Returned home last night from a 4-day Coronet. First off, congratulations to Eric von Roosebeke and Annora Raines, the new Lord and Lady of the Swan!

The drive to the event, we took the 70N to Oroville and the 89 to Quincey. The drive was a bit perilous at times (1000 plus feet drop offs & very winding road), but it was a lovely scenic drive (reminded me of the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee at times). Even though MapQuest gave 150 miles and 2 hr. 40 minuites for the drive, it was 189 mile (according to out mileage indicator) and close to a 4 hour drive (but as I mentioned, it was very scenic).

The days were in the mid 80's, clear skies, and hot (altitude around 4000 feet), for some reason the breeze would come in the cool evenings (not in the daytime when we needed it). The fighting was great and the equestrian was fun to watch. I really need to remember to carry sun block. (I was also reminded to bring my cane to events (guess this comes with age...*S*), as even the slightest, uneven terrain can cause my hip to hurt.)

We did have one entry in the A&S competitions from Mistress Danae; a lovely Elizabethan copper girdle book (she use a diapering effect on the cover in a cloisonné technique). It was very lovely and I enjoyed seeing something new entered.

Standing Court for Their Majesties is fun and exciting; actually being able to look out at the populace and seeing their faces as they are called up into Court is a great experience in itself.

We were packed up and ready to head home by 4:30pm on Monday. This time we took the other way home (E on 89 through Truckee) as I was told it would be far less cliffs. About 5 mile out of Quincey, going around a curve, we saw a beautiful doe standing by the side of the road (no time to pull out camera and no turnout area), I just hope that she did not get hit by another passing vehicle. The scenery was not as "spectacular" as the drive up, but was interesting anyway, and it was a LOT cooler temperature wise (we could see rain clouds off in the distance). Two miles out of Truckee, we saw another doe, this one was between the guard rail and the mountain side (so hoefully, she was safer than the first one we saw). We ran into some rain about 8 miles out but just enough to wet the road and make us use the wiper for a while. Finally made it home with no surprises; and even though we took the "safer" route, it was about the same time frame (4 hour drive due to 35 mph speed areas) but it was 20 miles less than the previous route.

Today I am going to forgo doing any embroidery projects (yeah, right) and just relax at my computer for a few hours then I plan to do some house chores; laundry, cleaning, spend some time grooming the dogs (who really need to loose some of their winter undercoat (more spinning fiber?)). Plus, there was a package of 23 yds of linen on my porch when we arrived home, so this all needs to be pre-washed, as do 20 yards of wool that I received last Thursday (was able to pre-wash a 10-yard piece of wool before we left). Hopefully *crossing fingers here* I will be able to find some relaxing time in the next two days before going back to my embroidery (I did say "hopefully" as I always end up doing embroidery in between chores....LOL).

Since taking office as Cynagua’s A&S Minister, and reading through the Cynaguan A&S Handbook, I found out that no one has replaced a few missing regalia items; a baldric and banner.

I decided to work on replacing these items during my office. I made myself a personal belt favor; this I can wear at other events showing that I am an A&S officer (plus, I can add this to my other office favors after I step down). Last night I completed the A&S baldric. Both of these are on a gold & white linen background and have an embroidered roundel of the A&S badge (Azure, a candle enflamed within an arch stooped argent). Although the belt favor has three brass bells sewn onto the bottom (I love bells).

The banner is going to take a while to complete; thanks to my not thinking it out properly. I decided to make it approximately 18”X20” in size. I am doing it in needlepoint on 12ct canvas. I have the candle & arch outlined in black (these I will fill in last as it will be all white and will be done in tent stitch) and I am now in the process of filling in the blue background. I started to do the background in tent stitch, but after completing a 5”X6” section, I decided to tear it all out (the blue) and redo it using brick stitch. Going over four background threads will make it go faster and will give it a nice textured look.

All in all, I think it will be nice, for future A&S Ministers, to have the regalia items complete.