a true story by:
Lady Mairgred of Llangarron
Pennsic XXVIII

It happened a year ago Lord Monty de Roquefort, while camping with the household of Arx Ventus at the great Pennsic War, learned he
and Lady Lidia of Lindburger had a son! And, now, a year later, at the Great Pennsic War XXVIV the happy little family was welcomed into our encampment. There were many sideward glances between the household members when entroduced to Monty, jr. for he had neither the light coloring of Monty, nor the even fairer look of Lidia. Jr.s dark coloring enhanced the fact there was no family resemblance - what-so-ever.... A fact Monty was apparently oblivious to, for he was as doting a father as Lidia was a nervous mother.

It turned out to be a very unusual war encampment. The head of our Household had not able to attend war. And the absence of our Knight and his Lady affected everything we did. So did the heat. It was overbearingly hot! So hot that everyone spent more time in camp than not. Usually we were all out and about... fighting the various battles, going to classes, volunteering in one area or another. And of course seeking out the best parties in the evenings. But this year was much quieter.

Maybe it was because of this unaccustomed inactivity that we were more acutely aware of Monty and Lidia. True - it was good to seem them together. True - having the young one in camp was a treat. His childish antics endeared him to all. And everyone doted on him. The women vying with each other to hold him, or take him along whenever they braved the heat and venture out of camp. The men joking about the future when Jurnior could be "armored up". But, yet...there was something amiss. It was like puzzle with a piece missing - what was it?

Neither Monty, nor Lidia spoke about the past year. Respcting their privacy we did not ask. It was enough they both seemed happy now. It was apparent they were still very much involved. Almost embarrassingly involved - if you know what I mean. Long after every one had turned in for the night Monty and Lidia would - well let's just say that many a morning the rest of us would arise only to discover the couple had not made it back to their own tent but had spent the entire night either in the hammock, or by the now cold fire pit, or in the common tent. The ladies of the group would look away with an uncomfortable "oooh" at the couple's compromising entanglements, while the guys were verbally mischieveous, and would let no opportunity to tease, or taunt pass.

But in spite of the couple's apparent shared affection, and their obvious love for their son there still seemed to be that something we couldn't quite put our finger on, as the saying goes.

And, then on the very last day of War. As we were all packed and ready to head back to our beloved East Kingdom, to the astonishment of all Lidia stepped forward. She stood very close to Monty, gazing up into his eyes, and in a very trembling voice announced that Jr. was not his son!

(Oh, did I mention that Monty & Lidia personafied by stuffed plaque rats were joined by a smaller stuffed plague rat personafying Jr. And this absolutely true story has come about due to the covert manipulation of said rats by certain male members of the encampment.)

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Pomanders
Written By:
Toi Poisson De Mortagne
(printed with permission)

During the Middle Ages pomanders were small filigree cases of gold, silver, or ivory filled with fragrant spices, a combination of gums, resins, and (often) dirt or clay and an ambergris fixative. Pomanders (from the French pomme d'ambre, or apple of ambergris) were used to ward off unpleasant odors. The cases were carried, worn on chains or ribbons around the neck, attached to walking sticks, and worn on the belt. Later, pomander cases (which could include compartments for a number of different scents) also came to include compartments for sponges soaked in aromatic vinegar. Cloved fruit pomanders are a late development of the pomander Today's version of the pomander is made by studding a piece of fruit with cloves and curing it in a mixture of ground spices with orrisroot as a fixative. Pomanders are lovely holiday gifts. Not only do they make fragrant decorations that can be hung from ribbons or arranged in bowls, but when placed in closets, they help keep woolens moth-free

Materials and Equipment
• 6 to 8 assorted firm, thin-skinned apples, oranges, lemons, and limes
•1/2 pound whole, large-headed cloves with strong scent
• 1/4 cup ground cinnamon • 1/4 cup ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons ground all spice • 1/4 cup powdered orrisroot
•Nut pick or slender knitting needle for piercing fruit (optional)
To begin, select fruit that is blemish free.

Mix the spices in a bowl or bag and set aside. Cover fingers with masking tape or thimbles when making the holes for the cloves, otherwise it can be painful after awhile. At this point, if you want to decorate the pomander with ribbons, using masking tape, make a crisscross design on the fruit.

This will be the marked off area when the ribbons will be. Using the knitting needles or something similar, poke holes starting from the top of the orange straight down to the bottom, inserting cloves as you go along.

Continue this all around the fruit until it is completely covered in cloves. Maximum spacing between cloves should be no more than 1/4 inch, the closer together the better. Once the orange is clove studded, place the spices in a paper bag. Roll the orange in the spices until it is completely and evenly coated. Put pomanders in a well-ventilated location and turn them daily. In a heated house, they should dry within a week or so. To check if your pomander is dried, it should sound hollow when tapped with your knuckle, and feel light in weight. Once dried, shake off any excess spices.

Decorating the pomander: Place ribbons in a criss-cross fashion where the tape was placed. Sew the ends together and make a loop for hanging.

Pomanders look beautiful when several of them are placed in a bowl together. In this case ribbons are not necessary.

Pomanders last many years. When the scent starts to fade, add a few drops of clove oil to your spice mixture and reroll in the spices.

Learn more –
http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/goldenapples.html
http://costume.dm.net/paintedface/

Seneschal: (Lady Allura McKeoch)
This first quarter of the year started off with a bang! We had a terrific turnout for practice yesterday, and the Shire had a great opporuntity to catch up after the holidays. Several classes went off successfully, and now the calendar for the first quarter has been placed on the table. As we sit and strategically plan out our first quarter, ideas, suggestions, and volunteers are always welcome.
I am working on understanding and coordinating with each of the officers. I'm working to understand what they do, and how they pool their resources. I am also trying to keep up with new people, and encouraging communication via the website and Email.
I am actively seeking a deputy this year, as I am seeking deputies for all of our officers. Shire involvement is growing, and now that the Milestone and our local events are starting to reflect the local talent we possess, I anticipate a great year ahead.

Exchequer: (Baroness Eleanor Le Brun)
So...

What's up? The exchequer position is about to get "hot" the year end reports are in the mail. So I am just about to start the carnage. If
anyone wants to enjoy the fun let me know. :)
On other news as the Queen's favor coordinator for our Princess Anna I would like to ask all of your help in making them. I will have kits soon and the instructions will be up soon on the Royal website. Thanks for your support.

Herald: (Lady Brigit of Longwood)
This is your friendly neighborhood herald:)
I've been working hard on the Order of Precedence for the Shire and have just about finished. We're planning on having on that page as well a version of those devices that people have registered -- to be updated along with the OP as time goes on -- and if you have one, a link to your website. As always, I'm available for discussion for those of you who don't have a name/device/badge registered.
Coming soon: In February I'm going to have a workshop day regarding heraldic display. This is the time to get your devices ready, folks, for display at the upcoming events. In March I'm planning to redo the class on basic heraldry.
Let me know what questions you might have and/or ideas for other classes you might be interested in.

Mistress of Arts and Sciences:(Teresa "of the wrong way" Giani)
Arts and Sciences starts out with a bang.
First Sunday practice of the New Year included a Siege class taught by Taught by Lord Harald Orn and the second part of Pattern Workshop
Followup by Lady Mairgred.
Christi has happily volunteered to be our new Dance Mistress. :) She will be putting together dates for dance practices to be scheduled
over the next few months.
Shire Revel/Halfa Update Saturday February 4th from Noon - 5.
I'd like to have set up begin at around 11. This shire revel will have a middle eastern - East Indian theme.
So Drummers come and Drum...Dancers come to Dance. Those who can please bring your items for ambience, pillows, fabrics, etc.
Please email what food dish you will be bringing for Pot-Luck (If possible to go with the theme)
We will also have another 'yard sale' so bring your items for sale.
More updates to come.

Knight Marshal: (Lord Arik Coer D'Luttrere)
Greetings one and all. . .
I hope everyone had a very enjoyable and festive holiday, and are ready to get back into fighting shape.
To all in need of armor repair - I am holding an armor making date/class on the 19th of Jan
at 07:00 PM at my house in Westboro.
For those who have web access go to www.mapquest.com and obtain directions
to:

9 Garfield Drive
Westboro, MA 01581
(508)864-8654
wdotts@idc.com
To the aged -- new targets of opportunity are showing up for practice on Sundays. Education is a wonderful thing . . .
Please stay tuned to the Shire Calendar this month -- I'm planning another fight practice excursion to one of our neighbors
Those that went last time, had a great time.

Marshal of Fence:(Lord Alan of Rosley)
Hi! I'm Back!

Marshal of Siege Weapons:(Lord Harald Orn)

Have you ever seen a group of soldiers marching in a parade? Have you watched a unit of fighters at Pennsic march into court or onto the
battlefield? It's an amazing sight and a little humbling, isn't it? To see those people marching in step, knowing that each one is willing to risk
their "life" alongside the others in the unit. Knowing that as a UNIT they are more powerful a force than they could ever be individually. It's pretty
cool, isn't it?
Now I'm sure that some of you are wondering what I'm getting at. That first paragraph sounds more like something you should be reading in Arik's "Knight
Marshal's Column" than in the Siege Marshal's space, doesn't it? Well, Siege works largely the same way. Let me explain....
At Pennsic this past year, the number of Siege Engines the East fielded was somewhere around eight or nine. The Midrealm fielded well over twenty and
possibly as many as thirty by some counts. This allowed the Midrealm to use their engines in "batteries" (groups of engines engaging a single target)
whereas the East had to task individual engines to try to get jobs done. The Midrealmers had also worked together on coordinating their engines a lot
better than we did. They planned their tasks and carried out their plans. They coordinated their artillery (Siege and Combat Archers) with their
ground forces. That's a lot easier to do, when you're talking about Units, than individual engines.
"So what?", you say. "What does that have to do with me?" I hear. It could have a lot to do with you. Military units (especially artillery) aren't
comprised only of the warriors. They need support staff as well. They need people who will help build engines, maintain and upkeep them, assist in
training engineers, getting equipment to events, etc.... THAT'S where many of you can come in.
By the time you read this in the Milestone, the first organizational meeting of the First Company of Quintavian Artillery will already have occured (Jan.
17th). If you weren't there and are still interested in helping the Siege Engineers and Combat Archers of the Shire, please see me to discuss how you
can get involved......
WE NEED YOU!!!! For First Company, Quintavian Artillery.

Chatelaine:(Toi Poisson De Mortagne)
I'm thinking of contacting local Chatelaines at every event I go to in order to establish familiarity between our various baronies/shires etc. This would be in keeping with our seneschals desire to make Quintavia more visible than is has been in the past. I am also looking forward to Birka in NH this month, not only for the great shopping but because there will be an East Kingdom Chatelaine meeting there which should prove interesting. I will be bringing back information from that meeting for next month's business meeting. I have been working with others in the Shire on getting Boredom War off the ground. This year the job is quite a group effort due to the breaking in of new and much larger site, as well as various championships taking place there this year. For February we are planning a demo for Cub Scouts in Westboro. I am working with our fighting and fencing marshalls to make that a success.

Chronicler:(Lady Dhanwanti)
Greetings! We are looking for writers! Remember this is YOUR MILESTONE, so feel free to write an article, submit a poem, or even a recipe! Contact myselfor my deputy editor Teresa Giani! Other than that, we are working along collecting articles for the february issue.. If you like to write, Please contact us!

Historian:(Andrea Du Bois Blanc)
Greetings from Lady Jacqueline du Bois Blanc, Shire Historian and elder. As you know I am compiling "Quintavian Lives", a collection of shire members persona biographies. We will be setting the precedent for all other SCAdians to follow. To Accomplish this however I need your help! Specifically I need information about your personas.(Name, Relatives, Nationality, Time Period, Place of residence, and brief history). We will be presenting it to Their Majesties at Boredom war this spring. Let us set a great example other shires will be able to follow.

Webmistress:(Lady Dhanwanti)
The Website will be changing! The address of the page will still be the same, but it will have a whole new look! I am going to be working on this hopefully between now and the next meeting (the february meeting). If there is anything that you want to see, or don't like, please let me know asap and I will try and Incorporate your ideas into the new site! So Stay tuned to the new look!

Thrown Weapons Marshal:(Lady Dhanwanti)
I am looking to see how much of an interest there is in thrown weapons in the shire. I am looking also for other places to hold thrown weapons practice this spring. While holding it at my house is nice, it is limited since there only room for 1 or 2 targets. I am also looking at new target construction after talking with Lord Graywolf from Bergantal. Upcoming also, I might have an MIT (Marshal In Training)... Lord Graywolf from Bergantal has expressed interest in becoming a Thrown Weapons marshal so I might be training with him.... so please let me know if you are interested in throwing things this spring!

Youth Combat Marshal:(Lord Kelvin MacGregor)
This month we're starting maneuvers. We've started composing armor. I have included a link to the SCA Home site for those interested in getting their children involved. We're building sets of loaner armor, and we'd like to see more children out and involved.

Our kids East Kingdom Favors will be finished by the Revel, and we need to start work on Gambisons, Tabards, and fine-tuning each individual's armor. Email or call me with questions. Youth Combat Practice is every *other* weekend.
http://sca.uwaterloo.ca/DistantShore/Youth_Combat.htm

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