Friar Valentine's Cell

Yours Truly - Photo by Baroness Sinn Larensdotter مرحباً  (Marhaban) (Welcome!) I wanted to start documenting the events I attend for my blog. However, I wanted to take a slightly different approach, which led me to "In the Details." I will use these posts to highlight positive, unique, and downright brilliant aspects of events I attend, in hopes that other events might benefit from them.  On Saturday, January 24th, I forgot my vows and bedecked myself in silks and shining brocade for the immense pleasure of joining our Atlantian cousins from the Barony of Highland Foorde for their Highland Hearthglow event at Thorpewood Lodge in Thurmont, Maryland. This is an immersive feasting event that centers on a particular culture, and it is in its second year, which is inconceivable since it would seem they have been doing this for decades.  This year's event centered on the Golden Age of al-Andalus in the city of Córdoba around 900 CE, focusing on the cross-cultura...

Æthelmearc: The Sylvan Jewel  words and music by Brother Valentine Garnett  debuted at Kingdom Twelfth Night, Barony of the Rhydderich Hael, a.s. LX   photo by Ashley Carlton O come, brothers and sisters all, Gather ye close to friend and flame, To hear of Æthelmearc so fair, The Sylvan land of honored name. 💛 White snow doth crown the mountain’s brow, Her forests deep in silence stand. Where farmland yields to scythe and plow, And shining streams traverse the land. 💛 Though wintry blasts may bite and chill, Our hearts do burn both fierce and bright, Her warriors with steadfast will, Rise armed with valour for the fight. 💛 Their swords be swift, their shields fain, Their vows true as the old oak tree, They guard the realm from ills and bane, And lift Her name to victory. 💛 Not just in battle does She shine, For art and science in beauty bloom, Where minds of fire and artworks fine, Do outshine shadow, grief, and gloom. 💛 Potter’s wheel, and Chatelaine’s key...

 Ode to Bubby, The Tuxedo Cat  Peter, CC BY 2.0, sourced on  Flickr .     Sable and Argent thy silken fur,  Swete content is thy musical purr.  🐾 Thy tail graceful and serpentine, Pray Bubby, wouldst thou for’ere be mine?  - Brother Valentine Garnett  Advent a.s. LIX 

Dedicated to Her Royal Majesty, Queen Kallista Morgunova III, Her Royal Highness, Princess Grainne Shionnach, and the Companions of the Order of the Rose, Queen's Rapier Championship, 13 December a.s. LIX The Everbearing Rose of Æthelmearc Knowest thou of the Everbearing Rose, Her roots entwined in honour, deep and wide? From ancient soils radiant beauty grows, Each petal shap'd by strength that cannot hide.  🌹 No frost can wither her vine's firm embrace, For splendour springs forth with each noble name.  The Rose renews Her legacy of grace, Each Bloom unique, yet evermore the same. 🌹 So let us ne'er forget what hath She gave: Not just The Crown, but how She bore its weight. She uplifts the weak and inspires the brave, Eternal Rose of Æthelmearc the Great ! - Brother Valentine Garnett 

Today I traveled to the College of Silva Vulcani, hosts of Æthelmearc's Fall Æcademy, part of a bi-annual educational event in the Kingdom. The journey was just under three hours, but I left early enough to account for it, and it was a pleasant enough drive.  I love a learning event more than anything, and this one did not disappoint. I took classes on the English Reformation, calligraphy, and the Bayeux Tapestry. I also managed to attend one of two dance classes and do some additional dancing before court. Additionally, there was a choral singing class where we learned an original song in honor of HRH Queen Kallista III, which we would later perform with the Debatable Choir from the Barony-Marche of Debatable Lands at court during the procession. The day was an absolute delight, filled with friends, learning, fun, and growth.  Her Majesty joined us for some dancing before court and asked if I could Vanna White the awards signs at court, which I was more than happy to do....

  A Royal Feast a jest written for the coronation of King Andreas III and Queen Kallista III by brother Valentine Garnett Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual rulers is purely coincidental. No royals were harmed in the writing of this poem.   We are crowning a King and Queen In the Kingdom of Aethelmearc! We are learning all about them, Though things are looking stark.   We are going to have a feast, but like all the reigns before, They enjoy a lot of foods, But they dislike even more!   She likes dark chocolate, He does not. He likes Mountain Dew She thinks it tastes like snot. She likes the flavor of figs, He’d rather eat suckling pigs. He likes lots of spice, She does not think that’s nice. She likes peaches, He likes plums. He wants coffee, SHE NEEDS TUMS! Neither one likes beans, Nor do they like greens. They say no to potatoes, Same goes for tomatoes. And… * chanted rhythmical...