plan of playing with a larger seisiún at the British Bulldog in Columbia once a month, so anyone wanting to get in on that may contact us and we’ll hook you up.

Interested? Drop us a line at macterah [AT] earthlink.net to set up a time to come out and see if what we do suits you.

 

From the Chronicler

Sarishan, friends,

You all know I’m not the most active person when it comes to attending events. And I have been thinking that having a pair of boots on the ground, so to speak, would probably be very beneficial to this office. So, to that end, I have decided it would behoove me to look for a Deputy Chronicler to assist me in getting material for The Quill.

The requirements of the office would be simply to maintain an SCA membership, which is required to hold an office, and be actively attending events. Of course, if I were to step down (not something I’m currently planning) or become otherwise unable to act as Chronicler (again, not something I currently foresee), you’d be first in line to step up and take over the office if you wanted to. If you didn’t, we’d find someone else. But really, what I need is a “reporter” kind of person, someone who could see interesting things for the newsletter, or maybe get me some nice pictures and waivers of things as they are happening. We don’t have a lot of pictures in The Quill because getting timely, candid shots and the waivers to go with them is a monumental task unless you’re right there with a camera and a stack of waiver forms on hand. If you can write, great. This will be a good opportunity to get your writing out there (There’s the potential for a Blackfox award. I’m just sayin’.). And if you can’t write well, that’s fine, too. Get me the info and I’ll polish it up for you.

I will continue to set up the hardcopies and the online blog version of The Quill. That won’t change in the foreseeable future. I just think having a deputy to act in this capacity will vastly improve not only our presence, but also the content of our newsletter.

Please contact me at paintedwheel [AT] hotmail. com. Make the subject line “Deputy Chronicler” or “Quill” so I can easily rescue it from the Great Swamp of Filth and Desperation that is my junk mail box.

Thanks in advance for your consideration,

Dulcy

Chronicler, Nottinghill Coill