Final Post (Major Changes)

This will (perhaps) be the final post on this blog.  I have not posted for 20 months, and life has presented many changes since.  For a while, I was collecting items to update the blog, but never found the time to sit down and DO IT.  Then, last October at the Principality of Cynagua Fall Coronet, everything changed.  To my surprise, I was offered admittance to the Order of the Laurel.  I thought I was still years away from even being considered.  So, I was just doing what I enjoyed and didn't worry about it.  This is the post I made to Facebook after we returned home from Coronet:

 "Burn old wood, read old books, drink old wines, have old friends"

----- Alfonso X, King of Castile, Leon, and Galicia (1252-84)
We just got home from an amazing weekend at the Principality of Cynagua Coronet Tournament. It was a heart felt weekend with chosen family and friends. On Saturday, I was in my mundane clothing while I was working on dinner for our encampment. My Laurel, Gwendwyn the Silent (who came down from AnTir to attend the event) came up to me:
Gwendwyn: You may want to get dressed. Their Majesties will be here in about an hour to ask you a question.
Me: <Blink, Blink> Uh, is this what I think it is?
Gwendwyn: Yes it is.
Me: <Shaky voice> Ok.
Their Majesties, Thorfinn and Tullia, came to our encampment. It wasn’t what I expected, but it ended up being exactly what I wanted. Their Majesties were extremely gracious and offered me admittance to the Order of the Laurel. It was moving to receive this honor in a personal setting in the presence of my wife Agnes, child Antonia as well as my Laurel and Belt Siblings Brigid O'Conner, Caoilinn Rose Maddox, Ljufvina of Vakkerfjell, and other chosen family that make their temporary home in our encampment.
But what struck me the most was looking up and seeing everyone else who had come down to our encampment to see this and fully realizing just how much support and encouragement I had and how much my chosen extended family had really grown. It was extremely humbling.
I will do my best to be worthy of this position.
En Servei,
El Senyor Honorado Abrahe çaragoça
The elevation of Abrahe çaragoça: 
Mistress Moira O'Conner (King's side Herald), King Thorfinn, Queen Tulia
I chose my Elevation to happen at The Kingdom of the West 12th Night. I chose this because I wanted friends from An Tir to be able to come down for it. Master John de Percy and Master

Finngall McKetterick were able to come down and process in with me.

It was a bit crazy. It was an Elevation-palooza. Among others, I was happy that my friend Clarice Walker was also being elevated to the Order of the Laurel at that same event. Due to the sheer number of Elevations and how some things were set up, some things went a bit sideways, but it was still a memorable Elevation. Afterwards, I started wrapping my head around it.
Members of the Wrecking Crew waiting for things
 to finish in the oven:  Wilhelm, Jackie, Sibyl
I was Feast Steward for two upcoming Feasts. The Principality of Cynagua Summer Investiture Feast (English Feast) and The Barony of Fettburg Anniversary Feast (Swiss Feast). When I committed to them, I didn't realize how close they were to each other. I will not do back to back Feasts again. That being said, my Feast Preparation team, The Wrecking Crew, performed magnificently, despite the challenges.
This year also, I took on two Apprentices. Wilhelm von Knusel and I have been already working together before I was elevated, and this was a logical progression in our relationship. Margerie of Silver Desert is relatively new to the SCA, but has done Medieval Reenactment in other groups before and already has an extensive knowledge of Medieval Cooking. She joined the Wrecking Crew and I was impressed with her knowledge and thought processes. I asked her to be an Apprentice and she accepted.
Margerie of Silver Desert, Abrahe çaragoça, Wilhelm von Knusel 

While this is going on, my wife, Agnes berengarii de girona was offered admittance to the Order of the Laurel at The Kingdom of the West June Crown Tournament. Her elevation will be at The Principality of Cynagua Fall Coronet. One year after I received my offer. It has been a busy year and a fitting end to this blog.

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