This SCA event [was] held during February 10-12, 2006. It will be hosted by the Barony of the South Downs, the group based in metro Atlanta, GA.

A&S Display and Faire . Children’s Activities and Feast . Classes and Meetings . Contacts . Directions . Feast . Lodging . Lunch . Prices . Reservations . Schedule

What’s New

01 Dec .. Initial page launch!
08 Dec .. Children's feast menu added
19 Dec .. Bough meeting, Sweet Shop added
03 Jan .. Classes on Western Martial Arts added (Giovanni and Irene)
06 Jan .. Embroiderers Guild meeting added
08 Jan .. Costumers Guild meeting, Faire details page added
10 Jan .. Velvet Owl meeting added
12 Jan .. Guilds sponsoring categories added (Embroidery, Herbal)
15 Jan .. Classes cancelled (Stephen & Caitlin)
17 Jan .. Class schedule updated; Pelican meeting
19 Jan .. No cottages available
22 Jan .. FOOD! Menus added!
24 Jan .. No feast spaces left; waiting list started
25 Jan .. Faire schedule updated
26 Jan .. No Laurels' meeting: confirmed
29 Jan .. Outdoor supper option added
01 Feb .. No bed spaces were left (this changed later)
05 Feb .. Class cancelled (Roger-Luc)
07 Feb .. Classes cancelled (Giovanni - AM class only; Angharad - both classes); Serena filling in for Molli
08 Feb .. Meeting cancelled: Velvet Owl; other meetings moved; classes added (Fjorleif)
10 Feb .. At last, the event begins this afternoon.
12 Feb .. Event over. What a ride...!  *daze*  *smile*  *yawn*  *daze*

Report/notes from the event are highlighted like this.

Text highlighted before the event that was like this is now like this.   

Welcome!

Baron Borgar and Baroness Lourene send you greetings and a warm invitation to join them and indulge in the hospitality of the South Downs in a winter celebration of the arts.

Schedule

Schedule is subject to change. Check back for the latest version.

 
Friday, Feb. 10

5:00p   Site opens to populace
7:00p   A&S check-in until midnight

Traveller's Fare service time TBD
Check-in / troll closes at midnight.
Well, actually, our night-owl workers kept it open for a while after that.
 

Saturday, Feb. 11

07:00a  Check-in table opens (TROLL)
08:00a  Wake-up call
        FAIRE: A&S check-in until 9:00a
08:00   FOOD:  Morning meal until 9:00
        Alas, this actually started at 8:25. However, not bad for "SCA time"
         *and* dealing with technical difficulties.
09:00   KIDS:  Children's activities begin
        FAIRE: Main hall cleared for A&S Faire setup
        FAIRE: Judges meeting

09:30   CLASS: First hour of classes begins
        FAIRE: Deadline for judged static A&S entry setup
        FAIRE: Judging on static A&S entries begins
        Order of the Pelican meeting until 10:30am in Common Room #1

11:00   CLASS: Second hour of classes begins
12:00p  KIDS:  Children's activities stop for lunch
12:00   FOOD:  Lunch! 
12:15   Costumers Guild meeting until 1:15pm in Common Room #2
        Order of the Bough meeting until 1:15pm in Common Room #3
    
1:15    KIDS:  Children's activities resume
1:30    CLASS: Third hour of classes begins
        FAIRE: Performance & Costume Revue entries begin in the Craft Cabin
        FAIRE: Static entry judging resumes
 
3:00    Order of the Velvet Owl meeting until 4:00pm in Common Room #2
3:00    CLASS: Fourth hour of classes begins
        Embroiderers Guild meeting until 4pm in Common Room #3
4:00    All classes/workshops/demos and judging ends

4:45    FOOD:  Appetizers served
5:00    KIDS:  Children's activities stop; parents retrieve your children
5:30    Court
        By my reckoning, the procession for Court began one minute before six.
7:15?   FOOD:  Main Feast / Children's Feast and Revel
        ** Parents to pick up their children after main feast is over. **
8:45?   Dancing in the main hall
        The earliest dancing could have started was about 9:45 -- and still it was 
        later due to other circumstances. But the dancing was good and lasted nearly 
		three hours!

Sunday, Feb. 12

08:30a  Wake-up call
08:30   Morning meal until 9:30
11:00   Site closes. Anyone on site at this time will be politely asked to help us 
        with cleaning and packing.
 

Wednesday, Feb. 15

7:00p   EVENT REVIEW: Mandatory meeting for key staff members only.

If you have ANY comments about any aspect of the event, we want to know. Please send them to the Baron, Baroness, Seneschal, A&S Minister, HL Miramah, or Yves before this day.

A&S Display

Like last year, there will be space for display-only entries. Please register your entry online so that we know how much space we will need. The display area will be in the main hall.

A&S Faire

There will be a regional faire with Kingdom A&S scoring and categories. We will also be trying out some new ideas as an experiment. Please read through this page on the details before submitting your entry.

After you've read the detail page, please register your entry online so that we know how much space we will need and give Ld Guillaume more time to find qualified judges for your entry.

SPONSORED CATEGORIES

Members of the Embroiderers Guild might see fit to leave items of largesse next to any embroidery entries, judged or not, that impress them.

The Herbal Guild is sponsoring a contest for the best herbal entry. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entrant that evening. And they were, see below.

Court

The following took place:

Dehfin Brit, formerly known as Dyfn ap Meurig, from Drakenmere was inducted into the Order of the Meridien Cross.

David Chadwyck, from the South Downs, was awarded Arms.
Lauretta atte Blacksterre, from the South Downs, was inducted into the Order of the Bough.

Runolfr Orthlokarr Ulfsson, from Glaedenfeld, received his award scroll at last for his being inducted into the Order of the Argent Comet at Saltare last year.

Rhiannon Cathaoir-mor, OL took Lady Marie de ceo as an apprentice.

Tabitha of Erin, from the South Downs, was inducted into the Order of the Broken Brank.
Cuhelyn Cam vap Morcant, from Beau Fort, was inducted into the Order of the Bough.

A contingent from the Shire of Owl's Nest presented the Crown with many items of regalia to present with awards: ten circlets for Grants of Arms, fifty and more circlets for Awards of Arms (being of chased copper), fifty pendants for the Argent Comet and another fifty pendants for the Meridien Cross.

Madelena da Firenze, from the South Downs, was inducted into the Order of the Meridien Cross.

In Baronial Court, Ivarr Ulfasson received the award of the Or Tower for his service.

The Arts and Sciences minister presented prize scrolls to the winners of the day's competitions. The scrolls were work by his own hand.

In static arts, Lavena Knappe from Arenal (via the Barony of Thescorre in AEthelmearc).

In performing arts, Andreva Rigaldi from the South Downs. Andreva sang a piece with another lady and performed Verceppe with four other dancers.

Representing the Herbal Guild of Meridies, Mistress Christianna MacGrain presented an award scroll (by the hand of the guild steward Lady Randalin in Kyrra) and basket o' goodies to the entrant with the best herbal entry of the day. Madhavi of Jaisalmer (aka Madhavi Bai se Jaisalameru) from Glaedenfeld won with her entry of "Paan in Medieval India: Late Chalukyan Dynasty and the Sultanates." (Chew on that... heh heh.)

Their Excellencies chose Serena da Riva to be Their Champion of the Arts for the coming year.

Master Cathal heralded court for Their Majesties.
HL Stephen of Forth Castle heralded court for Their Excellencies.
 

Classes, Workshops, Demos, and Meetings

In the morning, Lady Elewyiss the Jew will teach a class on stained glass windows which will also include their effects on the church and who paid for them. Then she will lead a workshop to make faux stained glass windows with acetate and colored markers.

Lady Isabella de Boyce (Tir Briste) has offered to help teach a class on finger weaving in the afternoon.
Actually she ended up doing a hands-on pouch making workshop for the older children. HL Gareth of Gwynedd (Thorngill) is to teach a dance class and then also lead dancing at the children's revel. Elewyiss will also help the children make their own masks for their revel.

The daytime activities will be in the Common Room of Cabin #2 (if the Infirmary is not available). The children's feast and revel will be in the craft cabin, which is also near the feast hall.

Children’s Feast

Lady Allanna de Villers (eldest daughter of HL Miramah bint Ibrahim) is in charge of this. Ingredients will be posted here after they're made available. Seats at the children's feast are $3. There is no seating limit. We've received, as of February 10, 2006, requests for 18 children. Tell us you're coming, but pay cash at the event or include it with your payment.

There were more than 20 children at their feast. They had a TON of fun.

** Congratulations to Allanna who was awarded Arms at Saltare! **

Feast & Other Food

Lady Marie de ceo de Kirymire is planning a splendid offering from the reign of Charles V (called "the Wise"), a patron of the arts and ruler of France from 1364-1380. Seats at the main feast are $6 each.

There are 18 people on the waiting list as of February 10, 2006.

At least seven more people added their names to the waiting list on site. Even so, no one was sent away. There were people who paid for feast yet didn't attend, or worked in the kitchen during feast, and others who decided to leave early in case the roads became hazardous from the weather.

Menus and Ingredients

Outdoor Supper Option

Marie is graciously offering a "back door" feast for those who do not get into the main feast. On the Wednesday night before the event, I'll let her know how many are on the feast waiting list. She'll cook for that many plus a FEW more.

After Court at the event, if you're STILL on the waiting list, you'll be offered a hearty stew and bread (and perhaps other items?) and something nice to drink for $3 -- which means you'll also get a $3 refund from paying for the main feast. If you like, you can send this in with your reservation and specify the outdoor supper rather than the main feast.

If the weather is wet or chilly, we'll find space indoors for you. If you must leave before the revel, please stay and have some stew and socialize a bit more before departing. Of course, if you choose to pass on the outdoor supper offer, the full refund ($6) is also available upon request.

Amazingly, this wasn't needed at all, but I think it was a nice thing to have at the ready.

Lodging

You can sleep on site in one of the dorm cabins, in a two-bedroom cottage across the lake inside the state park, or in a hotel on the way to the site.

Dorm Cabins at the Group Camp

As of February 10, 2006 there are two beds remaining. (We're allowed to have only 130 people on site overnight, even though there are more than 130 actual beds.) The cabins are heated. We apologize for the inconvenience, but sleeping elsewhere on site (including in your vehicle or in a tent) is not allowed.

Before the event, depending on the day, we were out of space, or had a few left. Thankfully, we did not need to turn anyone away who arrived Friday night. Apologies to anyone who decided not to attend due to lack of bed space.

Each cottage can sleep up to 8 friendly people. The last time I checked (January 3, 2006) there were TWO available. ONE cottage is available Friday night only. Cost: $90/night (that's only $11.25 each for eight people). Check in by 10pm (that's when they lock the gates).

Each cottage has two bedrooms and one full bathroom. Each bedroom has two double-size beds. Bed and bath linens are provided. Each cabin has a kitchen, heat, and A/C. The living room has a fireplace - but bring your own wood. To reserve a cottage, call 1-800-864-7275 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun from 9am-5pm EST).

Hotels on the Way to the Site

Prices given are for two people per room, are approximate, and do not include taxes. Hotels charge for extra people.

Jackson - Days Inn ($50/night). Best Western Plantation ($75+/night).

Forsyth - Best Western is on the road to the site ($45). Days Inn and Econo Lodge ($50).
Super 8 ($55). And it goes up from there — Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, and so on...

Let me (Yves) know if you're seriously planning to stay in a hotel in either Jackson or Forsyth. If there's enough people, I'll see about getting a room block for a discount.

No one contacted me on this.

Prices: if postmarked before January 15, 2006

Feast prices listed above include a seat at the main feast ($6).
There will also be a separate children's feast, a seat for which is only $3.

Children are aged 5-12.
There is no site fee for children aged under 5.
To reserve a bed for a child under 5, pay the child site fee ($4).
Without proof of SCA membership, add $3 to the site fee (age 5+).
Family pricing follows kingdom law.

Make checks payable to: SCA, Inc. dba Barony of the South Downs

Reservations

Contacts

Selected staff members

Seneschal - Herr Ludwig Würzsteiner
Event Steward / Autocrat - HL Yves de Fortanier
     Advisor - HL Miramah bint Ibrahim
Royalty Liaison - Herzogin Lethrenn Bikkisdottir
Gatekeeper (head troll) - Ld Andrew of Theodford
     Reservations - Lady Seonaid inghean William
     Constable - Yul
     Gold Key (loaner clothing) - Lady Elizabeth Silverloc
Head Cook - Lady Marie de ceo de Kirymire
     Hall Stewards - Lady Patrice de Arlie (Forth Castle), HL Michael of River's Bend
     Hall Decor, Feast Service and Clean Up Crew - Shire of Forth Castle!!
A&S Minister - Ld Guillaume des Pyrénées
     Advisors - Mistresses Elspeth nic Cormac and Ximena Yánnez de Talavera
     Deputy - Ld Rhydderch of Caerleon
Class & Meeting Coordinator - HL Yves
     Fighter's Classes - HL Aidan McKay
Minister of Children - Lady Elewyiss the Jew
     Dancing - HL Gareth Gwynedd
Site Herald - Seigneur Guy du petit Egypté
Water Provisioner - Madame Putsha du petit Egypté
Concierges - Helga Gunnarsdottir and Ivarr Ulfasson
Dances for Evening Revel - Lady Andreva Rigaldi
Web site - HL Yves

I should have added this to the list above: Chirurgeon - Lady Tabitha of Erin   I was under the mistaken impression that an event without formal fighting (tournaments/melees) didn't call for a chirurgeon. Any event can have need of a chirurgeon.

Directions

Be smart. Bring a state map of Georgia.

From Atlanta, GA: Take your best route to I-75 south of Atlanta. Take exit #205, go east on GA Hwy 16 for about 9 miles into Jackson. Turn right onto US Hwy 23. After 3 miles, turn right onto GA 42.

Go about 1.5 miles, you'll also go past the main entrance to the state park. Turn right at the light onto Cenie Road. The site is about half a mile straight ahead.

From Macon, GA: Take your best route to I-75 north of Macon. Take exit #188, go north on GA Hwy 42 for at least 13 miles. Turn left at the light onto Cenie Road. The site is about half a mile straight ahead.

A mellow route from Athens, GA: Take your best route to US 129/441 and go south to Madison. Take GA 83 south to Monticello. Take GA 16 west toward Jackson for about 13 miles.

Turn left onto Higgins Road. Go about 3/4 mile and stay on Higgins. Go another mile and cross over US Hwy 23. Turn left onto GA Hwy 42. Go about 1.5 miles, you'll also go past the main entrance to the state park. Turn right at the light onto Cenie Road. The site is about half a mile straight ahead.

From Opelika, AL: Take your best route to I-85 heading into Georgia. Take exit #41, go north on US Hwy 27. Just ahead, turn right onto GA Hwy 16. Stay on it for 40+ miles going past Sharpsburg, Turin, Senoia, and Griffin. When you reach I-75, use the directions from Atlanta above.

From Augusta, GA: Take your best route to I-20 going west toward Atlanta. As you leave Augusta, welcome to Meridies! At exit 130, go south on GA Hwy 44 into Eatonton where it merges into GA Hwy 16. Go about 19 miles west on GA Hwy 16 to Monticello. Go about 13 miles west toward Jackson and slow down.

Turn left onto Higgins Road. Go about 3/4 mile and stay on Higgins. Go another mile and cross over US Hwy 23. Turn left onto GA Hwy 42. Go about 1.5 miles, you'll also go past the main entrance to the start park. Turn right at the light onto Cenie Road. The site is about half a mile straight ahead.

Fresh Air BBQ: My goal is to have lunch provided by several different groups doing fundraisers. However, for those who insist, Fresh Air is on US23/GA42 halfway up to Jackson on the left.

Yves' route from Atlanta: From I-75 at exit 201, turn left onto GA Hwy 36. After 3.3 miles, turn right onto High Falls Road. After 2.5 miles, turn left onto Mount Vernon Church Road. After 4 miles, turn left onto Cenie Road. After 0.7 miles, turn left into the site. The only advantage to this route is that it's quieter due to avoiding downtown Jackson. Note, I've gone this way to the site for more than ten years.

 
Driving directions / maps online

Mapquest .. Google .. MSN

. . . end of flyer information . . .

Kudos

Overall, the event was a success and it exceeded my expectations in diverse ways. I learned a lot from the experience as a first-time au... err, event steward, and I hope those of you who were there found your visit more than worthwhile. Midwinter A&S this year would not have gone as well as it did without the generous service from these and other people:

HL Miramah bint Ibrahim got it all started with her quiet encouragement and helped me greatly as a wise mentor before, during, and after the event.

Herr Ludwig Wurzsteiner put up (and later retrieved) road signs and opened the site with Baron Seric of Marston. Ludwig taught me what seneschals Really Do.

Lady Seonaid inghean William ably handled the reservations.

These people worked at troll -- Ludwig, Miramah, Donna Serena da Riva, Hlaeford Andrew of Theodford, Signora Madelena da Firenze, and Lady Andreva Rigaldi.

These people from Forth Castle and their friends decorated (and un-decorated) the hall, set up the hall for both court and feast, served at feast, (get this) had serving practice before the event, and helped clean up after the feast --
Lady Patrice de Airlie & Lord Caerwyn ap Micael,
Lord Chinua Qadanjin, Lord Valentine Blake & Lady Fiora Valori,
Lord Jakub z Praha, Lady Cecilia la Feconda,
Lady Maria de Granada Venegas & her friend David,
milady Anna ze Karlovy Vary, and milady Kiena le Bleu.

HL Crystoffer ap Cynan Llwyd (who was head server at feast) and Lady Heather arrived on Saturday to help as well.

Lady Marie de ceo de Kirymire was the head cook and, as she often does, provided the feast and both breakfasts with many able assistants. Among the people who helped her were
HL Michael of River's Bend, Lord Alexander McFurtherland (from Tir Briste),
HL Temair Cearr, Baroness Mariona Dolores Ruiz de la Costa (from Bryn Madoc),
Lady Madhavi Bai se Jaisalameru (from Glaedenfeld),
Lady Eibhlin inghean Fhearghusa (from Marion Glen),
milady Cairistiona inghean Lochloinn (from Beau Fort),
milady Jeanne (at her first event), Serena, and Borgar & Lourene.

Michael also made the huge cloth wall that was used to hide the kitchen entrances and staging area from the dining area, designed multiple possible layouts for the feast hall, made a late night run to the Wal*Mart a few miles north (I heard it was for something to do with the Baronial "throne"), and completed myriad tasks as one does when one's wife is the head cook(!).

Herzogin Lethrenn was the royalty liaison and had help from Baroness Carol Jane Ravenridge, Lady Ceara inghean Callaigh (from desForges), and Lord Runolfr Orthlokarr Ulfsson (from Glaedenfeld).

Lady Elizabeth Silverloc was in charge of Gold Key, ready to assist gentles in need of more suitable attire.

Lord Guillaume des Pyrenees ran the Faire with help from his deputy Lord Rhydderch of Caerleon. As I reported earlier, Guillaume did the two prize scrolls that he gave out in Baronial Court.

HL Aidan McKay coordinated the fighter's classes. I told him what I was looking for and he came through - even before the bid was accepted last summer.

Lady Tabitha of Erin was the chirurgeon in charge at Midwinter and -- thanks to you all of you who were there, she had a rather quiet event in that regard. Yay!

Syr Raim & Viscountess Gwynna (from Marion Glen) provided lunch for the populace and members of the Barony of Bryn Madoc ran a sweet shop. Lord Finn O'Flaharty provided the "VIP" lunch.

Ivarr Ulfasson and Helga Gunnarsdottir were the concierges. They were all over the site stocking the washing rooms and routing the class attendance forms.

Ah, that dynamic duet from Beau Fort. Seigneur Guy du petit Egypté was the site herald. His lady, Madame Putsha la Chiromancienne, was the water provisioner.

Lady Elewyiss the Jew ran the children's activities with help from Lady Elizabeth of the Laurel Wood (from Talmere). HL Gareth Gwynedd (from Thorngill) taught some dances, and Lady Isabella de Boyce (from Tir Briste) ran a hands-on pouchmaking class.

Lady Allanna de Villers was in charge of the children's feast and had help from Elewyiss and milady Artemis Titus (from Rivermarch[?]). Lady Megotta of Thyme Keep also helped. She and her daughter Fiona decorated the craft cabin to celebrate the feast day of St. Valentine. Gareth came back to play music and lead dancing for their revel.

Andreva ran the dancing after feast with technical support from Lord Pyotr Lyagushka Vasiliev (from Talmere).

These people helped clean up the site on Sunday morning -- Ludwig, Seric, Serena, Andrew, Madelena, Andreva, Guillaume, Elspeth, Alexander, Patrice, Caerwyn, Chinua, and two gentles who are still somewhat new to the Barony, Yul and Aili.

Also on that Sunday, Baron Seric received from the hand of Lord Chinua (representing the great shire of Forth Castle) their Radiant Tower award for service. With due humility, I must report that I received one as well.

Finally, my own dear ladywife, Elspeth nic Cormac, OL proofread whatever I asked, brought stuff that I'd left behind, and still lets me be her "Garbie Doll."

Unto all of the people listed above, to any people I missed who should have been listed above, to Their Majesties and Their Highnesses, to the judges, the entrants and the spectators, to the teachers and their students, and to everyone else (*grin*) who was among the 268 or so people on site, I say again THANK YOU for your part in making the event as fabulous as it was.

Yves de Fortanier
Barony of the South Downs

Here's where I plug my Web site.

There are more pages on here that might be of interest to you:

• Barony of the South Downs (historical information)
• Elspeth's book reviews
• Yves and Elspeth's calligraphy and illumination portfolio
• Yves' articles on heraldry
• Yves' pages on rapier
• Writing an award recommendation
• "Middle Eastern" drumming guide (doumbek rhythms and articles)

My nifty email form stopped working ... but you can still send me email if you would like to.

Original page posted: December 1, 2005. Links tested: May 24, 2008. Last tweaked: July 3, 2008.

The address for this page is [ www.therotunda.net/event/06-midwinter.html ]
 
Nothing on my Web site is the official publication of anyone else. Unauthorized use for profit is not permitted.