Mirrored from Caitlin's Journey.
I have Estrella War coming up and I’m leaving in less than a week. I’m looking forward to it a lot but I can’t make myself move fast enough on sewing! This is a cold weather war — no snow but rain and in the 30s at night. I’ve gotten along O.K. the last 2 wars but I still get cold and don’t want to do that anymore.
So I’m working on a Norse coat, a couple of woolen gowns and a couple of hoods. These are relatively simple to make and I can do it, but the coat is taking longer than I planned. Part of it is I wasn’t home to do it, I had a business trip this last week that cut out 3 days. But the construction is somewhat different from my regular Anglo Saxon gowns. Also it’s lined. None of this is hard, but I don’t think spatially and it’s always a challenge for me to think through how something goes together. Also the backing on the faux fur lining is SLIPPERY and that’s a challenge to sew.
It’ll get done and then the gowns and hoods will come together quickly. I’ll probably just cut out the 2nd hood and take the pieces to war to handsew there. I’m also taking along my heater because I don’t like the chill of the tent at night and getting up in the morning. BTW, it’s rated for in-tent use and I’ve used it in small nylon mundane tents before. There is a lot more room and air in my pavilion so it’s all good. I’ve done without it for a few years but not this trip.
So today I'm going to decide on the faux fur lining for the Norse coat and cut out the fabric and lining pieces. I'll get a good start on the sewing today. I use machine sewing for all unseen stitches so it goes pretty quickly. I guess I'll flat line the thing although I'm more used to bag lining as a technique. But I think I'll have more control over the thick fur lining if I flat line. Wait, "flat line" sounds faintly ominous -- shades of the Keifer Sutherland movie.
If I'm seriously motivated I'll also get the pieces of the red wool hood cut out -- or shall I do the 1st hood out of the black and white coat fabric? Hm... I plan on doing 2 hoods eventually so I'll see how I feel. BTW, I love the 14th century fitted hoods, but these are the 12th century pull-on hoods. Less tailored and no liripipes.
On a totally unrelated note, to That Guy who really hurt a dear friend of mine: TAKE A LONG WALK OFF A SHORT PIER.
2. Mundane Job: Industry Analyst (basically a business writer and consultant for the technology industry)
3. Persona name: Caitlin Christiana Wintour
4. How did you come up with your name? I just liked the name Caitlin. I picked Christiana to echo my real name Christine. I picked Wintour because I absolutely love Lady de Winter’s name from The Three Musketeers. So I anglicized it to Wintour. (My persona is Anglo-Saxon.)
5. Where and when does your persona live? Early 12 century in the Cheviot Hills of Northumbria, England.
6. What is your Known World Location? Shire of al-Sahid, Kingdom of Caid
7. What kingdom do you consider to be your home? Caid has always been home; first in the Barony of Angels and later in the Shire of al-Sahid.
8. How long have you played? About 12 years total. I was first in from 1984-1990 when I left following a divorce from Sir (later Count) Cristian. I came back in 2003 or 2004, I forget.
9. How did you get started? I first heard about it from my D&D group but did not join at that time. Later I found out that a co-worker was involved. I got the information from her and my husband and I attended our first event, a Collegium. I left in 1990 and joined the Renaissance Faire, which I also loved doing. After many changes at Faire I decided to return to the SCA. I still wish I could do both, but it’s hard to do both well.
10. Why did you join? I love Tolkienesque fantasy, English history, and role playing. Cristian loved the heavy fighting from the start, so the SCA was right up our alley.
11. Have you registered a name? Yes, Caitlin Christiana Wintour.
12. Have you registered a device? Argent, semy of roses gules, barbed and seeded proper, two scarpes purpure. It’s pretty!
13. What awards have you been granted? Shire awards, AA, Dolphin, Legion of Courtesy, Harp Argent (costuming), Lux Caidis (dramatic performance), L'Honneur de la Chanson (dramatic performance), Laurel (dramatic performance). I sense a theme here.
14. How many events do you attend each year? I average 1-2 events a month, including multi-day wars.
15. What is the best event you have ever been to? Hm… I don’t know, I usually enjoy them no matter what. I guess I would say Great Western War 2008 for pure relaxation and fun. It was completely relaxing, magical around the campfire at night, and way too short. GWW 2009 was wonderful in a different way as I was elevated to the Laurel. I was alternately excited, stunned and terrified, and I will never forget the amazing job my household (Cliar cu Buidhe) did to put on my vigil and celebrate the elevation with me.
16. What is the worst event you have ever been to? Not a one! Even if it seemed like it would be bad it turned out fun. An early Potrero War (pre-1990) was nearly rained out, but a bunch of us settled around a bonfire and had a GREAT time.
17. What event do you make it to every year? My Shire’s Anniversary of course!
18. What event do you refuse to go to? None really, although there are distant events that I usually won’t make a day trip for.
19. Who is your favorite person to hang at an event with? People in my household and from my Shire. And my son when he comes.
20. What activities do you participate in? Dramatic performance naturally, mostly storytelling and dramatic poetry. I write poetry and prose, teach at Collegium, and run the bardic track. I’m also the Chronicler of my Shire newsletter Scorpion Tales and Ars Caidis.
21. What activity would you like to learn? I’m learning tablet weaving and would love to learn period embroidery design.
22. Are you a marshal? No.
23. How many tents have you had destroyed at events? None.
24. Has your garb ever caught on fire? Nope.
25. Have you ever woke up in a strange person's tent? Perish the thought!
26. Do you have a pavilion? Yes, a Panther Regent 12x12 with a dining fly. My previous pavilion was a Panther French Double Bell Wedge. Do I put them up any more? Yes, at wars. I can’t imagine camping at war without my own space.
27. Are you a peer? I’m a baby Laurel.
28. Do (did) you ever want to be a peer? I very much wanted to be a Laurel but I refused to make myself crazy about it. “If it happens, it happens” was my motto.
29. Is a coincidence that peer rhymes with beer? Not for the knights.
30. Are you a squire, apprentice or protégé? No, and never have been.
31. Who would you like to be squired, apprenticed or protégé'd to? I never wanted to be an apprentice. It’s just not my personality. I am willing to take an apprentice but I don’t mind if that doesn’t happen.
32. What is your war cry? A loud snarl. It startles people.
33. Have you ever been pulled off of the field for your safety? No.
34. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in armor? Just that I wanted to be a heavy fighter for about 5 minutes. Then I tried on a helmet and that was the end of that.
35. Have you read Corpora? Er… only when specific questions come up.
36. Circlets, how do you feel? I love them but don’t own one. I can never find what I want at a price I can pay without screaming in agony.
37. What household(s) do you belong to? Cliar cu Buidhe and I remain close to my Shire.
38. If you could change one thing about the SCA, what would it be? More widespread courtesy. Many individuals are very courteous, lovely people. Others, not so much.
39. What is your favorite part of the SCA? Color, pageantry, creativity, a shared sense of wonder, period arts, humor, courage, beauty. I love the SCA.
40. What is/are your SCA goal(s) for the next 7 years? Finish my A&S 50 Persona Challenge, mentor willing victims – er, students – in dramatic performance, upload digital Ars Caidis issues to the kingdom newsletter website, learn to read Old English, grow more and more period in clothing and encampment.
I want to:
- Make a fur-lined (faux fur) Norse coat. This is the most important project of them all -- if I don't get the others done that's O.K., but I really want this one. I'm sick of messing with cloaks out there. I have the fabrics, which is a black-and-white sort-of houndstooth weave. I have two possible faux furs for the lining: a really gorgeous white fur that I'm afraid to cut into, and a brown sheepskin-like fabric that I'm not.
- Narrow the sleeves on my red checked wool gown. I made it way too big in the first place. I've since taken it in so it looks better, but I want to narrow the sleeves to match the rest of my under tunics/ under gowns.
- Make a couple of new warm overgowns. I have two already but they're both purple and looking a little worn. I like purple, but come on. Of course, the fabric for the new ones are both red! But heh, one is patterned and one isn't.
- I was considering a couple of long-sleeved shifts, but I have a confession to make -- I usually forgo the shifts at Estrella in favor of seriously warm underwear. Read: thermal ski pieces. Not exactly period but there it is.
- A warm woolen hood. I made a dressy hood that I really like (red and gold) but it's delicate and I don't want to bring it to Estrella. I'll probably make the new one out of the same fabric I make the coat out of. I may cut out a 2nd red one (love red hoods!) and bring the pieces to hand-sew while I'm there.
Mirrored from Caitlin's Journey.
I couldn’t help myself when I wrote the title as I always think of CSI in terms of the T.V. show. So do the people who founded and run CSI, Sittingbourne — except their CSI means “Conservation Science Investigation.” It’s a fascinating approach to doing archeology and conservation in the public eye and with the public’s help.
Sittingbourne is in the county of Kent in England. In 2008 archeologists from the Canterbury Archaeological Trust made a startling find: a large 6th-7th century gravesite containing 229 Anglo-Saxon graves, popularly known as the Meads. However, there was a problem. No one really expected to find much of note so there was little funding available to conserve and display the site and its items. The Sittingbourne Heritage Museum and Cambridge Archeology Trust (ARC) were willing to help excavate the site but there was just not enough money to engage in active preservation any time soon. A nearby professional conservator named Dana Goodburn-Brown came up with a brilliant idea: open a conservation/display site in a local shopping mall and engage supervised volunteers to conserve the found objects. The project was funded by the local museum and ARC and is ongoing today. The work continues far faster than it could have with future professional funding, and of course it engages the public as volunteers and interested viewers.
I love this brilliant approach to conservation and public interest in a spectacular archeological find. To read more about CSI: Sittingbourne you can start with their blog: http://anglosaxoncsi.wordpress.com/.
I'm doing this in front of The Unit marathon. I can't figure out who I love more, Dennis Haysbert or Max Martini. I'm pretty sure it's a tie.
BTW, after the white linen is used up I'm cutting out my Norse coat for Estrella and my hood. It's the 3rd try for a hood -- a long and boring story! I'm sure this time it's the charm.
Mirrored from Caitlin's Journey.
Lines from from the early Anglo-Saxon poem “The Wanderer.”
Where is the horse gone? Where the rider?
Where the giver of treasure?
Where are the seats at the feast?
Where are the revels in the hall?
Alas for the bright cup!
Alas for the mailed warrior!
Alas for the splendour of the prince!
How that time has passed away,
dark under the cover of night,
as if it had never been!
And yes, Professor Tolkien liked these lines too: “Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?” said Aragorn.
This is the first time I've done one of these LJ prompts but I found this one interesting. I did NOT make any resolutions for 2009. Like many of us, I've broken them once too often to take them too seriously. I am also less goal-oriented than I used to be.
But I think I'm going to try it again this year and track them as visions and goals. Why not? It can't hurt to look thoughtfully at the year ahead and consider areas of growth. Heaven knows I have some characteristics that I need to get a handle on. (Procrastination, anyone?) And also some accomplishments I want done in 2010.
I'm going to take some time over the next few days to pray, think and write. I'll share them here in LJ.
Happy New Year to all!
Ah -- I'm editing this post to include this great quote from the author of Cold Antler Farm blog. I picked up from
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kdmorin :"For what it's worth, here is some advice from me. Don't attempt to be a drastically better person in the next calendar year. Don't plan on being thirty pounds thinner, or sixty-thousand dollars richer, or the front man of your own band. Instead, how about just trying to be a slightly better person in the next sixty minutes. This may sound like a weak attempt but it's not. Results happen slowly and only when we focus on what we want and who we want to become right now. If you want more money, for the next hour, don't spend any and try and pull a quarter off the floor of your car. If you want to lose weight, try not to eat that candy bar for the next hour, and walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. If you want to be kinder, spend the next hour on the phone with old friend and tell her you miss her. If you want to plant a garden, raise chickens, or own a farm—spend the next hour online ordering seed catalogs or going to the library for a book on coop building. Make small changes constantly and just try to meet that next turn of the clock one hour smarter, one hour thinner, one hour kinder, and one hour richer and watch your life change.
If everyone could just see the day as 24 chances to make their life a little better, imagine the resolutions that could be met? I try to be an hour better, every hour, and hope those choices add up into something I can grasp with both hands. I think total dedication to the present is what improves ourselves, and not the empty promises that are too big to get our arms around. Just try be one hour better, starting right now. My favorite movie whispers the quote "that every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around". It's a chance worth taking."
Mirrored from Caitlin's Journey.
I’m trying to put my various period writing and performance pieces into some sort of order. Following is a list of my period writing and performances. Starred entries mean that I have both written and performed them so they appear in both categories.
Writing
- *The Tale of Glam (adaptation into Norse poetry of a story from The Grettis Saga)
- *The Lonely Traveler (Anglo-Saxon poem about a legend from the Cheviot Hills)
- *The Wolf’s Story (a story of a werewolf in the style of The Ynglinga Saga)
- Selected Diary and Letters of Margaret Wynter (fictional diary entries and letters from a 15th century gentlewoman)
- In Honor of Amalric Blackhart and Caia Snowden (largesse for a King and Queen of An Tir)
- *There is a Fair Fort: In Memory of the Lords of Lyondemere (A poem honoring the Barons and Baronesses of Caid’s Lyondemere)
- *The Homecoming (a poem in honor of my household, Cliar cu Buidhe)
- Lament for the Great Heart: Sir Jamal Damien Marcus (Caid Crown Tourney fighter poem)
- The Knight of Eire Sails Far: Sir Killian Mac Taggart (Caid Crown Tourney fighter poem)
- *We Are the People of al-Sahid (a poem to honor my home Shire of al-Sahid in Caid)
- Sir Ragnar of Sandcastle (Caid Crown Tourney fighter poem)
- Crown Morning: The Honorable Lord Simon Montgumery (Caid Crown Tourney fighter poem)
Performance
- Voluspa (selections from “The Voluspa” from The Prose Edda)
- Merlin and Vortigern (story from Historia Brittonum)
- Odysseus and the Sirens (spoken poetry and song from The Odyssey with the song set to a 15th century tune)
- Spectral Bridegroom (I adapted this famous traditional ghost story for performance)
- *The Wolf’s Story (a story of a werewolf in the style of The Ynglinga Saga)
- *The Tale of Glam (adaptation into Norse poetry of a story from The Grettis Saga)
- *The Lonely Traveler (Anglo-Saxon poem about a legend from the Cheviot Hills)
- *Arete and Herakles (a story from 5 BC illustrating the virtue of honor)
- *There is a Fair Fort: In Memory of the Lords of Lyondemere (A poem honoring the Barons and Baronesses of Caid’s Lyondemere)
- “The Lion of the Strand” (an original song about the Barony of Lyondemere)
- *We Are the People of al-Sahid (a poem to honor my home Shire of al-Sahid in Caid)
- *The Homecoming (a poem in honor of my household, Cliar cu Buidhe)
- “Since First I Saw Your Face” (a 16th century song of unrequited love)
- Arete and Herakles (a story from 5 BC illustrating the virtue of honor)
I'm having a series of dreams about my father (not my real dad, some dream figure) starring in a T.V. drama about an Egyptian king and his family. I also play his daughter on the show. The show has a strong supernatural and adventure element which carries over to the dream's real life. So the dream is presenting a show-within-a-show filled with weird happenings, reanimated god figures (Horus just showed up) and near-drownings with miraculous rescues.
Did I mention that I love my dream life? I don't understand it but it's highly entertaining!
Tonight I'm going to a Boxing Day party. It's about an hour and a half away so I won't stay very late, but I'm looking forward to it. Otherwise I want to get some fabric prep and sewing done today for Estrella. I'm the laziest person on the planet but I am determined! Happy Boxing Day to all my friends!
caitlincw sent to me...deryabars drummingalbredas costumingtonwens actingdieppes storytellingdrmrsgals a-hikingthaisas a-singingkytheras a-homeschoolingMirrored from Caitlin's Journey.
I have been wanting to disguise my camping cooler for a long time now. At present the disguise consists of throwing a pseudo-Celtic cotton wall hanging over it — messy and clumsy when I want to actually open the cooler to get something. I can’t do woodworking so won’t be building a box. I looked at some nice looking rustic cooler covers, but they’re meant to be furniture and the smallest one weighs 60 pounds. I don’t think so. I could also buy Panther Primitive’s canvas cover but want something that’s fitted to mine.
So I plan to make a painted canvas cover. I think I’ll make it as a center panel which goes on top of the cooler, and 4 panels to cover the 4 sides. There will be a combination of sewn seams and ties — as few ties as possible and still keep the sides up. The point is to get in and out of the cooler quickly. So there will be a top-to-back seam and side seams attaching all 4 sides. The cover will slip down over the cooler. The top will be cut large and hemmed so the two sides and front edges will overhang. There will be a single tie on the top and front to keep the front up when the cooler is closed. I’ll make a mock-up to check the fit and use that as the canvas pattern, since I want to paint the pieces flat before sewing them. I’m a horrible artist but stencils are my friend. I’ll paint my badge I think, but may do something else. We’ll see.
This is for Estrella… yes, 2010! I also have several wool gowns and a coat to make. Guess I’d better get started!
In current news, I'm getting over a flu or something, although it may have been a cold plus food poisoning. Charming! I was lucky that my son was home last night and took care of me. I feel much better this morning so suspect that last night's visit to the Red Lobster was to blame. We didn't eat the same thing so I honestly hope that was it. I would hate to make him sick just before Christmas.
But thus far our Christmas is shaping up to be a lovely one. The dog has been protecting the tree ornaments from the cat, which is pretty funny. Otherwise they get along fine so it's all good. Apparently he's my ornament guard dog.
eowynsartifacts. She is far more industrious than I am but was kind enough to point out some of my projects that I had forgotten about. Also Pentathlon was this year and that always ups my completes. So here we go: 2009 Projects Summation
Projects completed this year
* Story: "The Wolf's Story." A Pentathlon entry. This story took its construction from Snorri Sturlurson's Heimskringla ("The Chronicles of the Kings of Norway"), specifically from his biographical sketch section The Ynglinga Saga. I had a blast weaving in Icelandic folklore and telling the story of 3 generations of Norse farmers and raiders.* Performance: "The Wolf's Story." I performed my story at Queen Moira's Festival of the Rose. I'm a dramatic storyteller (read: actress tells stories) so went to town with werewolves, riddling games, and evil sorceresses.
* Poem: "The Lonely Traveler." I wrote this for my team Pentathlon entry. It tells the story of an encounter with a black dwarf in the Cheviot Hills.
* Garb: Green-striped Norman gown. This was my Vigil undergown. I had already made the blue Norman that went over it.
* Garb: Red and gold gown. This was my elevation undergown. Like the green stripe, it can be worn as an outer gown as well.
* Garb: Gold overgown. This was my elevation overgown. The embroidered fabric was an amazing (free) find.
* Garb: Gold ermine-lined mantle. This mantle goes with the gold gown but was made for Pentathlon. I was lucky enough to find faux ermine that actually has little "ermine tails" tied on to it.
* Performance: "The Trial of the Dead." A Pentathlon performance of a Norse ghost story. I adapted this one from The Eyrbyggja Saga.
* Performance: Persona presentation. Yet another Pentathlon performance, this time of my persona. In persona presentations, you sit or stand and answer questions from your 3 judges. It's 10 minutes of thinking so fast that steam was coming out of my ears.
* Performance: "The Wife's Lament." I read this Anglo-Saxon poem largely because I really, really wanted to begin and end it with the original Old English. I learned it phonetically but didn't trust my memory. I'm dying to learn OE though.
* Gonfalon banner. A very straightforward linen banner patterned after a 15th century example. Also for Pentathlon.
* Poem: "Sir Ragnar of Sandcastle." An Irish conachlonn for Sir Ragnar's fighter poem. I love this form.
* Poem: "The Homecoming." I wrote this in honor of my household Cliar cu Buidhe at Potrero War.
* Poem: "Crown Morning." A fighter poem for THL Simon Montgumery. It's a treochair, which plays with word repeats from line to line. You may gather from this and my other poems that I dislike writing rhyming styles. I don't know why. I much prefer writing alliterative, repeated and chain styles.
* Performance: "We Are the Shire of al-Sahid." I wrote this poem for Yule 2008 and performed it this year at al-Sahid's Anniversary.
Projects started but not complete
* Research paper on Christian Anglo-Saxon burial practices. I was almost done with this and then the document disappeared. Seriously. I still don't know what happened to it!
* Garb: Venetian gown. The bodice came out great last year but I haven't made the skirt yet. I don't like going out of my persona period but I hate to have a perfectly good (and hard!) bodice done and nowhere to wear it. I may finish it for the Black Rose Ball in the fall. It's not exactly the right look but it's close enough to the period to not be so out of place as a much earlier period. We'll see.
* Garb: Hood.
* Persona 50 project. This is actually a series of 50 persona-related projects from the A&S 50 movement. The deadline is SCA's 50th anniversary. Some are completed and others are not, but it's all fun.
Projects I want to start soon
* Garb: Norse coat. Speaking of Estrella, I'm sewing a houndstooth wool Norse coat. I'm lining it with faux fur; either a nice white I already have, or a curly brown that I just got. I'm leaning towards the brown because it looks like it could have come off of my persona's sheep.
* Garb: Wool gowns. Most of my Anglo-Saxon gowns (tunics) are either silk or linen, and just a couple of them are wool. Therefore I freeze at Estrella. I'm going to try to make at least 2 before the War and to remake 1 existing that's too big.
florentinescot 1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while your blogging?
White wine, does that count?
2. What is one thing you wouldn’t want to live without?
A physical thing or otherwise? I'll assume physical. In that case, a cozy robe. It's cold up here.
3. Beach, Mountains, or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
Mountains of course, that's where I do live by choice.
4. What’s your least favorite chore/household duty?
Kind of everything, but I'll say vacuuming.
5. Who do people say you remind them of?
When I was younger, Jacklyn Smith. I hasten to add that I don't hear that much anymore!
6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the fam?
Staying home with the family, although I really enjoy hanging out with SCA friends.
7. Favorite Movie
13th Warrior. I have a crush on the laughing blond guy.
8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?
I remove it, it sort of makes my skin crawl to sleep with it on.
9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you’ve never had a chance to learn? What is it?
I'd like to learn landscape design so I can know how to make outdoor "rooms."
10. What’s one strange thing you’re really good at?
It's my stupid Laurel trick. I can vibrate my eyes. Although I just found out that another Laurel can already do that, so I might need to think of something else.
11. What first attracted you to your spouse?
Piercing blue eyes. We're not together anymore but my son inherited those eyes, so it's all good.
12. What is something you love to smell?
Fresh coffee and fresh air.
13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
I'm chronically late.
14. When you have extra money, what’s the first thing you think to do with it?
Fabric is the first thing I think about, but I mostly apply it to debt.
15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
I'm pretty loud but not braying -- I keep it musical. I laugh hysterically at movies that satirize other movies or communities. Examples: the Scary Movie series (horror movies), Zoolander (fashion industry), Shaun of the Dead (zombie movies), Evolution (adventure/apocalpyse movies), Shrek (fairy tales and Disneyland).
16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
Bookstore, thrift stores, and online -- I love eBay! For clothes I have good luck in Steinmart and Dress Barn.
17. What’s one thing you’d do more often if you had more time?
Go to Disneyland. We have season passes but don't get down there as often as I'd like.
18. Are you a big spender or frugal?
Frugal but I don't manage money all that well.
19. Who is your favorite character of all time?
Hm... maybe Aslan of the Chronicles of Narnia, but that's hard to answer. BTW, Liam Neeson is absolutely perfect as His voice.
20. Would you want to be famous?
Mildly famous -- no paparazzi or stalkers or anything.
Between 1160 and 1190, Chretien de Troyes wrote "Perceval" about Sir Percival's famous quest for the grail. Chretien presented the grail as a mysterious and powerful object, but it had no direct relationship with Christ.
Then in 1210, Robert de Boron wrote "Joseph d'Arimathie" and "Estoire del Saint Graal" where he turned the grail into the cup that Joseph of Arimathea used to catch the blood of Christ from the Cross. Note that Joseph did exist. He offered his tomb for Christ's burial, and along with Nicodemus helped to bring down His body and prepare Him for burial. But everything else about Joseph is legend.
Robert was the first writer to claim that Joseph traveled to the British Isles bearing the grail. A number of writers would later expand on Joseph's and his family's legendary exploits. BTW, 15th century writer John Hardyng credited Joseph with building Arthur's Round Table! My goodness.
There was writing that equated the grail with the Cup at the Last Supper, but it was by no means a given. Interesting stuff.
BTW, one of the most interesting things I'm reading is about how very quickly the Normans did assimilate. Essentially "Englishness" won out by a century after the Conquest. Historian Hugh M. Thomas writes:
"The bitterness between the English and Normans lingered well into the twelfth century. Yet by the end of the twelfth century this hostile state of affairs was altered beyond recognition. Ethnic distinctions had broken down to the point that one could not know who was English and who was Norman. Although Norman French continued to be spoken, at least as a second language, until the fourteenth century, and though English society absorbed a tremendous amount of Continental culture, the aristocracy of England, descended in large measure from the conquerors, came to identify itself firmly as English.
"By the time of the Magna Carta revolt, rebels and then royalists attempted to use anti-foreign and especially anti- French sentiment as a rallying cry, and there remained a strong pro-English, xenophobic streak throughout thirteenth-century English politics. Despite the bitter warfare and deep hostility that marked relations in the decades immediately following the conquest, the two peoples merged quite quickly. Despite Norman victory and the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of the conquerors, English identity triumphed."
The English and the Normans: Ethnic Hostility, Assimilation, and Identity, 1066-C. 1220. Hugh M. Thomas. Oxford University Press (2005)
Note: I hold the false braids on by sewing the ends to one of the linen bands that encircle my hair underneath the veil. The braids run over my shoulders and I can braid my own hair into them. I usually run a 2nd plain band around my head and then anchor the veil to that. The arrangement stands up to a lot and is very secure. False hair was quite period, so although I can't document this particular arrangement I have some good background for it.
P.S. Waist-length hair, here I come! I'm never cutting it again except for necessary trims. I've cut it often and then always -- ALWAYS -- was sorry! Having FINALLY learned my lesson, it's growing out again.
