Now to start work. I have some of the undertunic done but I have decided to start on the hood. One, I have made hoods before so I have some good ideas how that should work. Two, it will be one of the more visible elements of the outfit.
Here is the mock up.
I have printed the embroidery bits on Sulky so I can adhere them to the cloth, stitch the patterns, then wash the backing away. The wreath will be applique and a bit smaller than I wanted. But only a bit. It is ~8.25″ in diameter so you will see a lot of it. The apples and stick are about 3″ high by 3.5″ wide. I figure there will be ~ 15 of them on the hood itself. The hood will be lined with a darker green on the inside. I took the designs for both from the Traceable Heraldry site https://heraldicart.org/credits. My use of these images are for SCA use and for my personal use only. I have no intend to sell or represent these designs as my own.
It is nearly one year since I was put on vigil to be a Laurel. I did a small number of events up until Crystal Ball that year then I had a bunch of other things that needed my attention. I do still have some things that need my attention, like Gertie’s upcoming surgery, but seeing everyone at Pennsic has my Took side looking to emerge.
One thing I dearly missed was my friend’s vigil and elevation to the Laurelate in Atlantia. Sophia the Orange had her vigil at Pennsic 50 and I dearly wanted to be there but my other obligations took all my money and vacation time. I had Parvati make this medallion for her though and it is now in her hands.
I hope it brings her joy. I know I have several medallions so I will not be upset if she doesn’t wear it.
Rambling aside: I have sometimes been accused of fake generosity. That somehow my desire to give a gift is meant to be more than a gift. I am not really sure what is meant by this criticism. I am not sure how much stock I put in “love language” but it is clear to me that gifting is one of my love languages. If I feel like I should give you a gift, it means you are important to me. Acts of service are also a love language (doing something for someone is just a different kind of gift). Now, all human interaction is ultimately a desire for reciprocity. It is how we as social animals build bonds and a society. That said, I have been burned when someone has said they would do something for me but then didn’t. That doesn’t change my desire to gift; it just refines who is on that list.
I reminded myself of a question Master John asked me at Pennsic last year, after I was put on vigil, “What is your next big thing?” It has taken a year but I think I have it.
I have mentioned the Apple Tunic before. I have started on it FINALLY. It is intended to be FANCY. First, we will start with the under tunic, then the over tunic, then pants and a hood. I have the pattern for the tunic skirt (the tiny ones; sorry). I will tablet weave more trim. I will add beaded flowers to the hood, and probably laurel leaves, and a cloak, with the knotwork swans that Astrid made me. It will be a lot of work.
That said, who is Oswyn of Baðon still escapes me. I am weird in that my personae need to be someone who could have existed. I need a backstory. Oswyn Swann existed before the vinegrier but once I learned more about vinegar and vinigriers, the personae came into being. But who is my original persona? Cider is really not in period for him but it could be. The stained glass and fused glass I do are decidedly modern.
My glass work has suffered lately. The glass shop I had gone to is mostly closed now. I don’t have a kiln for fused glass and given my personal circumstance it is unlikely to be happen. I had made a few mosaics in the past. Why not focus more on that?
I know when I am serious about a project when I have a grand idea for it. What if I redid my deck as a huge mosaic? What if I did the knotwork swans as that huge thing? There is the hook. I will work towards that.
I also wanted a project that I could take to Crafter’s Greens, etc. I can’t really bring vinegars or ciders. Sometimes the site doesn’t allow alcohol and really, it is the yeast or bacteria doing the work so it is kind of boring to watch. I tablet weave because I need to, not because I love it. And my sewing/embroidery will have to get better to do the Apple Tunic but I don’t feel it is who Oswyn is.
But a mosaic artist? Maybe. I don’t think there is any evidence that Anglo Saxons did much mosaic. They would have known about them from Roman ruins and notable Anglo Saxons travelled and so would have seen them. There was even a section of Rome, the Schola Anglorum, that was established by English for English pilgrims. Perhaps this is what Oswyn of Nova Londini (my third persona) would have done. Travel the world as a mosaic artist.
In any case, I have several projects I would like to do with mosaics. The deck is one. Adding mosaic to my vinegar cart is another. And just making pretty things for my house with the scrap glass I have.
I explored the headspace of becoming a Peer. I think this is the wrap up for this phase: the thinking.
As of right now, I think the euphoria of the ceremony has worn off and I am considering the question: what now?
Regardless of the elevation, I knew I would be doing less SCA stuff for the next year. And I told people as much. I want to go to CiderCon in January. Gertie and I have our 20th anniversary to celebrate. We have a trip planned with friends. After my mother died, I developed a bucket list of things I wanted to do and with the small inheritance, the means to do some of them. So, I knew I would do less SCA in the next 12 months. But I am also thinking, what now?
Up until Pennsic 49, I was focused on doing the vinegrier thing. I had plans to start branching into Asian vinegars. I had plans to work more with the ciders, which I am doing. But all of this was dependent on the vinegrier being a mild success. It is like running a race; when you reach the finish line, what is next?
I find myself in my head. What does this really mean? I was asked today if I wanted my byline for a class I will teach to be Master Oswyn Swann. I initially said “no”. I wasn’t trying to deny my new status. I was trying to minimize it. I rarely call my peer friends by their titles. And when I do, it is usually playfully. But then I replied back, “Yes, Master Oswyn Swann because it is what that class is about.” It is not that I am uncomfortable with the title; I remade my SCA business cards immediately with Master Oswyn Swann. But I am not sure where I go next?
You often get the advice of “keep doing what you are doing.” As a non-peer, that was frustrating advice. You want to know how to make it to next level. You want to know what you don’t know. As much as “keep doing what you are doing” is often the correct advice, as a non-peer, you don’t want to hear that.
I was also given the advice of “keep doing what you are doing” at my vigil. Again, I think it is the correct advice but it feels hollow.
I think the juxtaposition of the two is interesting. Frustrating verses ennui. It is probably just how I am. I often get passionate about something and I am never as interesting as when I have a new passion to talk about. But some times, I have done as much as I want with that thing. Where is my new inspiration? To quote Inigo, “I hate waiting.”
I don’t think I have any meaningful insight to share here. Other things need my attention and I find myself wondering what my next step is. The advice that parses to “take some time to figure out who Master Oswyn is” initially fell on deaf ears but now is sublime. Yeah, I need to figure out who this guy is now.
At Pennsic, after my vigil was announced, a common question was “what is the next big project?” I had been thinking about what I call the “apple tunic” for a while before this. It is time to at least start, baby steps, on that project.
First, let’s look at what I have.
This is my brown tunic set that I call my brewing tunic. The photo of the trim didn’t turn out. I wear this tunic often as it is comfortable and the sleeves roll up nicely to get them out of the way for activities.
This is another common tunic I wear. It has more my persona play in it. I claim in my persona play that Oswyn of Baðon is half Welsh and the pants are made from a blanket his mother had. The Welsh are known for some crazy color combinations. I made the trim in all photos.
This is a tunic I wear rarely. It is tight, especially in the sleeves. I have definitely put on a few pounds since it was made as well. I call this my teaching tunic. But since I am mostly teaching “messy” things anymore, I wear the brown more often. Again, trim by me.
This is my swan tunic. Until my elevation garb, it was my “fancy” garb. The swan trim was purchased from Calontir Trim but I did the tablet woven trim. I added the laurel cloak to see how it would look. Not too bad.
These are items that will be part of the apple tunic. The green hood, the apple tree pouch, the off white winnegas, and the apple necklace. I will make a laurel medallion to go on the necklace.
It is hard to see but this is the bayeux tapestry style cartoon I commissioned.
It is hard to tell but these are two different shades of red. The left is “redwood” and the right is probably “wine”. I love the dark wine one but I think the left one is more appropriate for this project.
I will need to learn how to sew properly and embroider to do this project. I will likely have to make a cloak in a different color in case I need to attend court as a laurel. So I have a lot of new skills to make a very fancy, early period set.
I spend a lot of time with Oswyn Swann. Time to give Oswyn of Baðon some love.
I will be telling this story as best I can, chronologically from my point of view. Many things were going on outside of my knowledge that I later learned about but I think it will be cleaner to learn things when I learn them.
I like plans and I had one for a long time. I was going to go to Pennsic and demonstrate what a vinegrier was. I was going to demonstrate how vinegar was sold in late Period. I worked with my friend to build a wheelbarrow. I had barrels. I had vinegar. Then COVID. I had more time to do it all better. I built a new persona, bought a new outfit, and spent more time on the project. Then another Pennsic cancelled. I had 40L of vinegar now. My mother passed away. I gained a new job. Gertie developed back issues. But the actual time was coming together.
I learned that two of the things I really want to do, I can’t. Sophia’s Improv shows are during a party I was hosting and during Midrealm Court.
My friend who was going to take some of my stuff couldn’t go. Okay. I bought a van that could pull a trailer for a reason. Time to make that happen. I had a hitch installed. I borrowed my friend’s trailer. I was taking my student so I needed more room yet. I was terrified. What if I wreck? What if I sideswipe someone? What if I get sideswiped?
Wednesday 8/3 comes around. The plan is to go to bed early and hit the road around 4:00 am. I leave work slightly early as the heavens open up. I am thinking, “crap! How am I going to get the trailer hooked up in this?” The rain lets up some. I get the van and trailer on the street except the hitch bottoms out and scraps the driveway. I call Gertie to warn her about the monsoon headed her way. She gets home late because of the storm. Then it is decided, “let’s just leave now!” Sure, why not.
Except, I forget to get the clothes I was going to wear and to get my beat up shoes. But we leave. And drive through that storm for the third time as we make it to just about Ohio. As we call about hotels, we learn most are booked. Maybe because of GenCon but maybe because of college move-in days. We do find a hotel and get ready for the next day.
Back on the road and we go through pouring rain yet again. I don’t know if it is the same storm but it sure seemed like it. We get to Troll. More rain delays us. Now troubles begin in earnest. My friend is staying up Bronwen’s Way. I take the fully loaded van and trailer up the mud/dirt roads until I can’t go up anymore. The wheels just spin. The trailer gets stuck in the ditch to the right. The van skids and gets stuck in the ditch to the left. The advice is “call the Coopers. They will send one of their tractors to get you out.” Except, when I call, the Coopers say they don’t do that anymore. Gytha sends for a brute squad from some Aethelmearcians around the corner. Turns out they are all ex-Army and some are vehicle recovery specialists. A Ford 4×4 and heavy chain later, the van and such are free and pointed DOWN Bronwen’s Way. It later turns out this was an Aethelmearc Duke who had just stepped down from the Throne!
We make it to our camp and get things set up. It took ~ 4 hours to get things set up from Trolling in. Good thing we left early. We go into “town”. I buy a beautiful leather pouch that will go with the Apple tunic idea I have. We buy some wooden chairs, a box loom, and a mirror box as well. Thursday night, there is more rain and in the middle of the night, I feel drops. I assume it is condensation. It happens with the moist breathe inside and cooler air outside.
Friday comes around. Gertie can’t sleep because the cot is slanted. I try a few things for that. The day is generally misty but too warm. I spend the day trying to find people to give them things. Someone’s bow, vinegar I brought, finding their camps, etc. Everything is muddy. Everything takes 3 times longer then it should. I drop things constantly. The heavens again open up. It is most likely because I keep telling Zeus he is an asshole.
See people kept saying that I must have pissed off Thor. Thor is often the friend of man. But Zeus? Zeus has issues. And yes I did say he was an asshole several times. I was feeling more Greek than Norse with my worship. We invoked Hermes earlier and made it here safely. As final evidence, the sheets of rain were too much for our tent and for the merchant who we bought the chairs from. The waterproofing on our tent gives out and we get inches of water in the tent. Anything paper is ruined. That meant most of my A&S display, my driving directions, etc. I mainly use dissolvable labels on my products. Those have dissolved. The bedding is soaked. Many of Gertie’s clothes are wet. The brand new leather pouch spent hours in a puddle, causing the dye to run. We frantically throw things in bins to protect them in case it rains some more.
I go to the van, drop the trailer, and we go to a hotel. The hotel has availability for the rest of the week so we reserve it, just in case. To add insult to injury, Siri’s decides to play Depeche Mode’s Wrong as I start the van. The song is about everything being wrong, “I was born in the wrong house of the wrong sign with the wrong ascendency.” You get the idea. We get a good shower and a good night’s sleep. But I had determined at this point that since there hasn’t been a Pennsic for 2 years, there are 3 years (those 2 plus the current one) of bad things that have to happen at this one.
At some point in this, I find the longship and make shields for my Mom, Maelcom, and my cat, Kalliope. They are very simple because I am not an artist!
Also at some point we make it to Hobbitronic and Froderick finally gets garb!
Saturday is spent mostly in the laundrymat. We go to camp to get everything and assess the damage. Since I determined the tent is ruined, I eventually decide to just cut the tent to let the water out. Everything is packed in the van and we go to the laundrymat. That part wasn’t too bad. Gertie needs something to eat so I go to the LJS/A&W nearby. That takes forever. They are understaffed which is not unusual. Three orders are gotten wrong and the staff is talking about how customers are scamming them. One customer is talking loudly about his very conservative political views. The ice cream floats are mostly melted but I get back to the laundrymat. I missed the Opening Ceremonies that I wanted to be part of. Most of the day, Gertie and I were saying how we weren’t going to go to Pennsic again. How maybe we should just go home. Or at least go home early. We were hot, tired, miserable, and spending money like crazy. I had also decided I didn’t have the spoons for some things. I pretty much couldn’t do the A&S display so I contact the coordinator for that and cancel. I had unofficially agreed to bartend Court. I spread the word that I am out for that.
Then back to camp. Our campmates lend us a tent. We re-set up. It is too late to cancel the hotel for this night so we will hotel it again. I do get to see Surreptitious Whiskey perform that evening. Being greeted by friends helped a lot. It really did. I wander to Sophia’s camp as well. I think she loved Froderick more than me 🙂 And that is okay.
Sunday comes around and I have a big obligation this day. The Drunken Duck was asked to serve drinks for the Newcomer’s Party. I am cranky because of the days before. I had planned to just cart my stuff to Midrealm Royal, figuring it will take 1.5 hours to do so. Gertie insists and she is right that I pack up the van and drive the stuff there. First though, I go to the A&S display.
Then to the Newcomer’s Party. I am there very early apparently and I would later learn, I made some people mad. I had 30 minutes between the end of the last party and the start of mine. With kegs and set-up, I didn’t feel I had enough time. Technically, I was responsible for the drinks only. But decisions needed to be made so I made them. Non-alcohol on one side, alcohol on the other, food in the middle, kids activities in the back. Actually, I think the party went well except for making whomever mad and forgetting Duke Talymar’s household for the “thank you’s” at last call. I did make another announcement to thank them.
As the party is winding down, Gertie asks me to get a tarot reading from Dr. Best. I am reluctant. One, I am perfectly capable of doing my own reading if I wanted one. Two, as much as I like plans, I don’t like knowing my own fortune. It is way too easy to read what you want in the cards. But she insists and I have put her through hell so far so if this is something she wants, I will do.
I center myself, spread the cards out, and draw the 5 of wands, queen of coins, and 10 of wands. Henry reads this as mostly reaching the end of one journey of creativity, gaining status, and starting a new journey of creativity. I am dubious as that is not what 5 and 10’s mean to me but it is his deck and his reading. He does comment that no one has centered themselves as long as I have. I do feel somewhat comforted by this as I am nervous about tomorrow and maybe the bad luck of the last few days have passed.
I call for last call, giving thanks to those who donated to the Duck, give a salute to Maelcolm and Verena. And correct the error of forgetting Talymar’s house. I repack the van and drive to parking. Somehow, Gertie and Jhondo make it back way later than me. We stay up for a bit and Gertie asks me to sing and I can’t remember any songs.
I think this is when I have two of the revelations I would have this War. I had been thinking about the difference between Fate and Wyrd. Let’s say you get a prophecy that you will die to a dragon. If you look at it as Fate, you avoid dragons. You do everything to not be near dragons. But somehow, despite all of this, you will end up dead by one. But if you look at it as Wyrd, then you train as hard as you can to kill dragons. Each dragon you slay is not the one destined to kill you. Until the end of it all, the biggest, baddest dragon of all comes within your reach. You fight valiantly, gloriously. Then it kiils you. You died in an epic battle that is immortalized through the ages.
The other is a conversation with Master John. He asks what my next project is. I talk about the Apple Tunic I want to do. He says, “you are really a goal oriented person, aren’t you?” I am. I need to know what I am working for. When I start a new skill, I need to know what big thing I am working for. I am willing to do the small steps but I need to see the other side of the chasm I am leaping over.
I think what what I did to make someone mad about the party is about the leftovers from the Queen’s Tea, especially the drinks. I was offered the leftover alcohol from the Queen’s Tea several times. I did say that I would try to work them in but I wanted to set up what I had brought. I have 7 kegs worth of stuff and multiple cordials. The whole point to the Drunken Duck is to promote what homebrewers are doing. Because of dry sites and such, parties like this are a rare opportunity to show what we can do. Also, I felt is was like asking an accomplished cook to work in a bag of McDonald’s hamburgers to the menu. Did I get rude? Possibly by the third time I was asked. Again, in my mind, I had 30 minutes to reset this scene and setup. I felt I was watched and on the verge of failure. I don’t expect anyone else to be responsible for my anxiety but I would be foolish to not acknowledge it myself. If you are reading this, and I insulted or was rude to you, I apologize.
Sunday is over and Monday arrives. It is now do or die time. I sent up the cart in the morning. I make it to the first class for this war. I have missed 9 classes so far! Then back to camp and to be a vinegrier. I am nervous. Will people get it? Will I fall out of character? Will I go home with 40L of vinegar? Off we go! And the cotter pins fall out. Every 10 feet or so, they fall out. Gunnar and Redi are now tasked with watching the pins. We eventually just bend the heck out of them so they can’t fall out. OH! I forgot to mention that with the rains earlier, everything I have with wood is swollen. I break one of the banner pole bases and I have a hard time gettings the fake mortise joints in the cart.
But all fears were for naught. People got it. People enjoyed it. I was less concerned that the product was liked; I had made it for a while and knew it was a good product. But people played along and got the experience. Three customers in and I knew it was successful. Each stop was a lighter cart. We hit Midrealm Royal as the Craftsperson’s Green was going on. As Gunnar said, we were “fashionably late.” It turns out Her Highness loves vinegar. Vessel is acquired and approval given.
Then we go to Aethelmearc Royal. The Harbinger greets us and takes us back to the cook. The scribes want vinegar too. Later that day, I knew I had done the thing right. I run into Roana. She mentions that Their Majesties Aethelmearc heard that I had given a real medieval experience to one of theirs and went to Their Majesties Middle to praise me! All throughout the day people are complimenting me on my outfit. I do like this outfit!
Now we get to another revelation. I had for a while being thinking about whether I have done anything meaningful in the SCA and where my self-worth was. By meaningful, I mean something specific. The SCA is better for me being in it. I don’t mean the friendships along the way. They are meaningful in themselves. For example, being Caer Gwyn’s exchequer for 7 years isn’t meaningful. Someone was going to do the job and there were no significant changes due to me doing it.
I started thinking. Sage of the RUM is an honorary degree in RUM that I helped set up. I am the first Sage of the RUM that I didn’t make. That was something. To my knowledge, I am the only vinegrier in the SCA. I just gave someone a moment of the Dream Made Real. These are meaningful. I realized that though I wanted to be a Peer still, I no longer NEEDED to be one to have worth (in my own eyes).
Monday night, I go to see some Commedia and attend the Bacchanial party. I didn’t think the Bacchanial was my kind of party. One, I can’t see anything anyway (being too short). Two, I would have preferred good conversation anyway.
Tuesday rolls around and I am feeling better about this. I have three classes to take and one to teach. Gertie is telling me that I need a new outfit for Court. I am somewhat wondering “why?” I have my swan tunic and that will be good enough. I am not going to be called up. But as word of what I did spreads and people I don’t even know tell me they enjoyed the experience or vinegar, perhaps I will be getting an award. And I am nothing if not Gertie’s dress up doll, so why not? Gunnar and I joke that we should make paper Oswyn dolls for dress up play. I go to get the jerkin altered.
My class is good but I am serving alcohol so I am not surprised.
I was supposed to go to the Sake party but we decided to stay in camp and that is when Surreptitious Whiskey came to the camp on a FyreCrawl!
Somewhere in here, one of our camp mates gets heat stroke. That was either Wednesday or Thursday, I think. Also Gertie stays in camp a few times.
Wednesday is the day I need to help take care of Gunnar. Gunnar had decided that he really needed to win the Laurel A&S competition and my job is to keep him sane. So I attend to him for a while. Other friends of ours are there and we start joking about how often I am wrong. At first, it is kinda of funny but at some point, it stops being funny to me. I didn’t say anything to anyone. I just started to realize that it wasn’t funny. Gunnar sends me away since his judges are coming. Another revelation hits. I need to change my self-talk. No wonder my brain weasels know what to say to me to bring me down; I give them their lines! This will be hard but I will try to change my self-talk.
I go to teach my vinegar class and it is PACKED! Near the beginning, Their Majesties Aethelmearc come to my class and present me with 2 “gold” guilders as payment for my services! Now I know I did something important. And I am a “professional” now that I have gotten paid. As far as I know, these were struck by His Majesty’s own hand. I am floored.
Gunnar wins the Laurel A&S competition! He is now constantly saying, “his house has done very well this war.” He is auctioning most of the jewelry for Midnight Madness. Then Midnight Madness.
We did a lot of shopping during Midnight Madness, including a Turkish outfit a piece. More money being spent. At least we had it to spend.
Thursday is Midrealm Court. More shopping to finish the new outfit I have to have. The Pennsic Independent comes out and I am in it!
With the buzz around town, the insistence on a new outfit, and such, I am 80% sure I might get an award. Possibly a King’s Chalice. What I did was pretty cool and everyone is talking about it. I believe I go to see those people I still owe vinegar to but hadn’t found yet. I also have a private tasting with Her Highness and Duchess Ainor. That goes well and I give Her Highness much of what I have left of the Sherry Amontiano vinegar. We go to Court. As is typical, virtually no one is sitting up front. We set up our chairs and wait. There is a lot of good stuff happening. Then Gunnar is called. He talks about the War Point and how his house has done very well. He talks about me a bit. I figure, “okay I guess I am getting a Chalice or something.” Then I hear the words, “I beg a boon.” I bow my head and a few tears fall. I walk up with Gertie. With all of it, I forget to hug Her Majesty. There are cheers, from many who are my friends. I am escorted to be back and hugs and “well deserved” and “it is about time” etc. Court finally is over and we go back to camp. There was a brewer’s and vinter’s party at Royal but I didn’t know about it beforehand so I don’t go. We drink mead at camp and I am mostly lost in thought.
I had gotten to be place where I didn’t need this but here it is at last. It is probably 2:00 before I get to bed. It is cold this night and Gertie is in pain.
Friday arrives. We pack up some stuff and Redi’s stuff needs to be packed up too. I want to see Wyrd Sisters tonight. Messages are coming in all day. There were some items we needed to get yet. So more shopping. I get a message from Her Majesty that I need to change the date for my elevation. So off to Royal for pleasant talk with Her Majesty and their Highnesses. Gertie wants to stay in a hotel tonight and have a decent meal. We do that before the show. Marie and Zsof (and really all of the cast) kill it. I really thought everyone did well in their roles. I am glad I could see what they have done.
Saturday we help pack out the camp and I need the Watch to move the trailer. The same person has been parked in front of the trailer most of the week and I can’t leave without the trailer. We hit the road and get home.
We will likely attend Pennsic again, probably 2025 for our next. It started off poorly and ended surreally. I did what I wanted to do and succeeded beyond hope. I have a grand party to plan. Mostly, I am glad I could pull off the vinegrier thing and that Gunnar got his win.
It turns out, the Laurelate knew for a few weeks. Gertie knew Sunday night. I hoped that it would/might happen in the future but not now. I thought I had made enough buzz at Pennsic that combat scribing was called for. I honestly didn’t know. I thought something else was happening. I appreciate everyone’s support for me and faith in me. As an oath I might take says, “if you see me taken with a weak heart, remind me of this oath I take here today.” See some of you at Crystal Ball.
As Pennsic approaches, it is time to put up or shut up.
After a long conversation with Gunnar and Lucretia, I have a plan. I have registered to be at the A&S display on Sunday, August 7 with the poster, barrels, wheelbarrow, and vinegars. I have been encouraged to bring as much “special” vinegar as I can.
Then on Monday afternoon, I will wheel the barrow throughout Pennsic, visiting the Royal Encampments but then anyone and everyone else. I will be “hocking” my vinegar. I cannot legally sell it and none of you have ha’pennies anyway 🙂 I will have 40L of barrel-aged Pinot Noir vinegar. That should be plenty. Please (and Gertie begs you) take some. Marinate your meats in it, make dressings, make shrubs, whatever.
Hopefully, Gunnar and others will be able to take photos and video of the experience. The idea is to show how vinegar was sold in late period. I will have handouts as well to help explain what is going on. I am going to try to be in character but that doesn’t always go over well in the SCA.
Now for the question that is in my mind: why the heck am I doing this? I don’t know, really. The SCA wants to recreate the medieval period, at least the “good” parts. Once I found the woodcut showing a vinegar merchant, I wanted to do this. I wanted to make for a brief period that specific experience happen again. And our tent city of Pennsic feels like the perfect place for it.
So I have gotten a lot of new readers to this blog, or at least more vocal ones I don’t know if I ever stated what I am actually doing in SCA A&S, you know, the actual why I am doing. It might be buried in earlier posts. Either way, it is worth restating as I might have changed scope since then.
I also want to preface that in no way is the following a direct result of my conversations over the past weekend (10-16-21) and further. Those conversations got me thinking about this topic, but it is not a result or rebuttal of those conversations.
First some history on how I got to vinegars and sprinkled throughout that will be what I am doing and why I am doing it. I will try to wrap up with some more direct statements on both of those questions.
I got started in the SCA just before my house caught fire and burned to the frame. I mentioned that often before. It was shortly after that I attended one of my first events, the combined RUM/Aethelmearc event in Cleveland. It was there that I met a person who would become my best friend, Verena Entenwirth but we didn’t know that yet. Having just a rental property and not sure when I would have a house again, I looked around for some thing I could do. I took two classes from her on making cordials. I figured, “yeah I can do that.” So I tried my hand at it.
I have many scores of different cordials. After a while of making cordials, I decided I would try my hand at teaching. I had wanted to be a historian and probably a teacher but I was dissuaded from that path. The SCA gave me the chance to indulge in it. So I started teaching on how to make cordials. It wasn’t long though that I thought tasting and experimentation would be a good idea. After all, the teaching of making a cordial is easy and quick. I can teach that in 5 minutes. But doing an experiment and teaching you the results? That can go on as long as we are both willing to sample.
My first class on this was taking the same strawberry cordial and varying the liquor. Getting people to taste what the difference is between using a vodka, using a rum, using a gin, and using a brandy. My next class was taking that strawberry cordial in vodka and changing the sugar used. I am not sure I knew exactly what I was doing at that point. I mean, what I was trying to show. But the seed was there. I wanted people to think about what they chose to use and by doing such a basic experiment, give them I place to start from. While I was a good cordial maker, many others were better. And cordials are barely period. There are some notable ones that we know of but recreational distilled spirits wasn’t a huge thing yet.
It was also around this time that I was told I was not a brewer. Whether true or not, I felt it was true. Cordial making isn’t brewing. I moved on to try my hand at something else. There were many Norse and pseudo-Norse people wanting and making mead. I made a few meads. Again, I was okay. I am still only okay at it. But one of the things I noticed is that the go-to honey is basically whatever you could get cheap. 5 pounds of honey can be very expensive so it makes sense to go cheap but I wanted to experiment again. I made the same basic straight mead but varied the source of honey.
I started understanding what I wanted people to do, what I was trying to show people. Here is this generic thing, honey, that was actually very specific depending on where your persona was from. The people were likely to use local honey (though trade is always possible). In Kent, that might be an apple honey. In Sicily, that might be an almond honey. In Greece, that might be a pine honey. Each place was going to have a different honey and that same mead recipe was going taste very different.
After that, I wanted to branch out into something else, something most people weren’t doing. I had small quantities of alcohol around and nothing to do with them. I couldn’t give a person 1 oz of a cordial as a gift for instance. And after running the Drunken Duck with Verena a few times, there was a need for a home-brewed, non-alcoholic drink. I decided one of the things missing was vinegar. With vinegar, it was another generic term that people weren’t thinking about. It was an important thing in medieval life that we weren’t exploring. It was something I could make with alcohol that others weren’t doing. I started looking into this.
By this time, I knew what I was really doing. I wanted SCA cooks (and everyone else) to stop thinking about vinegar in generic terms. Most recipes that call for vinegar will just say vinegar. Some modern ones will realize that there are choices and say red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. I wanted people to go deeper. That Italian recipe that calls for vinegar isn’t asking for the same stuff as that English recipe calling for vinegar. I started making vinegar and I invited people to taste. The Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir vinegars are very different. All are “red wine vinegars.” The same can be said for any flavor of vinegar; each base alcohol yields a different flavor of vinegar.
It is not reasonable to expect SCA cooks on a tight budget to hunt down specific vinegars though. The modern vinegar industry makes a batch of cheap vinegar that is artificially flavored and a bunch of small-scale craft vinegar that is expensive. But I can fill that role. I can make a bunch of different vinegars, using medieval-like processes, and give them to the cooks to use. It satisfied my need to give back and be interdependent. A more authentic vinegar meant a more authentic feast and a more authentic experience.
In learning to make vinegars, one invariably runs across what is known in the history of vinegar. That vinegar was historical was well known; civilization had vinegar as soon as it had alcohol. And nature had it much sooner But learning the history wasn’t the passion. It wasn’t long after I would display my vinegars that I would get questions. Is Balsamic vinegar period? Did such and such a society have this vinegar? Have you heard about the 4 Thieves Vinegar? What are the health benefits of vinegar?
For the most part, I don’t care about those questions. I know, that is a horrible thing to say. It is probably one of the reasons some question my research. I found the answers to bolster my ability to show I know what I am doing. Interestingly enough, the vast majority of people who have asked me historical questions about vinegar have never tasted any of my vinegars. We are definitely after different things. They have a historical question. I want them to experience that this generic stuff is more expansive than they think. In some ways, it is the difference between pure science and engineering. They want an answer; I want a solution. I am much more interested in knowing how to fix a process problem with making my vinegar than the answer to whether such a thing was really done in period.
After a while I did come to understand that vinegar is not sexy. It takes a pretty rare person to care about whether the mother is floating or to admire the color and odor of a vinegar. I was such a person but outside of a few, not many were. I did start looking at what are the special vinegars and how did people make them. The two European based ones are both barrel processes. Okay, I can do that then. I started just barrel aging some of my vinegars. That was pretty good. I was asked, “are there any period recipes you could do?” I looked. All of the recipes for vinegar I found were infusions. In making cordials, I had already done lots of those. But I wasn’t trying to show I could add herbs and spices to a vinegar just to follow a recipe. I was trying to show the base liquid off.
I made vinegar out of anything I could find with alcohol, beers, ales, meads, wines, sake, ciders, and even liquors. I made vinegar out of my wife’s favorite beer. I tried to make vinegar out of Malort! (it doesn’t work). To find the sexy, I started learning how to make as close to balsamic vinegar as one can without time travel, rare woods, or the caves of Modena. I made sherry vinegar, another one of the “sexy” vinegars. I started taking steps back.
I can make my own ciders. I started playing with that. First with frozen concentrate, then with store bought sweet cider, then buying and pressing my own apples. Then changing the mix of those apples. I am positive the apple cider vinegar from any different mix of apples will taste different from any other mix. Another thing that someone can think about if they have the means. What apples were available to make the apple cider vinegar called for in that recipe? It might make a difference to the flavor.
As I said, the process of making does mean that you get exposed to the history as well. I found a woodcut of a vinegar seller with a wheelbarrow. If the Dream is built on trying to have an actual medieval experience, what could be more Dream-like than to demonstrate how vinegar was sold (at least somewhere). I am trying to move you to a more medieval experience. Here is a period style vinegar, “sold” to you in a period style, by a guy dressed in period style. Isn’t that the Dream? Isn’t that what we are playing for?
What am I doing? I am hoping to get people to think differently. That words like sugar, honey, and vinegar meant specific things to the people in the various regions and times of the world. It is very much a modern conceit that all Big Macs must taste the same. I am providing, as much as I am able to, a tool for those who cook to experience something different. My vinegars aren’t mass produced from leftover, unsellable liquors. They are complex and bright. I am aiming to provide an experience. Time will tell if I succeed.
Why am I doing it? I am a human. I have ego. I want to be special in some way. Very few people are doing what I am doing and perhaps no one else is doing exactly what I am doing. I want to give to others as well. I can do this thing. Others can take what I did and do something with it. The herdsman raises the cattle, the butcher slaughters it, the chef cooks it, the server serves it, the King offers it to his guests, and peace is ensured. The better and more authentic I can be, the better and more authentic they can be.
I remember going to Boar’s Head in Dec 2019. I had met the head cook for the feast maybe once at KWC&B that summer. Once I got on site, I went back to the kitchen with a quart of vinegar, I didn’t even have to open my mouth. The cook turns to see who opened the door and with a warm smile, “You’re Oswyn, right? What do you have for me?” That is why I do it.
It was a long time in coming but I think we have the end. Below is the tri-fold display showing the journey.
The center of this display shows the wheelbarrow completed. I am very proud of it.
I also found more woodcuts.
1688 from Cries of London
Brebiette ~1630
Marchard de vinaigre Carrache 1560-1609r
The Vinegar Merchant, Bosse mid 17th c.
Various merchants, during Reign of Louis XIII 1601-1643
NON SPECIFIE – NON DATE: Reproduction du marchand de vinaigre intitule ‘Bon vinaigre!’ d’Adolphe Mouilleron d’apres Michel Poisson (1774). (Photo by Keystone-France\Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
A FRENCH SKETCH OF A VINEGAR PEDDLER IN 19TH CENTURY BEIJING
I don’t think there is any doubt that vinegar sellers used wheelbarrows, especially near the end of period. I am not going to strap a barrel to my back though.
It was a heck of a journey to be inspired, proof, and create the things needed to show this period activity. How was vinegar sold? Good vinegar was imported from France, delivered to the ports of England, and then wheeled through the streets. You stopped the seller, filled your vessel, and he charged you the going rate.
According to The National Trust of the UK, imported vinegar from France would come in tuns (~252 gallon barrels). Wine from France ran ~3 pound per tun and vinegar was a bit cheaper. Using 3 pounds per tun, 252 gallons per tun, 240 pennies per pound, and modern equivalents, an ounce of imported vinegar would run about a 0.022 penny per ounce. The average maidservant made ~3 pounds per year. Imported vinegar was affordable but local vinegar from ciders or ales would have been much cheaper. (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tudor-merchants-house/features/what-could-you-buy-at-the-tudor-merchants-shop).
For “selling” purposes, I will be canting, “vinegar, a ha’penny per pint!”
I recently applied for a badge and a household name. I then decided I should update my personal favors. Previously, I used fused glass squares and I may continue to do so. I am especially interested in doing so because a few friends have chosen to wear said tokens as jewelry. I am so honored that they have done so. But as Oswyn Swann evolves, so should the things that represent him.
These are my new favor tokens. They are 1/8 dram (~1 ml) glass vials filled with my Pinot Noir vinegar. There is a tiny label and I just got the wax sticks to seal the cork.
One of the things I wanted to do with the favors is make sure to say who the thanks is from. I have made favors which I have sewn to my shoulder bag. I don’t remember who gave me most of them. I wanted to make sure they whomever remembers who it is from. Unfortunately, the recipient will have be creative to attach it to something but it is not impossible.
When I was eligible for my arms, I really wanted mottos as well. So I have been paying attention to things I said often or things I wish I said and testing them out. I settled on three.
Raedas gewillum fiðraþ literally is “(Wise) Counsel gives feathers to my will/wish. In Old English, the word for feather and wings are the same, fithrath. What I am trying to say is “Plans gives wishes wings.” It was the closest I could get. I like to plan and by planning, I can make my wishes come true.
Sanguinum Facit Ars is Blood makes art. Again, what I say as a glass artist is “it isn’t art until you bleed on it.” Pithy in English; torturous in Latin. This is much more simple.
This was perfect! They are responsible for the swan-upping so that fits. The Vinters are responsible for all wine and wine products so vinegar falls in that. They were formally established in 1363 and are among the 12 great liveried companies of London. Oswyn Swann surely was a member.
Above is the full coat of arms for the Company. Much of it was granted later than SCA period but it is perfect but I certainly didn’t want to steal it. Pay homage though, that I can do.
The motto of the Company is Vinum Exhilarat Animum – Wine Gladdens the Spirit.
Since my device is a swan already, I went with this.
The Azure Swan as the pub name and Swann’s Sundries for the store front.
The motto Vinum Exhilarat Amici – is in homage to the Worshipful Company. It is Wine Cheers (our) Friends!
The canvas banners will be finished this weekend and I will start on the silk banners shortly.
