This and that
AEthelmeac AEcademy
AEcademy was held on Saturday. If there could be a problem with the site, it happened. Someone is student government has taken a dislike for the SCA and somehow managed to cancel our catering order. The College decided 2 days before the event to change how much they were charging us to use the site. The school is doing some renovating and gutted 2 of the rooms we were scheduled to use. The A/C was off in the 2 large rooms we were using and there was no hot water int he kitchen. But the event still happened and seemed to go reasonably smoothly.
I taught beginning knitting to 3 adults. There were 2 addvanced beginners and I started them on knitting in the round on double point needles. The other woman had knit long ago and thought she didn't remember it. I had her making a flat swatch with garter stitch, purling, stockinette and ribbing. Then she bound off. I thought they did rather well for a 1 hour class. I had told Cori to make it at least 1 1/2 hours. My wet felting class was suppose to be primarily for children. What I had was about 7 adults, no children at all. We made felt balls. I will never teach it back to back with knitting again. There is too much to set up for the felting class. Everyone when home with at least one wool felt ball. I gave mine to a small child.
In the afternoon I took Don Christian de Launey's class entitled Transending Mere Form:Defense. It was a look at the styles of various masters looking at th efense elements of evasion, interposition and threat of offense. It was an interesting class. since one of the Masters he examines in his class was Capo Ferro, it make an wonderful introduction to my Introduction to Capo Ferro class. My class went OK, not perfectly. I need to be more organized about how I am presenting my material. After my class there was some good discussion about rapier and the SCA in general while we were waiting for Lyev be ready to chair the Historic Combat Studies Round Table. Lyev showed some blades that could be used in the HC program and then what we were all waiting for. He hung a 2 liter soda bottle from a tree and brought out his sharp Angus Trim longsword. After we demonstrated with a blunt that we could reproduce the technique for the cut safely with the blunt, he had us demonstrate the cut with the sharp with no target. Then we were allowed to swing on the target. I made a nice clean cut my first time. Although this was the first time I had the opportunity to work with a sharp, I owe my success mainly to the instructors of Tattershall School of Defense www.tattershall.org It was a blast. Now I want a side sword sharp so I can practice at home.
Then it was time to clean up and leave site. The day went quickly and I had fun teaching.
Weight loss
I have been trying for several months to lose some weight. My weight had crawled up to 135, which many not seem like much to some but for 5'1" lightly boned me, it is a lot. I am much happier between 120- 125. I was not having much success with losing the weight. A week ago I was able to reduce my inhaled steriod dose, and over the weekend my weight started to go down. I think they are connected. This morning the scale couldn't decide if I was 130 or 131. I am pleased with the lose and will continue working on losing some more. To that end, James and I walked to the pool this afternoon, by way of the library. They are actually next to each other. I returned The Shop on Blossom Street.
After swimming I walked across the street to Dash's Market , stopped at the library to pick out 2 new books and then walked home.
Menus for the week
I am working on being more organized with cooking here. So yesterday we made out a menu through Friday. Since it is hot, I am trying for cooler foods this week. Today, with James help I made Gazpacho from The Moosewood Restaurant Daily Specials cookbook. Tomorrow James will make a salad with chicken. The recipe we like comes from our friend Emma. Wednesday, we don't cook, we go out ot the brew pub after practice. Thursday will be egg salad and Friday will be Tuna salad. I am looking forward to getting the main prep for dinner done early most days this week.