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This year’s dance ball was great. We had about 80 people, which was a good turn-out for a non-rainy day. I had a really great time. It occurred to me on my way to church this morning that the reason I’d had such a good time last night was because for the past two years the dance ball had been a test of endurance and pain management. After the foot surgery last March (thank you Jesus for the miracles of modern medicine!), and a way longer recovery period than I’d hoped for, I’m finally back to being able to dance all afternoon and evening with no more pain than any desk-worker who suddenly decides to spend a day moving around.

We had fewer musicians than usual this year, so a double helping of thanks to those who came to play: Geoffrey Matthias, Vyncent Atte Woodgate, Alef of King’s Crossing, Catharine de Holocombe,  John Rossingol, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, and Alessandro Cantori.

Thanks also to my fellow dance teachers: Vyncent, Aasa, and Brocc.

Bonus thanks to the autocrat team: Violet, who made things pretty; Cin, who negotiated for the lovely hall, and John, who jumped on the grenade to save the rest of us. Again.

Christmas was nice. GM and I went to visit my parents in SoCal, so on Christmas day we went to the San Diego wildlife park to say hello to the rhinos and condors. On boxing day, we went to see the Adams Family Musical. Like most musicals it was charming, if a little thin on plot Then we came back home and lay around the house in utter sloth for a few days before New Year’s. I made a black eyed pea salad for New Year’s, and used the remaining peas to bulk out some red beans and rice. I’d never cooked with black eyed peas before, although I was vaguely aware that it’s a traditional new year’s dish in many parts of the US. I have a suspicion that it is one of those traditions that is making merit of necessity.

Diet: I’m either up 8.3 or down 40 pounds depending on which end you start from. GM and I are thinking about doing the 5/2 diet together over lent, and then I’ll (as necessary) do the final round of the crazystupiddiet in April or August.

Art: I spent most of 12^th night in the arts display room, where GM and I had a display on tableware. We had some interesting talks with people about making vs. buying stuff, and about how we had come to the conclusions we had about the sizing of plates. I didn’t do any of the bread carving demos I was prepared for, but that’s ok. I had some every interesting talks about the fruit trencher project, and I really need to get my abstract written. Perhaps this weekend. The Duchess’s Ball at 12^th night was fun. There was a lot of people I hadn’t seen before, which always makes the dance ball more of an adventure. Having Brocc be MC was wonderful.

Dance: The Crosston dance ball is scheduled for 9Feb2013, and I would strongly recommend coming and taking the day-time classes for anyone who is planning on attending the Perfectly Period Feast III in March. (Tickets for PPF III can be purchased here) he Crosston Dance Ball will give you a head start on dances that would be cool to know for the PPF after-dinner party. Wednesday Dance Practice will be focused on 16^th century dances for the next few weeks, please write for times/directions.

gormflaith s home and resting comfortably after her (expected) surgery. I talked to her a little yesterday when she was still a big groggy on pain meds. I'll call again later today.

I'm thinking of teaching a class on basic feast planning and organization at A&S, or maybe at the next West Coast Culinary Symposium. If you were thinking about volunteering to cook your first feast, what would you want to know? 

Tentative class description: An in-depth discussion on the necessary steps to plan and execute an SCA feast. Topics will include planning, budgeting, basic food safety, working with your autocrat, and kitchen management. The goal of this class is to give you the tools to confidently prepare a feast so that hot food is hot, cold food is cold, and everything is served on time. We will not be discussing cooking or specific recipes.

I am thinking of including a section on "The 4 big things I did wrong at my first feast". I'll have some spreadsheet examples for the shopping  plan, and some example budgets.

Just leaving a note for myself so I won't forget: http://www.antir.sca.org/Upcoming/?Event_ID=2727
Is anybody else planning on going? It's the weekend between Mists Coronet and Prova Dura.