MLC Renaissance Fair and Business Meeting

Saturday, May 2nd, is the MLC Renaissance Fair demo. http://rivenwoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/mlc-renaissance-fair.htmlSet up is at 8:30 am and it opens to the public at 10:00am. It is at German Park in New Ulm, Minnesota. We will hold the monthly business meeting during the day. It is posted for 3:00pm - 5:00pm but we will try and fit it in whenever seems most advantageous. So far the head count is 5 adults and about 7 kids. If you are coming contact the Senechal. http://www.rivenwoodtower.org/

Nettle Pie

As previously alluded to, here is the method for creating a nettle pie, tart, or more modernly known "quiche". Find yourself some nice, lush growing nettles anywhere from three to ten inches high - bigger if you wish but you will then only want to use the leaves as the stems have a tendency to get very stringy and tough. Pick one or two generous handfuls. Gloves are a wise choice unless you are curiously resistant to the stings as I seem to be.

Wash the nettles and shake or dab dry. (Again with gloves!) Chop roughly with a green onion or two and add 1 cup of the chopped nettles to your pie shell. Start with a single cup and if you find you like the wild green then boldly add as much as you can cram into your next pastry shell!

Next, whisk up 6 medium eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper to taste and 1/4 cup of milk or cultured buttermilk. Pour egg mixture over the nettles and make sure the nettles are covered. Bake at 375 F. for 30 - 35 min. or until a knife comes out clean.



Enjoy your medieval meal!

Nettles are full of important vitamins and iron. They were a plentiful green that people were desperately craving after a long winter of meat, bread, and root vegetables. Nettles, once a culinary staple, are now overlooked as noxious weeds. I am glad I "discovered" them.

Camping Practice

Over the weekend of May 15, 16, and 17, The Shire Of Rivenwood Tower will hold it's annual - or rather "mostly" annual - camping practice. Bring out those tents and pavilions and examine the mildew. Check out the sturdiness of those poles and ropes. Assess whether the four remaining tent stakes are sufficient or if you really need to get yourself some more. Or, as in this illustration, rid yourself of the party pooper who consistently weasels out of camp set up and take down but is the first to claim the camp bed! (Note the tidiness of the women; the bag ready to catch the unnecessary object and the careful positioning so that the sheets do not become soiled.)

We will be camping at Rush River County Park http://www.co.sibley.mn.us/content.aspx?Id=3D4DF025-AB29-44C6-8C73-90DB5B5677DE near Henderson, Minnesota.

Saturday we will be having casual and friendly activities for fun and for the entertainment of newcomers and old friends that have lost touch with the shire. Invite people you know who have expressed an interest or people you just haven't seen in a while. It will be a very fun time!

MLC Renaissance Fair

On Saturday, May 2nd we will be participating in the Martin Luther College Renaissance Fair. It will be held in German Park http://www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC=%7BE1858D21-968F-4150-B723-7D30484A3101%7D&DE=%7B822215F1-5E6C-4DD3-B4E8-0668A4447813%7D in New Ulm, Minnesota. Set up will be from 8:30 am to 9:45 am. The fair opens to the public at 10:00 am. We will be setting up four tents and so could use a hand or two for set up and take down at 5:00pm.

The shire will be doing fighting demo's and other "hand's on" type learning demonstrations. Anyone wishing to participate contact the Senechal of Rivenwood Tower http://www.rivenwoodtower.org/ before April 27th so that a fairly accurate head count can be provided to the MLC students organizing the fair.

Fighter Practice And Camping Meeting

Fighter Practice is going to be held at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota this Sunday, April 19th, at 2:00pm out of doors in the fine sunshine! Martin Luther College is at the top of the Center Street hill across from Herman The German statue. Take Center Street to the top of the hill and turn right onto Summit avenue. Turn into campus at Waldheim Drive. Now here I must apologise as things are not definite as to a specific location. You must search about for clanking men with sticks. Park somewhere nearby and wander over to them.

There will also be held a camping meeting for next months camping practice! We will be deciding where it will be held and the fun to be hosted therein. Please feel free to join us!

Metalurgic Molds (As Opposed To The Fungal Variety)

Bart Saxton - not of Rivenwood but of a mysterious little place of one to the south called Oubliette http://northshield.org/Branches/Display.aspx?ID=67 - has been doing some very fine metal casting. Here are displayed some wax castings of a ring. The odd conical attatchment is called a sprue. This is what allows the molten metal to be poured into the plaster or soapstone mold. The ring with the strange tentacles sprouting from it is a result of the wax filling the vents that must be carved in the plaster mold for the wax to flow properly.
First, an original is created. This is used to create a mold made of plaster. Then, in order to better create multiple metal castings, the plaster mold is used to create several wax copies which then are used to create a plaster mold with any number of impressions. More of Bart's casting endeavors will be forthcoming as soon as he gets me the pictures!

May 9th Royal Crown Tournament

From Samia, Event co-Steward:

Hello to the Hall,The Royal Crown Tournament of King Stephen and Queen Ailleanne will be held in Chaska, Mn (Minneapolis area) on May 9. http://www.nordskogen.northshield.org/springcrown2009/Home.htm

Hotel information:By registering with the block called "SCA" when you make your reservation at this hotel (just down the street from site), you can help earn free lodging for the Royalty. It's an easy way to support the Kingdom.Best Western River Inn and SuitesChaska, MN 55318952-448-7877

Event Registration Coordinator: Aylwin McNeilMail to: Chip Soules1592 Cottage Ave ESt. Paul, MN 55106chipsoules at comcast dot net 651-771-7469Include your modern contact information with registration.

Site entry: $10 (children under 15 free)Additional non-member surcharge: $3Feast: $12

Make Checks payable to: SCA-Barony of Nordskogen

Feast:This feast features three glorious cooks who will honor and delight all who dine with the King and Queen Northshield. You don't want to miss this one! Viscountess Anne Geoffreys of Warwick, acclaimed apprentice to Aramanthra the Vicious Mistress Gunnora Loveit, elevated for her works in period beverages. Lord Duncan of Dunsinane, creator of the famed period pizza feast. Questions can be directed to Baroness Ekaterina and Sayyeda Samia at http://us.mc376.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=event@idlelion.net

Good Enough To Eat Off Of

Shire member, Patrice Hundstad is creating her own feast gear! She is delving into the art of pottery and doing some very nice projects. (I like her choice of glazes.) After the last Lupercalia feast we were very surprised at the number of people that came without feast gear! (Thankfully Lady Nell has a well stocked kitchen!) These pictures of bowl, plate, and goblet may provide some inspiration for the rest of us to be creative and add to our perhaps dwindling feast gear cache. Hmm, I'm imagining some of Patrice's hearty split pea soup in that bowl, some of her rabbit pie on that plate, and a beverage of your choice in that goblet.