River Wars

I had a blast at River Wars.  This was my first event post-surgery and I'm not yet cleared to fence.  I didn't even bother packing any of my fencing gear with me.  I packed garb and the glass bead making supplies Jennie bought for us.  Since we had no commitments at the event, we left at a reasonable time.  When Antonio and Elizabeth (Stacey) arrived on site, we had just left a bakery where we got breakfast.  We still had an almost 2 hour drive at that point.

Arriving onsite, we set up our glass working stuff under a covered pavilion where the fencers had dropped their stuff.  Elizabeth had also brought her stuff, so we had three stations set up on a picnic table.  It was a pleasant day, but a little breezy, so it made working very nice.  Sitting by a hot torch, I stayed warm.  Lissa saw us setting up and said it was always something she wanted to try, so after my first few beads, I let her jump in.  We gave her some instructions and off she went making beads.  I think she had fun as she has now ordered a starter kit for bead making.

Beads made by Molle and Owynn at River Wars

Adolphus had brought his friend Ben to River Wars, Ben's first ever SCA event.  I asked if he wanted to try it out.  I gave him the quick primer, and then Elizabeth supervised him.  He was having a blast as he made 5 beads while sitting with us.  His smile was infectious.  At the end of the day, he was able to take 4 beads home with him; we're not sure where the last one went to.  I think its pretty cool that someone brand new to our organization could walk away from the event with something made by their own hand.  At the end of the day, all three stations ran out of gas at about the same time.

It was somewhat odd not to be fencing or even marshaling at an event.  I was able to just sit back, relax, be artsy and creative.  I like the process of bead making as its mechanical, somewhat instant gratification, and there is almost no way to screw it up.  Glass is a forgiving medium at the level I am working at.  Unfortunately, two of Jennie's beads broke when taking them off the mandrels.

After the event, we went to dinner with Engracia and Tom.  I had a wonderful vanilla porter, which was on tap.  Jennie had a delicious apricot beer, while Engracia had a pumpkin ale.  The beer was better than the food, and the company was even better.  After the long drive home, we crashed hard.  It was a good day.